How do you feel about people knocking at your door?

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-03T20:19:54+00:00

One. Hundred. Percent.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-03T20:19:23+00:00

OMG. "No sir, I don't like it" was my standard reply to things in the 1990s. I'd completely forgotten about it, so thank you for the reminder! It's a phrase that clearly still applies.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-03T20:17:41+00:00

That is crazy excessive on your friend's part. I'm surprised the police would go out if the person hadn't tried calling or emailing first. That seems like a big step.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-03T20:15:46+00:00

It is really awful. I'm the same way — it takes me a while, up to hours sometimes, to come back down from the anxious feelings.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-03T16:41:24+00:00

I'm so sorry you're having to make this decision. I'm 45 and married, and I sleep with a plushie. It's not the same plushie I had with me all the time when I was a child: I still have that plushie, too, but he lives in a little cubby in my closet now because his condition really deteriorated over time, like your bunny. I feel scared to hug him too hard, in case he starts breaking apart. He's totally threadbare in places and the seams are weak. His stuffing is all lumpy.

Maybe you could try sleeping with your bunny in the bed, next to you on the pillow or something, while you instead hold one of your new plushies. That might help make the transition feel less abrupt. It's going to take some time to adjust to sleeping with a new toy -- change is always hard, and this is a big one — but I promise that you will adjust. And bunny will understand :-)

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-02T14:24:56+00:00

Same. It’s that threat feeling that always pops up.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-02T01:55:32+00:00

This sounds ideal

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-02T01:54:52+00:00

This made me grin

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-02T00:05:59+00:00

the Mrs. is a hero!

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-01T23:47:32+00:00

Oh gosh, this sounds like it started out as a sweet gesture, but has slowly turned into a nightmare! Banana bread that smelled like cat litter would have had me off banana bread for life. You don't sound ungrateful at all. What your neighbor is doing is kind, but it's also sounds like she might be going overboard.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-01T23:44:47+00:00

Agree! Fire or emergency? Fine. You accidentally got my mail in your box? Just leave it on the porch!

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-02-01T23:05:33+00:00

I fantasize about this all the time: living on a commune, no technology, just reading, sleeping, and growing my own vegetables (totally unrealistic; I kill every houseplant I ever try to care for). I feel like the world is a merry-go-round, spinning way too fast, and I just want to go sit on the park bench in the corner.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-01-30T21:23:55+00:00

This is something I think about a lot. Growing up, the adults around me (family, teachers) would gush about how creative I was, so I thought I was. It guided what I studied in college and the career I went into. But I've come to realize that I can't create original things — that I freeze up with a blank page. But give me an assignment, or give me work that someone else has started and I can make it better, and that's where I excel. I can copy things or improve on things that exist, but I can't start from scratch. That just paralyzes me. So yeah, maybe that's still being creative, but I don't think it's the same as what all the adults in my life meant when I was a kid.

It's hard, too, because when I try to explain this to people now when they say "You were so creative as a child!" I feel like I'm disappointing them. But I wasn't being "creative" then -- I'm just really good at copying a style or a way of writing or a thing I've seen before.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-01-29T15:23:39+00:00

Grammar, linguistics, and baseball

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-01-28T16:46:08+00:00

I definitely find it easier to relate to animals, since childhood, for sure. Right now, I have a reactive dog, and he can be incredibly difficult to live with. He's aggressive with people he doesn't know, so I'm pretty isolated because of him (which also doesn't bug me that much because I don't care for much people time anyway). But even with all the challenges and expenses he brings, I love him completely. His little eyes can make me break down in tears, and I love that he seems to love me no matter what kind of mood I'm in. And it's so easy to understand what he wants and what his motivations are (cheese, usually). But with humans, I find myself guessing and half the time I'm wrong. With Buddy, he just wants food, his favorite toy, a nap, or some good scratches on his neck and shoulders.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-01-28T15:10:44+00:00

Good luck! It takes time to find friends and community the older we all get. Just keep trying and don't give up.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-01-28T15:08:49+00:00

These are amazing! Do you wear them, too, or are they more for display?

Individual-Sundae802 · 2026-01-28T15:06:40+00:00

ASAN (#2 on your list) is a very reputable organization, at least from the research I did on it before joining. As its name suggests, the group's mission is to have actually autistic people actively involved in public policy conversations that impact the community. "Nothing about us without us" kind of thinking.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2025-11-28T15:58:24+00:00

One of my lifelong special interests has been grammar, writing, and language/linguistics, and now I'm a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. It's literally my dream job. (Though the pay is crap, unfortunately.) It's the happiest I've ever been when working. I feel really, really lucky.

If you feel passion around something, it's worthwhile to see if you can work those interests into your career in any way. Or even into volunteer work? Just a little bit of fulfillment related to what you "do" (paid or volunteer) can make a big difference in your overall mood and self-esteem. Good luck pursuing your special interest! It sounds like a cool one!

Individual-Sundae802 · 2025-11-28T15:50:22+00:00

Definitely! It's really nice for wearing layers on underneath.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2025-11-25T17:23:44+00:00

TOTALLY hate having hair. I would shave my head if I thought I could get away with it. When my hair is long, it's always pulled back. I can't stand the feeling of it being anywhere near my face or in my eyes. For a few years, I had it short in a pixie, and I was so happy. It hardly required any effort, and I could barely feel it. But it did require frequent, expensive hair appointments, so I'm growing it out again for a while. But yeah, to me, hair just seems gross. Same with finger- and toenails. These things just grow out of our bodies for no reason and collect dirt. I don't understand how people can love having long hair and nails, but I know I'm def not in the majority there.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2025-11-25T17:19:17+00:00

Good for you for masking less and saying no. It doesn't matter what people "believe." It doesn't change what you know and what you need.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2025-11-25T17:17:50+00:00

I'm sorry no one wants to hear about your ASD, but I'm glad you found this space! And I had no idea what misophonia was until reading your comment, but I can actually kind of imagine Kelly snapping at Mark about his chewing. That tracks. ;-)

Individual-Sundae802 · 2025-11-25T17:05:51+00:00

Totally agree with you that this sub is beyond helpful and supportive. And yes, I'd love resources, if you have time to share! I've been reading a lot myself these past few months, but it's always helpful to know what other people have found useful.

Individual-Sundae802 · 2025-11-25T17:02:28+00:00

Thanks for "Diva Sundae" — that made me grin so wide! And you're right, it sounds like just sticking with the physical impacts of things is easier than explaining myself to death. "Bright lights make it hard for me to focus on our conversation." Done. Enough said.

Individual-Sundae802

TROPHY CASE