I'm upset with tiktok. Particularly the mental health aspect of tiktok. It's so inaccurate most of the time but people act like it's not. You shouldn't take mental advice from tiktok. Tiktok is partially responsible for setting back the public's perception of OCD, we were gaining traction in helping people understand that intrusive thoughts don't make us, killers, creeps, or dangerous.

Now we've got tiktok people telling everyone that intrusive thoughts are about wanting to eat too much candy, or poke a Llama in the face because it's so cute. No those are just thoughts, normal thoughts, impulsive thoughts.

They are likely not ego dystonic. They likely do not clash with your sense of self, you most likely do not have a negative or anxious reaction to these thoughts. Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, scary, distressing thoughts that pop into your mind randomly and you don't want them.

People with ocd can't control their thoughts, but now we have people calling OCD people and people with other conditions monsters because they have real intrusive thoughts that follow a common theme, hurting others, doing something bad or perverted. Or something you don't want to do, it can even be thoughts about joining another religion or secretly being a sexuality and not knowing it.

Intrusive thoughts can be anything, but they are always unpleasant and unwanted, they are considered to be ego dystonic meaning they do not go along with a person's sense of self.

When I was younger I would have thoughts about pushing people into the street and them getting run over by cars, I hated those thoughts. I didn't want them, those were intrusive thoughts. Tiktok has harmed OCD acceptance and imagine what it's going to do to Autism, which I also have, if people keep taking advice from tiktok. Please don't take tiktok advice

To be or not to be disabled. That is the question

There is nothing wrong with saying autism is a disability. You can't be diagnosed with autism unless you are impaired by it. Autism as it is defined is a neurodevelopmental condition that impairs the person who has in it many ways. Just like there is nothing wrong with saying flowers are plants by definition. Or that humans are by definition mammals and reptiles are not.

Autism is by definition an impairment and therefore a disability, and there's nothing wrong with saying that.

Pets

I love animals. I have a bunch of them. Recently, I got a ferret as an early birthday gift. He is so sweet. I had a ferret once before, when I was twelve years old, that didn't last long. For years, I have wanted another ferret, and finally, I got one in March. I remember holding him and how sweet he was as a little baby. He has grown so fast, and I am very happy about how he's progressed. I believe that pets are important for people with autism. They can provide a non judgemental connection, foster a sense of responsibility, and help us practice empathy for others.

I am starting a blog on WordPress, I'm moving my posts there but I still plan to post here too. Here's my blog if you want to visit theauristicat.wordpress.com

Levels are important and so is using them correctly.

There is a misunderstanding about levels that borders on abelist. Some of you may have seen others say "levels are harmful to low support needs autistics" or "some days I'm level 1, some days I'm level 2 and some days I'm level 3".

These statements are harmful for an assortment of reasons and I plan to discuss some of those today.

First:

Levels are not inherently harmful to lower aupport needs autistics the idea that level 1 means no support needs, is not built into the level system. Level 1s require support, level 2s require moderate support, level 3 requires a lot of support. Instead of attacking the level system, the focus should be on addressing the incorrect belief that level 1s don't need any support. For moderate and high support needs people, levels can be invaluable. It can be very difficult for me, a level 2, to explain how my autism effects me. Being able to tell my doctors and the government, that I am a level 2 takes the pressure of trying to verbalize how my disability impacts me. If you can explain how your autism effects you that's great but many of us cant and that is why levels are important. It is shorthand for low, moderate and high support needs people who cannot put into words how autism impacts them.

Some may say that level 1s will be denied services due to misconceptions, this could be possible, though I know level 1s on SSI and such. However, the diagnostic criteria notes level 1 autistic people need supports as well. The level system is very beneficial for many moderate and high support needs people and the problem that some level 1s bring up are the fault of misconceptions of the level system that would be better addressed by educating those who think level 1s don't need support, than by attacking the level systems.

Second:

"Some days I'm level 1, some days I'm level 2 and some days I'm level 3".

