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I have shared this list with close friends, family and colleagues a few times and folks are always so grateful.  I'm sharing here today in the hopes that it will help someone out there. Maybe you'll find something helpful to help you with depression, anxiety, burnout and just general self care. I didn't know I was Autistic when I started the list.  I have been collecting these strategies for around 30 years, starting with the first few suggestions from well-meaning people who didn't know the difference between depression and Autistic burnout, and adding strategies from my more recent C-PTSD therapy.  We are all different and this isn't medical advice but we learn from each other when that's the only option left and we have been dismissed and invalidated over and over again in the past.  To learn more, see my previous post  Autistic Burnout - What Helped Me Depression:  physical activity and being with friends helps me. Autistic burnout or shut down: only sleep,

  When you think of a spectrum, do you visualize a linear gradient from 0-10, or from white to black, or from low to high ‘functioning?’ People are not generally brilliant at everything or nothing, and that’s especially true for Autistic people. It seems like people are expected to be at least 'average' at 'most things,' especially in school. I felt bad about struggling in math and physical education until I learned that dyscalculia and dyspraxia are common in Autistic people. I excelled in English, French and Art classes, but that never felt to me like it made up for my struggles, until I learned (in adulthood) about this uneven distribution of abilities and began to understand the 'spiky profile' of Autistic abilities and struggles. Many artists, authors, scientists, engineers, doctors, and inventors over the years were likely Autistic (never diagnosed), based on descriptions of their ‘quirkiness’ and their hyper-focus on their passions or intense interest

As I have found, obtaining an adult autism diagnosis can be elusive for a variety of reasons including:  Out of date stereotypes about what autism looks like.  Stigma and deficit-based terminology in diagnostic manuals. A lack of knowledge and confidence in diagnosticians.  Autism traditionally not being recognized in women, trans and non-binary folks. Camouflaging/masking to fit in and be accepted by others.  Dismissal/invalidation of discomfort in childhood, leading living with constant discomfort and believing everyone else does too. Lack of accessibility for patients to diagnosis (location, cost, and wait times). Isolation and lack of digital literacy. Autism - Barriers to Late Diagnosis for Adults The inaccessibility of official diagnosis is one of the main reasons that self-diagnosis is acceptable within the Autistic community. But without an official diagnosis, many of us may continue to feel a bit of imposter syndrome. In Calgary in 2022-23, there were no known specialists who

At age 53, I was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, so I’m ‘AuDHD.’ That last part of my identity was the key to understanding, self compassion, healing, self-confidence and leaning in to my strengths. I’m a middle-aged-ish white woman, descendent of Irish, English and Norwegian settlers on Turtle Island. I was born and raised in Mohkinstis (also known as Calgary) near the Tsuut'ina Nation on Treaty 7 territory. My prounouns are she/her and they/them.  I’m live with my Hubby and Bestie with 2 big dogs and 3 cats. I obtained my B.Ed long ago (in French) but work as a support staff member in technical support with online learning. Like many people who weren’t diagnosed until later in life, I struggled with the demands of my career in spite of excelling in university. My volunteer experiences bring me joy and include an animal shelter, and working with equity deserving groups such as the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, the Autistic Community and taking action on Reconciliation with Indigenous