Rachel
Researcher and dog lover. Not one bit neurotypical.
- One thing that has always puzzled me is why do non-migraine sufferers refer to them as headaches? eg you say "I need to cancel because I have a migraine" and they say "I hope your headache gets better soon". It is really weird. Migraine is no harder to say than headache.
- Reposted by RachelThis is possibly the most important piece of journalism I’ll ever write. At the age of 50, I was diagnosed autistic. Please read my story and share it so others don’t have to wait so long to understand who they are ❤️ #autism #autistic #neurodivergent www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
- Going into McDonald's would be the last thing I'd want to do if I felt a migraine coming on. So many sensory triggers! Having said that the only time I ever really drink coke is when I am away from home and feel one threatening! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
- Really enjoying The Lost Girls of Autism by @ginarippon.bsky.social I would highly recommend it especially if you are the sort of person that likes to understand the details of why things happen as well as what things happen. amzn.eu/d/4wgiSOZ
- I have my autism assessment coming up (at long last). I am looking forward to moving out of the self identified zone either back to general population or diagnosed autistic! Either way it looks like I might see an improvement in my mental health!
- 📢New preprint! Relative to autistic adults w/ a dx, adults who self-identify experience worse well-being and higher rates of unmet need. While most self-identifying adults want a dx, barriers to services go far beyond diagnostic gatekeeping. Read on: osf.io/preprints/ps...
- Reposted by RachelCounter to many narratives (eg BBC Radio 4's The Autism Curve) of overdiagnosis of autism because of maybe having a different concept, we have new data: autistic people with and without a formal diagnosis have similar autistic traits & understanding of autism. Heavy needs without official diagnosis.
- 📢New preprint! Relative to autistic adults w/ a dx, adults who self-identify experience worse well-being and higher rates of unmet need. While most self-identifying adults want a dx, barriers to services go far beyond diagnostic gatekeeping. Read on: osf.io/preprints/ps...
- I have been thinking about different conversations/thinking styles. As an autistic person this is from the outside looking in on other neurotypes so I don't know how accurate it is of inner experiences?
- Felt emotional watching this last night. "Inside our autistic minds" literally changed my life, it was the catalyst to seeking a diagnosis, the start of neurodiversity advocacy work in my workplace, and even a change in research focus! I am sure this new series will mean so much to many ADHDers
- Tomorrow night at 9pm on BBCTwo our second series of ‘Inside Our Minds’ begins with a programme exploring the lived experience of those with ADHD . Necessary , urgent , powerful and heartfelt . . . please watch and share on @bbciplayer.bsky.social
- This is so interesting youtu.be/Z9qreXUzJ5Y?... Since catching Covid in June last year I have mostly been able to keep going but I feel like I am operating on 50% battery a lot of the time. My sensory sensitivity and migraines dramatically increased & I still haven't regained my sense of smell.
- I spent most of last weekend ranting about an article by Suzanne O’Sullivan.Primarily, I was annoyed that she'd interviewed numerous neurodivergent individuals then chose to ignore their opinions about the value of diagnosis.Seems I wasn't alone feeling like that: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
- This is interesting: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... I'm not 100% convinced by the interpretation. In the article person moves from quiet home to London and is overwhelmed by noise. Yet the problem is attributed to wearing headphones.
- I have always had the problems hearing conversations when the background noise is too loud. I either physically leave noisy places or mentally check out. At primary school I was sent for hearing tests because I had trouble hearing in noisy classrooms.
- I became a lot more sensitive to noise after lockdown. It made returning to everyday things really hard and caused a lot of anxiety.
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View full threadWhilst research into the use of noise cancelling headphones is necessary it is important not to dismiss sensory sensitivities as something that can be cured by increased exposure to sound. For many people the exact opposite is true.
- This is such a strange heckle! And a perfect illustration of when so many high masking men and women don't get diagnosed until much later in life if at all www.instagram.com/reel/C_NFycD...
- Boardgame afternoon/evenings are definitely the least stressful form of socialising! www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
- It's the time of year that Spotify wrapped lets me know I have basically been listening to the same 3 albums on repeat all year. (And saying it is as many as 3 is being generous!)
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- One of the things I like about bluesky is I don't have a feeling of dread if I accidentally click on Discover Instead of Following.
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- Listening to open.spotify.com/track/1ghEFF... on sad slow train journey. It's funny how music has a way of finding you when you need it most.
- Reposted by RachelHere you go, a starter pack of Independent Record Shops to follow (pass it on, guessing they’d appreciate that) go.bsky.app/FFCkVXGat://did:plc:g4egufmjmkukqfo6ojr5ifos/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lazaog2wd62q
- I feel very happy seeing lots of people moving to bluesky. I've really missed the twitter blue bird days.
- Can't really decide what I want to use bluesky for yet, sciency stuff, or random non-work stuff. I do like the butterfly notifications
- My friend sent me this picture from our school days this morning. It was one of those "how did I not know I was autistic?" moments. The loose gender non-conforming clothes, not knowing what to do with my arms, lack of control of my facial expression, all makes a lot more sense these days!
- Reposted by RachelReminder to anyone who needs it today: Dreaming is resistance. Kindness is resistance. Art is resistance. Make art. Make hope. Dream a better world. Resist.