Is a perplexing and disturbing saying. Many people, often level 1s, use this phrase to refer to their bad days and in argument against the level system. Some will say levels are useless because "some days I'm level 1, some days I'm level 2 and some days I'm level 3". They are referring to how stressful, difficult, or painful a particular day is and conflating it with levels , not referring to an actual level change.

This is problematic because that isn't how levels work. It is also insulting because it implies that level 2 and 3s are always having bad days and that our level is a state of a bad day. It also implies that if level 2 and 3s had better days or better environments they would become level 1s. This gives an unrealistic impression of how varying degrees of autism works and contributes to misinformation that can harm the autistic community.

I would like to share an example of something a low support need autistic person said about high support needs people "they have tricked everyone into thinking they can't do more so everyone does everything for them". This horrible statement is fueled by the idea that levels are just a measurement of good and bad days. I am a level 2, I am not the imbodiment of a moderately bad day, I am autistic person who needs moderate support. Please think hard the next time you say "some days I'm level 1, some days I'm level 2 and some days I'm level 3". And ask yourself, what that statement really implies.

Special interests

I have few interests, one of my long standing on has persisted since I was 2 years old. Aliens. I love aliens, especially Grey aliens and green aliens. I have an interest in other types of aliens such as reptoids, but my favorite aliens since I was a little girl has been aliens. Special interests can be inflexible and often obsessive and unchanging interests in a narrow range of things. My interests rarely change and they have a theme, aliens, vintage things, fantasy and sci-fi. If it combines all those things I often love it. Trying out things outside of my interests is often hard, it causes anxiety and discomfort. Even when I want to like something new, it can cause extreme discomfort and anxiety for me to try new things and read new things to the point that I often don't end up liking them.

The Spicy Autistic Community

Includes those who are level 2-3, or those who have higher support needs than our level 1 autistic friends. Living with spicy autism can be a challenge for many, and the community from what I have seen is a bit different than the mainstream autism community. Being moderate to high support needs means needing to be aware that if your support systems crumbled you may end up homeless and starving. It is important to learn about resources to protect and feed spicy autistic people if you have spicy autism. I am level 2 so technically spicy.

My autism diagnostic experience, as a late diagnosed girl.

I have actually been diagnosed with autism over 3 times, in my 20s, due to a series of events. My first diagnosis I was not given a level, on my third I received the level 2 diagnosis. The third evaluation, was one of the most difficult processes I have been through. It was enough to give me a near breakdown. It was mentally taxing and consisted of a series of tests over the course of 3 sessions, two of which were testing and one was an explanation of the results. The interview included one of parents who was able to give a detailed account of my childhood, which was emotionally taxing for my parent. I am blessed to have a supportive parent.

The testing took around 2 to 3 hours for the first 2 sessions and 1 for the last. The tests included an iq test, idiom understanding tests and verbal storytelling. I also took 2 or 3 questionnaires that took around 30 to 45 minutes. Do I want to do it again? NO! Would I do it again and recommend it to others YES! It was enlightening and I recommend everyone go through neurophyschological testing, which is different than a straight autism diagnosis because it is usually covered by insurance. It includes testing not just for autism but a host of other conditions as well. Whereas an adult diagnosis only covers autism usually and is often NOT covered by insurance.

The purpose of autism levels

I am what most would consider late diagnosed, I was diagnosed in my early to mid 20s, but not given a level. Joining the autism community was a breath of fresh air, seeing others who thought like me and acted like me was relieving. But as time went on I began to notice that even among these people I was not like most of them. My struggles were different, my ability to do things in the world such as drive, and take care of myself was stunted in comparison to them. I was confused and frustrated until I was reevaluated and given a level 2 diagnosis putting me squarely in the moderate support needs and suddenly it all made sense, I wasn't a defective autistic woman, I was a moderate support needs autistic woman. Levels can help us and those around us understand what degree of support we need, it can help us realize why we cannot do things that others like us can do and why we can do things that others like cannot do.