NEWS & UPDATES

When you immerse yourself in the lived experiences shared within the neurodiversity movement, you quickly encounter the terms 'masking' and 'camouflaging'. They are frequently used to describe how autistic individuals navigate a world largely designed by and for neurotypical people. A common question arises, both in academic circles and personal conversations: Are they just different words for the same thing?

Living with a brain that experiences the world differently is, well, different. Add the fluctuating moods of cyclothymia into the mix.

My journey of self-discovery eventually led me to a diagnosis consistent with Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder (SPCD).

The problem is that WhatsApp groups (and similar) are all unstructured and I find having to trawl through the jokes, micky taking and other random stuff to find the meaningful information very difficult and tiring. This is a real challenge that many neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with autism, experience in unstructured communication environments. These challenges are very much aligned with known sensory and information processing differences associated with

Happiness, often touted as the ultimate life goal, is a fleeting emotion, a destination feeling. We chase it relentlessly, believing that it will bring us lasting joy and satisfaction. Yet, this pursuit often leaves us feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. A far more sustainable approach is to cultivate contentment and fulfilment.

People spend their young years exchanging their heartbeats for money, which is what you might expect but when you have enough how do you transition to using your heartbeats to create fulfilment, freedom, fun.

Masking, the art of camouflaging one's true self to fit societal norms, is a common practice among neurodiverse individuals. As an autistic person, I've spent years unconsciously masking, suppressing my unique traits to avoid judgment and misunderstanding. It's a tiring act, a constant performance that drains energy and authenticity.

Agency is the capacity to make choices, take control of one’s own life, and act according to one’s values, beliefs, and desires.

The quest to define and achieve a “good life” is a timeless philosophical endeavour, pursued by thinkers and individuals across centuries. While numerous paths and definitions exist, a compelling and deeply human perspective suggests that a good life is found in the progressive expansion of the things that bring you joy & fulfilment.