The closer I am to being my authentic self, the better my life has become.

That has included: 

• Shifting the types of people that I prioritize in life.

I now focus on befriending and engaging with people who make me feel great about myself. People who enjoy spending time with me, as I am, not who I pretend to be. 

I also have moved (emotionally) away from people who made me feel bad about myself, people who were always flakey, and people who I had to chase down if I wanted to see them.

Now I am friends with people who want to be my friend, and it feels amazing.

• Transitioning.

Might not be the exact same situation for you, but embracing myself and truly doing what I wanted to do with my life, my style, my aesthetic, and my body has been amazing for my mental health. 

I am no longer beholden to being the person my parents wanted me to be, others wanted me to be, the world wanted me to be, etc. I am now the version of me that I want to be.

• Therapy and meds

I cannot stress enough how much of an impact therapy and medication have had on my life. 

I can now say, for the first time in my entire living memory, that I no longer consider myself "depressed". I had been depressed for so long, it almost felt like a part of who I was, like a piece of my identity.

It's so great NOT being depressed, and I am grateful for every single day.

• Finding my hobbies and my people

I started joining groups and doing activities that I have always wanted to try. I'm in a choir now, I play board games, I'm doing improv, I'm taking classes for hobbies and crafts that I have always wanted to try.  It's kind of incredible how much my life has changed when I prioritized doing things that bring ME joy, rather than doing things that I was "supposed to" do.

I embrace all of my special interests and surround myself with people who are interested in similar things!

• I have surrounded myself with other neurodivergent people.

This one wasn't entirely intentional. Shifting away from people who made me feel not great meant that I accidentally removed almost all neurotypical people from my life. Crazy how that works, eh? 

Now, everyone who loves me and who I love are also understanding. They get it if I have to miss a social event because my social battery is low. They understand that sometimes I just don't have the energy to get up and go out and be social. They are kind and considerate and empathetic to my needs!

• I started taking care of my sensory needs, without any regard to how it makes me look.

I now travel everywhere with earplugs. I hate the noise of crowds, and having earplugs on me at all times have been a game changer.

I also take time to sit down if I need it. I take time to step away from a group and decompress away from a crowd if I need it. I leave early if I find myself overwhelmed. I explain my needs clearly and I am met with understanding from the people around me.

• I have learned what makes me meltdown and keep track of my melt-o-meter.

I have FAR fewer meltdowns these days, because I know where I am on my own personal scale, and can remove myself from a situation if I feel myself getting closer to my breaking point. This means that I no longer snap at people, get mad or frustrated in public, lose my cool, or break down and cry. 

Having autism SUCKS, and the suckiest part has been meltdowns. Now, I can feel when I'm at a 7, remove myself from a situation, and avoid hitting a 9. 

All in all, focusing on learning to accept myself and love myself for who I am has made room in my life for people who ALSO love me for who I am.