Latest Posts by digirat - Page 6

Here is a drawing that took me like 2 minutes to commemorate neil and his tunes

A hammock of happy ratties

rats driving little rat cars

like or reblog if you still have plushies/stuffed animals. im autistic and need validation

I think this is so interesting and now I really wanna hear more about the ways different people interact with animals. ​I have many pets and have always been a very animal-obsessed person so I wanted to add some thoughts.

Personally, I’ve have found that the neurodivergent people I know (myself included) tend to personify animals much more than is usual. For example, when I get a new animal it takes me a while to “become friends” with them. (Which is basically just us getting to know each other/getting into a routine.) But everyone I’ve met has always been very confused by that.

Another weird thing is I’m not super empathetic towards people, but with animals I’m hyperempathetic. And I’ve seen tons of other neurodivergent people express this online! It’s such a strange thing I love it!

the cool thing about working with animals is that I have one singular neurotypical colleague (as far as I know). and it’s become super obvious to me that the way autistic people relate to animals is fundamentally different to how allistics relate to animals. and the way people with ADHD relate to animals is fundamentally different to those without. 

(only one of my colleagues has Tourette’s and only two of us have OCD, so I don’t think that’s enough to make any grand sweeping statements). 

anyway. a real interaction between two of my colleagues today.

ADHD: Maggie won’t stop barking at me. I think she’s upset.

autistic: let me go talk to her. I can fix this. 

and that’s not uncommon? my autistic colleagues and I seem to talk to the animals to a much greater extent than anyone else. my ADHD colleagues and I seem to be the best at associating the correct name and breed and dietary requirements to the correct dog, which is weird, because I can’t do the same when it comes to humans.

I know that most people communicate with their animals but… it’s different in a way I can’t quite explain. the communication and connection seems so much deeper… I don’t know, it’s just wonderful. also, the fact that so many ND people work with me… that alone… indicates something. 

the cool thing about working with animals is that I have one singular neurotypical colleague (as far as I know). and it’s become super obvious to me that the way autistic people relate to animals is fundamentally different to how allistics relate to animals. and the way people with ADHD relate to animals is fundamentally different to those without. 

(only one of my colleagues has Tourette’s and only two of us have OCD, so I don’t think that’s enough to make any grand sweeping statements). 

anyway. a real interaction between two of my colleagues today.

ADHD: Maggie won’t stop barking at me. I think she’s upset.

autistic: let me go talk to her. I can fix this. 

and that’s not uncommon? my autistic colleagues and I seem to talk to the animals to a much greater extent than anyone else. my ADHD colleagues and I seem to be the best at associating the correct name and breed and dietary requirements to the correct dog, which is weird, because I can’t do the same when it comes to humans.

I know that most people communicate with their animals but… it’s different in a way I can’t quite explain. the communication and connection seems so much deeper… I don’t know, it’s just wonderful. also, the fact that so many ND people work with me… that alone… indicates something. 

being both autistic and having adhd is just unstoppable force: *need to brush teeth because teeth feel bad™️* vs immovable object: *intense hyperfocus and horrible executive functioning*

sensory issues be like *turns up phone brightness to hear better* *turns off light to see better* *socks don’t have to match but they MUST be the same length and texture* *washes hands out of no where because they don’t feel clean* *oversensitive to one sense but undersensitive to another, related sense* *unlocks phone to concentrate*

I have bouts where I am semi-verbal. I've seen lots of people talk about how when you become semi/non-verbal, it's painful to talk. I don't experience pain with it though.

When I become less verbal, my lips feel like they're glued together. It's not in a scary way either. It's either in a heavy way, where it feels like it takes a great amount of force to open my mouth and say something, or it's in a peaceful/natural way, where I simply don't feel the need to talk anymore.

Usually, I also become less emotive too. I am usually super expressive, but it becomes like my entire face has been drained of the energy it needs to move as much. Most of the time, I can answer very basic responses such as one word answers, or small phrases that don't require thought (i.e. I don't know)

Sometimes I become semi-verbal when I become too overwhelmed. Other times, I become semi-verbal because I've been alone too long, I'm recharging, I'm deep inside my own head, or I've been hyperfocused on something.

