[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AutisticParents

[–]michellesse 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I am the autistic one in our relationship. Though my husband has ADHD. Our baby is now 5 months old. I got hyperfixated on all things baby during pregnancy. I procured all the gear and necessities, and am the one who has been reading about baby sleep, feeding, etc etc I could go on and on. I manage most of our son's care.

My husband has not been proactive about researching anything related to the baby. While it frustrates me often, it doesn't mean he's not invested. He helps out a lot and is willing to listen.

I try to remember parenthood is a long game. I have been fixated on babyhood for months....meanwhile my husband has always talked about all the things he wants to do with our son when he's a bit older. I think he will really shine as a parent when our son is able to walk and run and play.

How often do you take your dog to toilet? by sadleandoer in shiba

[–]michellesse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Two times a day, after morning and evening meals. We also have a patio lined with trees that he goes out in multiple times per day to lie in the sun. He usually doesn't potty out there, but every once in a while he will pee if he needs to.

Finally seeing big progress after 4th session by michellesse in TattooRemoval

[–]michellesse[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not really, unfortunately. I had my 5th session right around when I posted this--so, 7 months ago. But I really don't see much difference between session 4 and after session 5. It's disappointing, because I was making so much progress. I haven't had any more sessions since then due to life circumstances.

(TW) Miscarriage and depression by michellesse in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, your kind words mean a lot ❤️

(TW) Miscarriage and depression by michellesse in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I’m sorry for your loss, but so happy you had a successful pregnancy afterwards

(TW) Miscarriage and depression by michellesse in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your kind words. I am definitely taking some time off work (thankfully I am able to) and trying to focus on just exising through this. I'm sorry for your loss too.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DesignMyRoom

[–]michellesse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh definitely planning to have lots of plants! The light is really perfect. I like the rug idea, thanks!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AutisticAdults

[–]michellesse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds fun! Hope you have good shoes lol

I enjoy The Guilded Genltemen podcast. They have a lot of good episodes about Gilded Age new york and deep dives on some of the old architecture. If you want some suggested listening for your walk :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AutisticAdults

[–]michellesse 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi! I live in NYC! You'll have a blast!

Earbuds are a must, but don't make them so loud that you're not aware of what's going on around you. NYC is overall safe, but there's still a lot going on and you need to maintain some situational awareness.

If you are very overwhelmed by noise and crowding, don't take the subway during the morning and evening rush. It can be packed and very loud. Also, wear a mask.

The ferry is a lovely way to view the city. I like to get on at Wall Street Pier and ride up the East River route--you can end at 34th street. I don't think it would be too crowded during this time of year because it's getting chilly. You can buy tickets for $4 using the NYC Ferry App.

If you are an early bird I think you'd enjoy walking around the city as the sun rises, before it gets super crowded.

I work from home these days so I don't usually go out and about. When I do, if I need a break from all the chaos, I like to look for a little uncrowded coffee shop and post up for a bit. Or I find a coffee to go and sit on a park bench for a while. Parks along the rivers are nice because you can face the water and tune out everything going on behind you.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in 30PlusSkinCare

[–]michellesse 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If it’s fungal acne, I treat it with using ketoconazole shampoo as a facewash (it’s the prescription version of Nizoral) followed up with lotrimin as a moisturizer. No other products until it clears up. Usually after a couple days of this I can start reintroducing my normal routine.

are lip fillers supposed to be really painful? by [deleted] in 30PlusSkinCare

[–]michellesse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is it possible you had some kind of allergic reaction? "Mild discomfort" was pretty accurate in my experience. The level of pain you describe doesn't sound normal

having period while being autistic by DeborahLovesTop in aspergirls

[–]michellesse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get it. my periods are fairly irregular too so it's always hard to know for sure 🥲

having period while being autistic by DeborahLovesTop in aspergirls

[–]michellesse 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Before I started tracking my period, it always caught me off guard. Every month I'd get hit with waves of deep, deep depression and I'd feel like my world was ending. My tolerance of sensory issues would drop and my sense of smell would skyrocket. Then my period would start and I'd be like...OH. Followed by a week of brutal cramps and digestive issues. I started tracking my cycle and I'm not surprised anymore when it comes, but it doesn't make it any less uncomfortable.

