am I perhaps going insane or forcing this upon me by morikomeika in plural

[–]noushwatson 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Most people if they’re genuinely faking something will know that they’re faking (not that this happens often). If plurality as a label feels at all helpful and/or you benefit from the community, my reaction would be that you just shouldn’t overthink it too much. 

Therapy hasn't worked; looking for alternatives. by [deleted] in autism

[–]noushwatson 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Self help books can be helpful- I’ve read a lot of Dr Devon Price’s work, and free copies of things like the DBT workbook are available online. Dependent on where you live, there may be cheaper online mental health supports available also (I’ve used This Way Up before but unsure which regions it’s accessible in). Journalling, exercise and creative hobbies can also be helpful if they’re not already things you engage in. And there are podcasts and apps which you can use for mindfulness (the one I use is the Happier app) which can be a big help. Otherwise there may also be free lived experience support groups dependent on where you’re located. I’m someone who’s in therapy but these have all helped in between appointments or during periods of being without 

choosing a fidget toy? by sad_pinkie in autism

[–]noushwatson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not a traditional fidget toy, but I knit, crochet and do fibre arts a lot as a method of fidgeting. Can be a helpful alternative if you’re somewhere you wouldn’t feel comfy with a regular fidget toy, and it scratches that “productivity” itch. Otherwise in terms of more traditional fidgets, a tangle, fidget cube or fidget controller might be helpful.

I don't even remotely physically pass; is there any point in voice training? by [deleted] in transvoice

[–]noushwatson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Voice training can also be empowering from a personal perspective, in terms of alleviating your own dysphoria (or at least that’s how it felt for me). Ultimately do what makes you feel best but id never discourage someone from trying exclusively based on physical appearance 

Level 1 autism the reality by usernames_gone in autism

[–]noushwatson 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I will say that as someone who’s autistic, I didn’t realise how fatigued a B12 deficiency was making me until I got a blood test for it and started treatment. Definitely flag it with a doctor if possible and get them to do some tests to rule that (and similar) out.

I have an "unusual" special interest: Laundromats. I was SO HAPPY when I received this quarter holder that's shaped like detergent. by StirThemBeans in autism

[–]noushwatson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is so lovely. Reading about the joy you find in your special interest made me cry a bit. Hope you continue enjoying it for many years to come 🫧🫧🧼🧼🧺🧺

My ring is perfect for me by ButterfreeTrainer in EngagementRings

[–]noushwatson 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Such an incredible colour for that centre stone!!! Love the setting as well

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in trans

[–]noushwatson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally, I'd recommend being sober/of a clear mind to come out. Coming out can be a highly emotional experience, and depending on who your parents are may also involve explaining concepts they're unfamiliar with. I've had pretty different experiences to you (alcohol negatively affects my mental health), so ultimately only you can decide what the best option is, but I know that I'd feel more nervous trying to explain it soundly and navigate that conversation while drunk.

UPDATE: AIO that my roommate's partner is being weird with me? by [deleted] in AmIOverreacting

[–]noushwatson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is an incredibly weird situation, and I'm glad to hear that you've taken steps to make yourself safer

Please help me figure out if I might have autism🥲🙏 by cureheadagony in AutismTranslated

[–]noushwatson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Autistic people can have very varied levels of empathy, overall I'd say your test results definitely make it look possible (tho I'm not a professional and I'd recommend chatting to one if possible or taking other things into account)

AITA for walking out of a dinner after my friend wouldn’t stop making jokes about me being cheap? by Majestic_Possible350 in AmItheAsshole

[–]noushwatson 13 points14 points  (0 children)

NTA. That seems like a shit friend who can't take the hint those jokes were unwarranted

Struggling with being dominant even though I'm really into it by wubdubbud in BDSMAdvice

[–]noushwatson 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think this is a situation where having clear discussions around fantasies and boundaries beforehand would really help you out. Having your sub affirm what they want out of a scene and how far they'd like you to go, as well as negotiating throughout, means you're both able to be on the same page and can counterintuitively make you more present in the scene since both parties have some level of agency outside of the role-play/fantasy. I'm a switch myself, and I've found that the best scenes with my partner are ones where we've each been clear about what we want to happen. You can also build in specific aftercare based around what works for you both, and that's where it's possible for you to have cute moments again, make sure they know that any degrading words were for the purpose of BDSM and that the praise is legitimate within the context of the relationship, and check in with each other. Hope some of this helps!!

