@Susan60@aus.social
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Susan60

@Susan60@aus.social

Lifelong learner, leftie, AuADHD, Bunurong country, Australia. She/her. Won’t boost photos without alt txt (unless I forget!).

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Susan60, to actuallyautistic
@Susan60@aus.social avatar

Just saw an interesting post by someone missing the simplicity of their childhood. I know that most people wear rose coloured glasses when they’re feeling nostalgic, but I wonder how many autistic people read such posts & think, “No way!”?

I had lots of fun & interesting times during my childhood & adolescence, but there was also so much complexity, confusion & distress. Learning to mask made it easier. I could at least pretend to understand what was going on & therefore attract less negative attention.
@actuallyautistic

Susan60,
@Susan60@aus.social avatar

@gooba42 @actuallyautistic
Ah…
I found high school easier due to a bigger pool of potential friends & better social skills. OTOH, dealing with raging hormones was a massive challenge.

Susan60,
@Susan60@aus.social avatar

@anomalon @actuallyautistic

That’s a good point, & one that I’m guessing a lot of people could relate to.

I developed a very simplistic, linear way of thinking, probably in my attempt to reduce the confusion. It worked for me, but shut down my creative & problem solving capacity. I felt like I was constantly in survival mode, never getting ahead.

I think that started to change when I started teaching & learned more about thinking tools such as mindmaps. Something which was probably innate but had been shutdown, sprang into action. But it is exhausting.

Susan60,
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@pathfinder @actuallyautistic
I remember when I turned 18. I was working as a bank teller at that time. A customer commented on it being the best time of my life. The teller next to me, an older woman around 40 (!!!) said that she’d found that period difficult. I felt so grateful.

Susan60,
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@chevalier26 @actuallyautistic
My teen years were particularly difficult for family reasons. Life became something to endure for several years, and the habit stuck for a long time.

Susan60,
@Susan60@aus.social avatar

@dancingtreefrog @anomalon @actuallyautistic @n69n

I was watching a colleague teach using Inspiration. My brain exploded. And it’s bottom up. You’re starting with all the details then linking them together to see the big picture.

Uair, to actuallyautistic
@Uair@autistics.life avatar

@actuallyautistic

In other news, I finally got my first ever communication from my mother. She admitted she takes direction from the state; they tell her what she is and isn't allowed to tell me. She also let me know that, with the additional information she knows about my situation, she'd kill herself. I suggested she come visit, we can make it a twofer.

They hit me twice today. My ears have been gonging to the point I'm functionally deaf, and my vision is all blurred.

Fun fun.

Susan60,
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@Uair @actuallyautistic

I’m not up to date with your current situation, but this sounds awful. And I agree, keeping your distance from your mother would probably be a good thing. Wish I had some effective words of comfort to share with you.

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, to auscovid19
@DenisCOVIDinfoguy@aus.social avatar

Federal aged care minister Anika Wells echoes COVID-19 concern. By Josh Butler

@AnikaWells @auscovid19

Source: https://theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/may/27/australia-news-live-qatar-flight-turbulence-doha-singapore-dublin-png-landslide-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-labor-liberal-coalition-icc-asbestos-milperra

Susan60,
@Susan60@aus.social avatar

@ChopsieMurphy @DenisCOVIDinfoguy @auscovid19
That’s ridiculous. I’d be making a complaint.

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, to auscovid19
@DenisCOVIDinfoguy@aus.social avatar

Chief medical officer Prof Paul Kelly worried about aged care COVID vaccination rates. By Josh Butler

@auscovid19

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/may/27/australia-news-live-qatar-flight-turbulence-doha-singapore-dublin-png-landslide-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-labor-liberal-coalition-icc-asbestos-milperra

Susan60,
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@amonkeyinsilk @DenisCOVIDinfoguy @auscovid19
Kelly’s not the most inspiring of medical officers.

Susan60, to actuallyautistic
@Susan60@aus.social avatar

This speech to parents of autistic children is so poignant.

@actuallyautistic

https://youtu.be/mXnqYRGnAHs

Susan60,
@Susan60@aus.social avatar

@actuallyautistic

And of course it applies to all children who aren’t what their parents were expecting or hoping for. They all need to be & be loved for who they are.

timrichards, to random
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

The NHS under pressure...

An exodus is underway in the UK's health system, and most workers are headed Down Under - ABC News

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-27/nhs-exodus-predicted-to-accelerate-as-doctors-head-down-under/103871994

Susan60,
@Susan60@aus.social avatar

@timrichards

What! More migrants? Highly qualified ones with much needed skills? Terrible. (Feel sorry for those in the UK tho. )

LehtoriTuomo, to actuallyautistic
@LehtoriTuomo@mementomori.social avatar

In the series "so that's an autism thing too": difficulties in cooking. I have hard time coming up with the shopping list outside of the routine things which I always check against a list on my phone. It's especially difficult to plan what particular dishes should be cooked in the following days.

Once I got hang of cooking -- which happened after I had turned 30, almost 35 -- I learned to like cooking when there's no rush and the recipe is clear. I even can improvise, albeit on quite restricted range. However, when my spouse isn't around, I default to microwaving things or eating frozen pizzas.

@actuallyautistic

Susan60,
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@LehtoriTuomo @actuallyautistic
Deja vu…

My mum created a standard pantry/fridge list & a set of recipes for when she & dad went on their overseas trip when I was 16, years ago. (Nan came to stay, but us kids had to help out. Reckon mum was AuADHD like me.)

