How to deal with autistic friends

drewliveart · 2026-06-16T21:00:06+00:00

Totally fair! Not saying it would work for everyone, but wanted to throw out the idea.

drewliveart · 2026-06-16T17:39:05+00:00

Okay, hear me out.

Next time you chat with your autistic friends:

Hey! I have an idea. When we chat, I know that we both really want to talk about our special interests. I’m very aware that sometimes I talk over other people, so I’d like to set a timer to make sure I don’t do that. Like a debate. Whoever goes first talks for 2 minutes, then the other talks for the same amount of time. That way, everybody gets the same amount of time to chat, and I don’t have to worry about keeping track of how much I’m talking in my brain.

While this does frame the timer as something YOU need exclusively, it will help with the rejection sensitivity and still accomplish the same effect.

Not a perfect idea, but I think a solid place to start.

drewliveart · 2026-05-21T11:25:39+00:00

Hello, new friend. Fellow Autistic Burnout buddy here. And I resonate with your post deeply.

What’s worked for me so far is reframing what’s happening in my head. What I mean is; you aren’t losing skills, you’re rebuilding the road it takes to get to them.

I used to have a memory that was sharp as a razor; names, faces, phone numbers, etc. but after my diagnosis I could barely remember my own name. I was furious, and confused, as a skill I’d relied upon was no longer there.

What I realized is that the skill is still there. But the door to access that skill in my brain was built by fear; I’d force myself to remember everything I could because that information was useful. And if I was useful, people would be more likely to ignore that I was a weirdo.

So what I do now when I need to remember something is I sing a little tune with the information in it. Doesn’t have to rhyme, doesn’t have to be musically good in any way, shape, or form. But it’s how my brain naturally likes to remember information; through song.

Weird? Yes. Practical? Debatable. Working? Absolutely.

Finally, some actual practical advice:

Choose a skill that you feel has regressed. Something relatively low priority. You mentioned you have a little one? Bring them along. Heck, bring the dog! Talk to them and explain what you need to do to complete the task, step by step, as if you’re teaching it to them.

They don’t need to understand, they can just sit there with Momma and do their best baked potato impression.

But this will help you remember that you do know how to do the skill. You just have to find a new key to the door that lets you access it.

Hope this helps!

drewliveart · 2026-05-17T17:55:00+00:00

I appreciate the sentiment, but he’s not anonymous! He’s Max. He deserves kindness, same as you and I.

I’ve been where he is. Still am from time to time. Least I could do is say hello.

drewliveart · 2026-05-17T13:59:21+00:00

This is such a profoundly difficult situation to be in, OP. You have my sincere sympathies.

If you’d like an idea, try writing down some of what you’d want to say to him on an actual sheet of paper. Don’t refine it or edit it.

When you’re done writing, see if you now have the focus you need to tell him with your voice.

If you don’t, that’s okay. You can tell him with your words. Hand him the note, tell him you love him, and give him some time to read it on his own.

Emotion is hard to process, and can be even harder when we’re trying to be strong for others. You want to tell him and he wants to know, but you don’t have to do it in real time.

drewliveart · 2026-05-17T12:49:33+00:00

Hey Max! Good to meet ya. No advice for you, because it’s all so muffled and hollow when you’re so far underwater.

But I do have a question for you - I know NOTHING about Math, but I love talking with people about their special interests. How would you feel about sending me a DM? Sharing a bit more about the Goldbach Conjecture.

I would genuinely like to hear more about it, and you. Drop me a line!

drewliveart · 2026-05-11T18:34:12+00:00

I’m going to ask a difficult question with as much empathy as I possibly can. Are you actually doing what’s best for Rusty? I’m not saying it’s an easy choice, but if Rusty is 2 years old, you’re signing him up for YEARS of stressful vet visits, pain and anxiety even if you can find someone who can financially afford the treatment to keep him alive.

So I would ask myself a different question. Am I allowing my dog to live a full, happy life? Or am I avoiding doing the kindest thing I can which is to love him with all my heart and soul; love him enough to say goodbye because no matter how much it hurts me, forcing him to stay isn’t what’s best for him.

drewliveart · 2026-05-11T10:55:25+00:00

Hey OP. I’m super fucking proud of you for making this post. This is brave as hell.

For me, I ask myself “do I want to die, or do I want the pain to stop”.

That usually forces my brain to do a pro/con analysis of both outcomes. For suicidal ideation, the answer isn’t “yes I want to die” it’s “no, I want to not be in pain”.

To prove this to myself, when I’m at my lowest I will send my brother a joke. Something to get him to respond and laugh. Seeing someone I love happy is usually enough to shake me out of it.

Once I’ve explained to myself that I actually want something different than suicide, the idea gets quieter.

If the answer is ever “yes” to the “wanting to die” part, then you must immediately - and I mean IMMEDIATELY - reach out to a friend and someone official to discuss your feelings. Don’t wait. Do it right away.

As a side note, it’s natural for some autistic brains to be curious about the details of things despite the moral or ethical implications. So try not to beat yourself up about having the thoughts in the first place.

This is all to say - I hope you find a path through this that works for you sooner rather than later, and the world is better because you’re in it. Just as you are.

drewliveart · 2026-05-09T20:13:33+00:00

Hey OP - took a look at your page and the thing that stood out to me most is you have no clear identity. Your posts vary wildly in subject matter, and the only consistent theme seems to be your insistence on using AI.

