Asperger's Diary

Autism

Loving What You Hate and Hating What You Love

Lynne Soraya on September 7, 2015

For an autistic person, pain can be disturbingly difficult to distinguish from pleasure.

For an autistic person, pain can be disturbingly difficult to distinguish from pleasure.

Autism

Being Misunderstood

Lynne Soraya on March 30, 2015

Looking back at my life, if I were to identify a common theme, it is feeling misunderstood. It sounds so much like a cliché, that many roll their eyes when hearing the phrase. “Everyone feels misunderstood,” they say. But what’s interesting is that those in my life who have said that, have gradually come to realize that it is true.

Looking back at my life, if I were to identify a common theme, it is feeling misunderstood. It sounds so much like a cliché, that many roll their eyes when hearing the phrase. “Everyone feels misunderstood,” they say. But what’s interesting is that those in my life who have said that, have gradually come to realize that it is true.

Autism

Shopping While Autistic

Lynne Soraya on March 23, 2015

Have you ever seen a child having a breakdown in the middle of a grocery store? What’s your reaction? Well, I can give you an idea of what they might be going through.

Have you ever seen a child having a breakdown in the middle of a grocery store? What’s your reaction? Well, I can give you an idea of what they might be going through.

Autism

The Sound Of Silence

Lynne Soraya on February 21, 2015

I have recently come face-to-face with a fact about myself: I have a problem with silence. I’m not really sure why.

I have recently come face-to-face with a fact about myself: I have a problem with silence. I’m not really sure why.

Friends

Figuring Out Friendship

Lynne Soraya on December 31, 2014

Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship. What I understand about it, what I still don’t, and how the experience of friendship has always been different that it has been for others.

Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship. What I understand about it, what I still don’t, and how the experience of friendship has always been different that it has been for others.

Grief

Navigating Grief and Loss as an Autistic Adult

Lynne Soraya on December 24, 2014

It’s the holiday season...a time for reflection, togetherness, and joy, so they say. As I’ve written before, it hasn’t always been that way for me. This holiday season has been an especially difficult one. One of my best friends passed away over Thanksgiving weekend.

It’s the holiday season...a time for reflection, togetherness, and joy, so they say. As I’ve written before, it hasn’t always been that way for me. This holiday season has been an especially difficult one. One of my best friends passed away over Thanksgiving weekend.

Sensory Processing Disorder

Supporting Sensory Issues: a Q&A With Lindsey Biel

Lynne Soraya on October 12, 2014

Occupational therapist and author Lindsey Biel gives us insights from her clinical experiences working with individuals with sensory issues.

Occupational therapist and author Lindsey Biel gives us insights from her clinical experiences working with individuals with sensory issues.

Autism

Catastrophic Encounters and Autistic Identity

Lynne Soraya on August 31, 2014

How do you react, as a parent, when you have a child who faces judgement and danger, because of his or her racial and neurological differences? Here is one mother's perspective from activist, advocate, writer, and researcher Kerima Çevik.

How do you react, as a parent, when you have a child who faces judgement and danger, because of his or her racial and neurological differences? Here is one mother's perspective from activist, advocate, writer, and researcher Kerima Çevik.

Autism

It’s Not Mayberry

Lynne Soraya on August 29, 2014

Years ago, when I was just out on my own, I had an experience that has deeply shaped how I view events like those in Ferguson, Missouri these past weeks. One which taught me a lot about how biases can shape perception, and how those perceptions can have devastating consequences in law enforcement.

Years ago, when I was just out on my own, I had an experience that has deeply shaped how I view events like those in Ferguson, Missouri these past weeks. One which taught me a lot about how biases can shape perception, and how those perceptions can have devastating consequences in law enforcement.

Autism

Disability and the Sharing Economy

Lynne Soraya on August 11, 2014

I admit, I’ve developed a fascination with what some have called “collaborative consumption,” exemplified in sites like Airbnb, Uber, and Taskrabbit. I see real possibilities in these technologies to make my life easier — but there are aspects of it that trouble me.

I admit, I’ve developed a fascination with what some have called “collaborative consumption,” exemplified in sites like Airbnb, Uber, and Taskrabbit. I see real possibilities in these technologies to make my life easier — but there are aspects of it that trouble me.

Autism

Barriers to Effective Medical Care for Autistic Adults

Lynne Soraya on June 30, 2014

A recent visit to the hospital underlined for me the challenges of getting medical care when you're on the autism spectrum.

A recent visit to the hospital underlined for me the challenges of getting medical care when you're on the autism spectrum.

Ethics and Morality

Discussing Evil: The Problem of “Us” and “Them”

Lynne Soraya on June 9, 2014

"There's a pattern that has existed in my life for as long as I can remember. Not only do I do it, many other people that I know do it as well. I learn about some type of problem—a robbery, a shooting, a murder...I close my eyes for a moment, and then I brace myself as I await more information. And all the while one thought/prayer/chant/fear is running through my head..."