What does it feel like for other people who become semi/non-verbal?

Neurodivergent mood ™:

Practising facial expressions in a mirror

ND things i’m really hoping other people can relate to

“you touched my arm and now i have to cut it off”

“i blinked wrong. i have to do it again. again. again. again. again. okay that’s better.”

“sorry i didn’t quite catch that. sorry could you just- yeah. what? huh? no i didn’t get that- could you just write it down?”

directions just go in one ear and out the other

and god forbid i have to talk to anyone with an accent

“i didn’t listen to that song right. i have to do it again. again. again. again. again. okay, better.”

the r a g e when your plan/routine gets disrupted

“oh that leaf brushed my left hand? okay cool now i gotta brush it against my right hand in exactly the same way or else i’ll Die”

“this has to be symmetrical or i will gouge my eyes out because it feels BAD”

the exhaustion that sometimes follows talking about a special interest

getting overwhelmed talking about/interacting with your special interest

“what emotion is this?”

“this is the only song i can listen to and it brings me a genuine feeling of relief/release to hear it. i must loop it over and over until i suddenly hate it. i don’t know why.”

randomly finding yourself thinking/talking like a robot and having to consciously switch on emotions/empathy

or the other way around, if you get overwhelmed

“loud noises are fucking terrifying and i will cry if i get caught off guard by one”

“someone i don’t like/trust/know touched this thing and now i can’t until it’s been washed”

p a i n

where is the pain coming from? idk.

what’s itching??? where is that???

“wow that hurt! okay, i gotta do it again”

feel free to add on!!

me: i have alexithymia

person: wow i can’t imagine what that must feel like

me: yeah me neither

[Your gender is related to dogs somehow? That’s so cool!]

It/Its culture is wanting to be an evil little wizard

uh oh someone's on autopilot again

liking a character but lacking the brainpower to have any real coherent thought or clever analysis of them so your brain just kind of says their name over and over like a teen girl in a cheesy romance writing her crushes name over and over in glittery gel pen surrounded by hearts

isn't it insane though how schizophrenic people are viewed as violent and dangerous by the majority of society when in reality schizophrenic people are nearly 14 times more likely to be on the receiving end of violence than to be the perpetrators...

People with ADHD be like:

i really wish ppl wouldnt automatically assume im being rude when im actually just uncomfortable yk ?

Why do I have to pick one name. Why can't I have dozens of names that people use interchangeably like I'm some kind of ancient wizard

idk if this is just me being sensitive, but I'm really tired of people calling me transmasculine when I've made it clear that I'm nonbinary. I feel like people have been using the terms transmasculine and transfeminine against nonbinary people, even if its unintentional. People are finding more "woke" ways of asking "are u a girl nonbinary or a boy nonbinary???" and it's tiring...

hey, remember that having low empathy doesn’t make you a bad or selfish person. it’s perfectly alright that your brain processes things differently.

also if you have heightened empathy, that’s also okay! you’re not over-sensitive, too emotional, or weak just cause you feel things different

there’s a lot of diversity in people and i think society really tends to dumb it down and assign people labels. and a lot of times that can be harmful and show no understanding of the nuances behind behavior. so if you’re struggling with this: i love you! you’re doing fine

i am a:

○ male

○ female

◉ sad autistic enby

looking for a:

○ boyfriend/husband

○ girlfriend/wife

◉ for someone who won't judge me for being autistic and will accept the fact that i get hyperfixated onto certain things, putting all my time and energy into it, and so i would want to share it with them- without fearing they'll judge me or make fun of me.

i wonder if anyone else goes through a time where they’re kinda sad and low energy and don’t really feel like connecting with their hyperfixations, but then some old, long abandoned, (and very cursed) interest suddenly resurfaces and it’s just like !!!!

aaaaaa drank a ton of coffee to try and help me to focus on my schoolwork,, nope welcome to hell

Person: go do this

Me: I can’t I need space

Person: you can have space when you do the thing

Me: *puts on headphones and ignores everything just to do the thing *

Person: you can’t just ignore us that’s rude

Me: *is too overstimulated and overwhelmed*

Person: ugh spoiled

today’s thoughts : is escapism or just a hyperfixation