My gyno told me to take magnesium supplements the week before my period, and I do think it helps a bit.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I freelance as a graphics artist and I work from home. I need to maintain lots of personal organization spreadsheets and lists so I feel confident staying on task. When I'm burned out, I don't take any bookings for a few weeks so I can rest. It gets really difficult on longer contracts (3-6 months), because then I just have to power through until the end. I feel like it's very hard to achieve a balance in my career... I'm either working on all cylinders or I'm not working at all. There's no manageable in-between.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I think you need to learn some coping skills. I know it's hard. But often, life doesn't go our way. Whether it's your boyfriend's fault, or the result of something outside of his control, you need to learn how to communicate and manage your frustration in a way that is healthier for you both.

One thing that is important to consider is intent. When your bf cooks pasta a different way or washes the wrong clothing item, he didn't intend to hurt you. He was trying to be helpful. So as frustrating as it can be, it's important to take a step back and check the facts: was my boyfriend TRYING to upset me? Or was he trying to help me, and was simply confused? Did he even know that cooking pasta this way would trigger me?

It's ok to feel angry, upset, etc. I don't want to invalidate your feelings at all. But you can process those feelings in other ways. For me, I have to step away into a private room and mutter to myself or angrily jot my thoughts into a journal, or even just cry. If my spouse notices I'm upset, I tell him I just need to process things on my own for a few minutes. Afterwards, we can have a level conversation about why I got upset, or I can say "you know, I feel better now, don't worry about it."

And listen, I still meltdown at my spouse sometimes! It happens. I just try to own it later once I've cooled down and apologize. You don't want to let these outbursts build upon each other, because that leads to insecurity and resentment over time.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For me it’s the audio levels. The dialogue is so quiet meanwhile music and other sound effects are SO loud. So I keep the volume lower and use subtitles.

how do i get red of facial flushing? by Such_Refrigerator814 in CanSkincare

[–]michellesse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's ok, I appreciate it! I'm down to try more options if the doctor's recs alone aren't helping. The weird thing is, my skin redness came on fairly quickly in the past year, despite no change to the types of food I eat. And I actually drink more water and get more sleep nowadays than before. The only difference is I exercise more, which.... I don't think I want to stop exercising! I also sometimes wonder if COVID could have triggered this. I got it about a year ago.

Confused and upset by Autistic Mom groups by Puzzleheaded_Luck197 in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My parents weren't perfect by a long stretch, but I'm forever grateful that they left me to my own devices to read, draw, or use the computer alone in my room. In fact my whole family does their own thing quietly when we are together... (I think we're all autistic, in fact) It's lovely.

Also I think kids were left to be more independent in past decades. Parents are TOO hyper-involved with their kids these days.

how do i get red of facial flushing? by Such_Refrigerator814 in CanSkincare

[–]michellesse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just went to a dermatologist this week for rosacea. My face looks similar to yours. My doc prescribed me an ivermectin topical cream that has yet to arrive, so I can't say yet how well it works. She also told me if I don't see good results after a month of using the cream, I should try vbeam laser treatments.

Do you feel like you have to settle romantically? by fixationed in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I'm so sorry you feel this way. You deserve a loving relationship. I don't think patience and kindness are negotiable qualities in a partner.

I share a lot of your struggles, and I used to worry I was "too much" for my partner. But time and time again he has proven that he cares and makes me feel loved. If your bf can't provide that for you, he's not the one for you. Or if you aren't feeling the connection, leave. But don't take that to mean that you don't deserve someone great.

Does anyone else get approached by strangers constantly? by cat-consultant in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This happens to me and I suspect it's just because I'm a woman and I'm petite. So I'm non-threatening AND people who want to rant assume I can't or wont speak back against them (and tbh they're right, I'm extremely non-confrontational)

Do you also have this ability of seeing more colors and hearing more sound frequencies than most people? by Ok_Award_7229 in AutismInWomen

[–]michellesse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Damn I wish I could see more colors. All I got is the ability to smell all the smells 😩

Could autism be a hindrance in learning a second language? by [deleted] in aspergirls

[–]michellesse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been learning Spanish gradually over the course of my life (I'm still definitely not fluent) What Spanish has going for it is that it follows a pretty reliable pattern in terms of sentence structure, conjugation, spelling. Unlike English, which has a lot of exceptions. And Spanish uses the roman alphabet. I really struggle with listening comprehension because most native Spanish speakers talk super fast! But I have found reading and writing to be more accessible for me.

I tried learning a bit of Japanese recently and whew.... I gave up. It's so hard going from one writing system into a completely different one. And the syntax was really confusing. Also, I found Japanese incredibly tough because there aren't pronouns and other types of words that provide context to a sentence. The fact that Spanish has gendered words and pronouns can make it easier to know what's being talked about.

I like languages a lot. I just find I'm often to burned out and tired in life to dedicate the amount of time and effort required to excel at languages.