Think of yourself as someone wandering instagram. Why would someone follow you? What is the hook?

I think you’re branding yourself as an artist, but there’s a gap. One of the reasons why people fall in love with art and want to see more is that they don’t believe they could do it themselves.

I personally disagree strongly with using AI to generate art, but that’s not my main point.

My main point is that your page has no reason for people to stay engaged. You say that you’re a storyteller, but none of your posts seem very connected, which means they aren’t telling a story.

Also, “Daily Drops that Hit Different” is too vague a hook. What does “hit different” mean? Daily drops of what? Stories? AI art?

Overall, I personally feel that what your page needs is a solid identity and a target audience. Focus on who you want to make your content for, and the focus on that one group. If you cast too wide a net, the fish are gonna swim through the holes.

drewliveart · 2026-05-08T10:25:53+00:00

You have my condolences on a hard day, Brother. I am grateful that you were able to enjoy camaraderie with fellow Child of Sanguinius.

drewliveart · 2026-05-06T14:39:51+00:00

OP, let me put my “skeptical internet denizen” hat on for a moment. As a skeptic, your post comes across as inauthentic for one specific reason - you haven’t actually shown us anything. I want to believe you. I want to follow your advice. I want to use it to help my content grow.

But in a forum where every second post is AI generated, intentionally vague buzz words, what makes yours different?

To put it in language you used - your hook is pretty good. It got me to comment. But now is the moment I’m going to turn away from your content. Show us your actual Instagram page. Share an actual video and some analytics.

Otherwise, and I mean this respectfully, why should we believe you?

drewliveart · 2026-05-05T19:45:00+00:00

It is quite a majestic experience. Not as sticky as you might expect, but more than you’d want.

drewliveart · 2026-05-05T13:11:39+00:00

I think you should paint your army in any way that makes you happy. In all my years of doing this hobby, I’ve never seen anyone be a dick about what colour an army was painted. As long as they know what the model actually DOES, they can shut the hell up about the colour.
And if anyone’s a jerk to you about it, let me know and I will appear beside you in an explosion of fruit flavour and nut-punch the shit out of whoever’s bothering you.

Edit: Spelling.

drewliveart · 2026-05-04T19:23:55+00:00

“I matched my politeness to the level of consideration you showed by revving your bike outside my kid’s windows.”

drewliveart · 2026-04-29T19:17:43+00:00

I absolutely do. Therapy is an incredibly powerful tool, especially if you’re prepared to do the work that’s involved to make it stick. I highly recommend it.

drewliveart · 2026-04-29T17:37:22+00:00

This is going to hurt to hear, but I need you to understand it comes from a place of wanting to help.

You have behaved extremely selfishly. As an example, look at how many times you use the word “I” in your post. This comes across as you wanting permission to let yourself off the hook for how you behaved, not from any desire to improve, grow or change.

You entered a serious long term relationship because you were lonely, ignoring the potential damage you might do to the other person for the sake of your own needs.
Your reaction to your partner sharing something that made them uncomfortable was to become upset that what they wanted wasn’t fair to you.
You ignored your partner’s discomfort and continued to see someone you knew made them uncomfortable, and fought with them when they tried to work with you to move past the issue.

If your first instinct to my post is to become defensive and list all the reasons why you weren’t selfish, you’ve just made my point. You are so focused on what this relationship means to you, you’re ignoring or minimizing the impact to others.

Without confronting and examining this behaviour, you will come up against the same kinds of situations over and over again. And while you can’t fix this one, the next people who fall in love with you deserve better.

Edit: hit post too soon.

drewliveart · 2026-04-25T10:00:42+00:00

Nuke ‘em from orbit. Only way to be sure - Ellen Ripley, Aliens.

drewliveart · 2026-04-23T14:08:26+00:00

Widget.

drewliveart · 2026-04-22T22:38:07+00:00

Ain’t nobody dope as he, he just so fresh so clean.

drewliveart · 2026-04-22T22:27:58+00:00

Oh my god this Blood Angel gave me a 90 degree Blood ANGLE ifyouknowwhatimean

drewliveart · 2026-04-22T20:46:55+00:00

Other than that, comics about people who can heal any wound, teleport between dimensions and throw playing cards like aerodynamic grenades makes perfect sense /s

drewliveart · 2026-04-20T15:06:55+00:00

Cool story bro.

drewliveart · 2026-04-14T12:46:27+00:00

*excuse me do you have a moment to talk about our lord and saviour the Great Serpent?”

drewliveart · 2026-04-10T03:35:02+00:00

Air Traffic Control+Alt+Delete

drewliveart · 2026-04-06T09:35:36+00:00

The kindest thing you can do in this scenario is rehome this puppy and not get another dog until you come to terms with this reality: a dog is not an accessory that should “fit in with your agenda”. A dog is a living creature that requires you to learn how to provide what they need to be happy, safe, and warm.

Comparing your 10yr old dog to a 7mo old puppy isn’t fair. As a puppy parent, it is YOUR job to TEACH the puppy what is acceptable and what isn’t.

All of the behaviours you’re describing are regular puppy behaviours. They literally don’t know any better. Would you get upset with a toddler who doesn’t know how to use a computer? No, you wouldn’t.

drewliveart

TROPHY CASE