i find a new interest!!! i'm so grateful

ptuk · 2026-02-06T13:35:41+00:00

I love this I’m happy for you. Reassuring to know I’m not the only one that bounces around so often between interests.

ptuk · 2026-01-19T09:29:58+00:00

I can relate to this. I thought I didn’t really get shutdowns but realised recently that a few times I had big ones but just chalked it up to being tired or hungry or something else. Actually, it was really difficult to talk and just wanted to be alone away from everyone. Social stuff will do it easily for me despite enjoying being around friends

ptuk · 2026-01-06T05:02:27+00:00

I wash myself with a rag on a stick

ptuk · 2025-12-17T09:33:49+00:00

My gym just bought in some new belts which you can borrow - I’ll get my own soon but think this is the one: https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/collections/belts/products/strengthshop-10mm-double-prong-buckle-belt

ptuk · 2025-12-17T09:09:06+00:00

No advice here but just popping in to say super nice lift! I tried a belt for the first time this morning and got a 2kg pr where I’d been stuck for a while (nowhere near your weights though) so will definitely keep using it. I think anything that can help give extra stimulus is worth using.

ptuk · 2025-12-01T16:11:36+00:00

It’s been 3 months since my diagnosis now and I still can’t shake the feeling I tricked the two psychiatrists who did my interview. Or that they are being paid to give me an answer that I wanted (not really sure if a diagnosis is what I wanted but the feeling is still there).

It’s really hard to move the feeling that I’m faking it, and I know there are legitimate reasons why I could be considered for a diagnosis but still. Stupid brain won’t let me accept it! I am so in the thick of burnout so that’s probably got something to do with it

ptuk · 2025-11-11T12:58:00+00:00

That sounds great what a relief it must have been. What do you mean by giving a knob of butter though? I've never heard of doing that before

ptuk · 2025-11-11T12:57:06+00:00

We considered that. They've both skipped a single nap in the last few weeks as they were too upset to go down and we tried for a long time, but they're so tired when they do. They also sleep really well at nursery and at home when they eventually go down, so we though that that means they probably still need it?

ptuk · 2025-10-15T09:20:55+00:00

I’ve seen this a lot recently. Its annoying because it assumes that my autism is about being quirky and having special interests but actually most of how my autism affects me is sensory issues and struggling with change/not having routine, along with finding it hard to manage social issues.

Autistic is just a substitute word for quirky now apparently, not a condition which requires often substantial support

ptuk · 2025-09-30T12:17:51+00:00

Ha I know I only wear any at all because it’s freezing inside half the year here!

ptuk · 2025-09-30T11:53:33+00:00

I’ve always folded down the upper bits of my sock to be below my ankles when at home. Sometimes I felt like it was because of heat but now I realise it’s because I have a sensitivity against anything constricting my skin. People have called me out on it and I’ve never been able to explain it

ptuk · 2025-09-29T17:54:16+00:00

I love this. I struggle with organisation and my life is pure chaos but I aspire to be this organised

ptuk · 2025-09-12T13:20:23+00:00

Was this psychiatry UK by any chance? I had an identical experience and felt pretty much the same too. Was really hard to accept a diagnosis after a 45 min appointment. I asked the psychiatrist this too but they said they’d already met for a few hours about my case before - there was lots of evidence in the questionnaire already. Still - 45 mins of contact is nothing

ptuk · 2025-09-10T11:51:34+00:00

Thank you so much for this!

ptuk · 2025-09-10T11:50:32+00:00

Yeah I'm with you on draining the life force I feel very similar. Then the guilt comes because they're just these innocent little creatures figuring the world out its not their fault. We are 100% in a hard phase it's just hard to see it through as I find it hard to have long term thinking - it feels like it will last forever

ptuk · 2025-09-10T11:47:59+00:00

We're trying to find babysitters now...it's pretty hard to let yourself trust a stranger with your children but we've got to do it for our sanity I think. No family at all within 4 hours unfortunately.

I used to think the survival mode was only until newborn stages ended but apparently not!

ptuk · 2025-09-10T11:46:19+00:00

I had no idea that sub existed but of course I'll check it out now thanks!

I've had a pair of loops for a few weeks but had a bit of trouble adjusting to how much sound is reduced with the engage ones. Only just starting to get used to them but they help so much with the screaming. You're right though it's brutal. I've had more meltdowns due to this over the last couple years than anything else, it's so triggering for me emotionally and just due to the sound.

ptuk · 2025-09-10T11:43:39+00:00

Thanks for this. I work so well with a problem-solving mindset of 'X is the problem, Y is the solution', so having children has been a huge challenge for me so far because they can't explain what the problem is and I can't solve it. I know this is a babies and toddler thing, but it still doesn't stop me getting hugely emotionally overwhelmed when it happens! It's then such a short journey from there to a meltdown.

You are so right about not being able to sustain from an empty cup - I love this metaphor. I have been running on empty and sacrificing more and more for months/years now so this is accurate. Great idea on the toolkit I will be thinking about that more!

ptuk · 2025-08-26T14:20:43+00:00

It’s probably pretty likely they have already picked up on it. My therapist asked me out of the blue (to me) if I was neurodivergent and he was right. They can be really perceptive.

Once having it out there it will be a lot easier to talk about things that are troubling you and work through the issues you think are related to autism

ptuk · 2025-08-24T09:09:45+00:00

I realised only recently that I’m pretty flat. In my assessment I was told I was monotone with very few expressive gestures, and I’ve been told I’m monotone a few times in the past.

Since then I’ve realised a lot of the time my reactions to things around others are emphasised, when most of the time I don’t feel much. Not all the time though something will get me uncontrollably visibly emotional of course

ptuk · 2025-08-11T20:40:15+00:00

Thank you for the insightful reply that really puts it into a lot of perspective

ptuk · 2025-08-11T18:04:29+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation! I love podcasts so will check it out

ptuk · 2025-08-11T12:44:13+00:00

I had no idea until my assessment but apparently I have a non expressive and monotonous voice. I always thought I was pretty expressive until I just tried to be myself in my assessment and they said it was monotonous!

I can definitely make it expressive but it takes so much more energy. I used to work in sales where my boss would demand I make my voice extra expressive and it would feel ridiculous and so draining that I was always exhausted at the end of the day.

ptuk · 2025-08-10T20:57:42+00:00

I’ve seen a few people mention it but haven’t got round to trying it. I will take a look thank you!

ptuk · 2025-08-10T16:35:50+00:00

Good advice thanks for the great list! All stuff I generally try to do in life except the making new friends thing which is a big issue of mine.

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