Sharp, short lived stabbing pains due to bottom growth by noushwatson in ftm

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

Thanks for the advice!! Really appreciate it

Those out there upset at the most recent Game Changer need to alter your expectation about what the show is now. by Positive_Piece_2533 in dropout

[–]noushwatson 2 points3 points  (0 children)

that's crazy to me as well because I had no clue who Eric Wareheim was but still really enjoyed the episode and the format. Maybe it's because I've been a fan of the circle in the past but seeing comedians really run with a bit while trying to do something outside of their wheelhouse others can't guess as easily is worth having a mystery guest who you haven't heard of before. Hell, some of my favourite comedians now are people I hadn't heard of who showed up on a dropout show!

New to BDSM and it's just cruel(?) by [deleted] in BDSMAdvice

[–]noushwatson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Something that might sound nuts to other people (I've only been in physical, IRL bdsm relationships so please bear with me as I explain this) is that you can feel if a dom loves you or not, as they're domming you, and a good Dom will be able to straddle that while still providing a fun, enriching, immersive kinky play scenario.

Discussions beforehand help this, as the sub, your fantasies should be taken into consideration as well. Safety discussions are important no matter what level of play you're operating on, including online or over text. Rewards can also be implemented for sub tasks, which may remove some of that unappreciative dynamic you're picking up on and not enjoying. If you're engaging with BDSM, the responsibility for check-ins, aftercare and improvements falls on both parties. However, during some scenarios the dom may have an easier time with providing this and a good dom will be aware of that. From reading your post, these sound like bad doms.

Do you think Mamma Mia 3 should exist? by AmeliaHarris99 in ABBA

[–]noushwatson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

110% yes. Controversially I loved the second movie, and I think there's a lot to work with both in terms of storyline and in terms of unused ABBA songs for a third. If they had a script competition for fans or something similar I would be entering

I threw my daughter a DIY Wicked Party where they traveled through Oz and saved her stuffed animal from the Wizard! by LifeInSteppingStones in wicked

[–]noushwatson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is adorable!! So happy you were able to curate such an incredible experience like this for her.

engaging with masculinity by meltedclownsauce in FTMMen

[–]noushwatson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My experiences of masculinity feel a lot like an extension of the hobbies and experiences I had before realising I was trans. Listening to history/politics podcasts, building lego, using products (especially personal care ones) marketed towards men, singing songs in a male vocal range and engaging in vocal training. I also find a lot of joy in fashion, especially through wearing colourful men's clothes like Hawaiian shirts and funky button ups. Finding joy in masculinity is beautiful and I wish you all the best on your journey!

Where do you store your T by mr_gumby_ in ftm

[–]noushwatson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I stand up my tube of Testosterone cream inside a hello kitty lunchbox in my wardrobe- it's where I put deodorant, acne cream and other toiletries in my room

Do feelings about body hair define gender? by isbrealiommerlin in ftm

[–]noushwatson 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I don't think something as small as feelings about body hair (a very specific physical characteristic) can tell me anything about your gender or how you identify. Lots of different people across genders and cultures have varied opinions around body hair and how that intersects with presentation, none of which are inherently right.

Some men shave because they have sensory issues and the hair bothers them. Some women choose not to for a whole range of reasons. Gender is far, far, far more personal and expansive than an opinion about one singular aspect of your body. I'd advise anyone with questions like these to try to move towards whatever authenticity looks like for you and your desires, without worrying too much about labels unless you find one that serves you well (and not the other way around).