When I was a single mum/part-time student/part time retail worker, I used to plan the week’s menus & a shopping list on a Sunday. It was the only way I could cope. Certain meals were cooked often. The planning was the hardest part. Kids were each supposed to cook once a week when they got older. Tuna casserole & sausages, mash & peas were frequently served up.

My partner can walk into the kitchen at 6 with no idea what he’s going to cook, look at what’s in the fridge, & have a lovely meal cooked in 30-45 mins. Simpler meals more quickly. I’m envious but appreciative.

dgar, to random
@dgar@aus.social avatar

Those who boost my posts are happier, more intelligent and better looking than those who don't according to a study I made up.

Susan60,
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@dgar
That worked.

Susan60,
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@dgar 😂

dave, to actuallyautistic
@dave@autisticnomad.social avatar

@actuallyautistic

I have to admit: I was worried about my trip to Italy. My wife was as well.

It's the first time we've travelled away from home in years - since before COVID - and also the first time since I discovered that I'm Autistic.

I was worried about what unmasking has done to my ability to cope with change, disruption to routine and the chaos and unpredictability of travel.

I used everything that I've learned about being Autistic in the last 10 months, and I actually overestimated how stressful and taxing it would be. By doing so, I planned for a lot of downtime. Taking time off work - and not trying to balance work with travel - has also helped tremendously. It has let me focus on travel and rest.

My wife has a chronic illness, which means she needs just as much - if not more - downtime than I do, which helps avoid conflict between our energy levels and motivation. The pace of our travels seems to work well for both of us.

We planned for two full days in Venice. We spent all day yesterday walking and exploring, and today we're mostly staying in our hotel and recharging. We've both become better tuned to our needs, and we both need this downtime before we move on to the last leg of our trip in Rome.

I do expect this coming week to be a bit more challenging, as I'm returning to work while we're still in Italy. But the last couple of weeks has given me more confidence in my ability to recognize, plan and advocate for my needs, and I'm confident that will carry over into this week as well.

#ActuallyAutistic

Susan60,
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@dave @actuallyautistic

That’s really helpful. I was unrealised last time I did a big trip overseas. And I think my ADHD has actually helped in the past, but am nervous as to how well I’ll cope with sensory overwhelm & fear my autism has become more pronounced.

I’ll be 11 years older than when we made our amazing trips to Italy.

Susan60,
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@kliplet @dave @actuallyautistic

Shopping centres are something I avoid as much as possible anywhere, although I don’t mind street shopping strips & markets.

I was worried about being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of wonder I would experience, & that did happen once in Rome. Architecture & monuments spanning thousands of years, & people going around their everyday lives amongst it all. But it was a good overwhelm if you know what I mean. We sat & rested for a few minutes, then went into a very ordinary looking cafe for a simple meal, which was grounding.

Susan60,
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@dave @kliplet @actuallyautistic

I did a Contikitour is my 20s which I enjoyed (was very lucky with my group) & a flexible small group tour of Vietnam & Cambodia with my oldest 10 years ago, but the sight of cruise ships & tour groups nowadays has my skin crawling!

Susan60,
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@ScriptFanix @kliplet @dave @actuallyautistic
I imagine the smaller cities & towns would be different?

Susan60,
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@dave @kliplet @actuallyautistic
We prefer to do less locations in more depth. On our first trip, we stayed in the less touristy La Spezia for several days, from where we could catch trains to the Cinque Terra ( went 2-3 times), Luca & Pisa. It was autumn, so shoulder season. Spent several nights in Venice. (And a few other places in northern Italy).

On the 2nd trip we spent about a week in Sicily, (only saw the south east) & several days in Salerno, a less touristy city with a lovely old centre, & a ferry ride from the Amalfi coast. Caught the train to Pompeii & Herculaneum. Several days at the start & end in Roma.

Susan60,
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@dave @kliplet @actuallyautistic

We also love getting off the main tourist strips & trying cafes & restaurants. The food is often better (or just plain amazing) & cheaper. Being ADHD probably helps. (Pretty sure my partner’s AuADHD, with an emphasis on the latter. He stretches me, usually with good results.)

Susan60,
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@dave @kliplet @actuallyautistic

That sounds lovely! I’m a bit ambivalent about airbnbs @ similar, but if you’re somewhere long enough to buy & cook local produce, that’s the way to do it of course. We did that in Salerno & La Spezia.

Susan60,
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@dave @kliplet @actuallyautistic
Pompeii wasn’t crowded when we went, & I liked Herculaneum better, although both were amazing.

Susan60,
@Susan60@aus.social avatar

@kliplet @ScriptFanix @dave @actuallyautistic

I can deal with busy streets, but not shopping centres with music & echoes @ artificial light & people hoo g every which way…

I’ve had good experiences with Japanese people, but I find good people everywhere.

The walking trail was the sort of thing I was thinking about. When I did my small group tour in SE Asia, there was some time at each location for doing your own thing, or nothing. There needs to be enough of that.

Susan60,
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@kliplet @ScriptFanix @dave @actuallyautistic
I get that some people need that level of input. ADHD types. Our nearest big shopping centre (the largest in the southern hemisphere) has soaring ceilings & lots of natural light now, which I find much easier to tolerate, but the ostentatious consumerism is depressing. The top floor is brand label shops, the types where beautifully dressed customers line up to enter when the centre is busy. Sickens me.

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