Over the last few years, I have come to understand how important it is to be seen and heard as a full person – not just the pretty, easy-to-handle parts. Being human is never simple, but being neurodiverse comes with a unique set of cards that I was not exactly sure how to lay out in front of the person I was dating.

It has helped me to seek the proper treatment to make myself the best version of myself… sometimes you do not know how ill-equipped you are until you are thrown into a viper pit.

I know now that my naïveness is not cute when it attracts people who are bound to use me. I am lucky to live in a country that has medical care available to me at no cost.

Not everyone is so fortunate.

Autism resources are not all to help us. Some focus on the prevention of our creation in the first place. Like we are to be looked at as less than neurotypical (I am looking at you, autism speaks).

Some lift us up and celebrate us for the superpowers we do have. Very rarely do we just have autism and it ends there. I am autistic with ADHD, SPD, epilepsy/Tourette’s & synaesthesia.

This organisation is lovely. Their information is not slanted in a way to makes us feel like we should be eliminated.

Our differences should be celebrated. We did not ask for them, but if I am honest, I am glad for them.

I am blessed to have people in my life who respect my down periods! I muted out for days in the last month and I had expected all of my friends to disappear… no one did! I did not have to apologise with a wall of texts or baked goods. They just understood. No stress.

My past experiences have taught me that I would need to prove my loyalty and show that I really had an issue.

Maybe the real issue was the company I had previously kept.