"There's a pattern that has existed in my life for as long as I can remember. Not only do I do it, many other people that I know do it as well. I learn about some type of problem—a robbery, a shooting, a murder...I close my eyes for a moment, and then I brace myself as I await more information. And all the while one thought/prayer/chant/fear is running through my head..."

Memory

When You Can’t Remember & When You Can’t Forget

Lynne Soraya on May 5, 2014

Recently, a segment of the news program 60 Minutes profiled individuals (such as actress Marilu Henner) who have HSAM, highly superior autobiographical memory. What I found most interesting in the story was their descriptions of how their condition affected them emotionally and socially. Some of it felt very familiar.

Recently, a segment of the news program 60 Minutes profiled individuals (such as actress Marilu Henner) who have HSAM, highly superior autobiographical memory. What I found most interesting in the story was their descriptions of how their condition affected them emotionally and socially. Some of it felt very familiar.

Autism

Using Structure To Help Autistic Kids Build Flexibility

Lynne Soraya on March 31, 2014

A few weeks ago, during a weekly Twitter chat that I host about autism, a mother of an adult on the spectrum mentioned how, when her daughter was a child, structure had been crucial in helping her to learn flexibility. It sounds like an oxymoron, but I found it to be absolutely true in my life as well.

A few weeks ago, during a weekly Twitter chat that I host about autism, a mother of an adult on the spectrum mentioned how, when her daughter was a child, structure had been crucial in helping her to learn flexibility. It sounds like an oxymoron, but I found it to be absolutely true in my life as well.

Autism

Autism and Exercise

Lynne Soraya on March 9, 2014

I’ve spent years now trying to deconstruct why certain experiences and environments growing up affected me the way they did, pro and con. Activity came up again and again in those analyses, but I could never pinpoint exactly why. A recent blog post shed some light on why that is.

I’ve spent years now trying to deconstruct why certain experiences and environments growing up affected me the way they did, pro and con. Activity came up again and again in those analyses, but I could never pinpoint exactly why. A recent blog post shed some light on why that is.

Empathy

Acceptance, Empathy and Presuming Competence

Lynne Soraya on January 31, 2014

When a child has a diagnosis or difference, it’s easy to get caught up in treatments and therapies to the exclusion of everything else. But my experience is the right attitude can have just as much impact. It shapes how you relate to the child, and how they relate to you. Most importantly, it shapes how they feel about themselves.

When a child has a diagnosis or difference, it’s easy to get caught up in treatments and therapies to the exclusion of everything else. But my experience is the right attitude can have just as much impact. It shapes how you relate to the child, and how they relate to you. Most importantly, it shapes how they feel about themselves.

Memory

Early Memory and Autism

Lynne Soraya on December 30, 2013

In a recent Psychology today post, Arthur J. Clark, Ed.D. asks “Why are early recollections sparse and prosaic?” This caught my attention, because my early memories are not sparse at all. Dr. Clark mentions that most people can recall only four or five memories which occurred prior to the age of seven. I came up with more than three times that in a matter of seconds.

In a recent Psychology today post, Arthur J. Clark, Ed.D. asks “Why are early recollections sparse and prosaic?” This caught my attention, because my early memories are not sparse at all. Dr. Clark mentions that most people can recall only four or five memories which occurred prior to the age of seven. I came up with more than three times that in a matter of seconds.

Trauma

Talking About Trauma Part 3

Lynne Soraya on November 30, 2013

Earlier this year, a video clip went viral. Taken at Comicpalooza in Houston, Texas, it took on topics one wouldn't have expected for such a venue — domestic violence and trauma. And it touched a lot of hearts in the process.

Earlier this year, a video clip went viral. Taken at Comicpalooza in Houston, Texas, it took on topics one wouldn't have expected for such a venue — domestic violence and trauma. And it touched a lot of hearts in the process.

Stress

Speech As Stim

Lynne Soraya on October 17, 2013

The other day, I felt strange phenomenon come over me. Suddenly, I felt a need to speak another language: Spanish. Experiences just like this are not at all unusual for me, but the reason for them might be surprising.

The other day, I felt strange phenomenon come over me. Suddenly, I felt a need to speak another language: Spanish. Experiences just like this are not at all unusual for me, but the reason for them might be surprising.

Trauma

Talking About Trauma Part 2

Lynne Soraya on September 29, 2013

They say that time heals all wounds – but does it? Does ignoring trauma, suppressing it, or distracting yourself from it really work? My experience suggests no – not without help.

They say that time heals all wounds – but does it? Does ignoring trauma, suppressing it, or distracting yourself from it really work? My experience suggests no – not without help.