First published by Mix Diversity for Anti-Bullying Week November 2024: Sticks and Stones | Blog | Mix Diversity Sticks and Stones ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’, says the old adage, but another says, ‘the tongue wounds more than a lance’. Although I have no experience of beingContinue reading “Sticks and Stones”
Category Archives: Alexithymia
Alexithymia, community, and ‘jelly buddies’
I had an absolute blast at the Professional Speaking Association summit over the weekend, but I need to get real for a moment. Sometimes things can happen that make me feel incredibly disabled, and incompetent, and this can have a devastating effect on me, but not immediately, it is a delayed emotional response. I haveContinue reading “Alexithymia, community, and ‘jelly buddies’”
Reflections on WSPD2024
As many of my friends and followers here will be aware, the time around 8th to 10th September is hard for me. 8th September is Iggy’s birthday. He would have been 21 this year, but he will forever be 15. 10th September is World Suicide Prevention Day, which I find hard, because Iggy’s death, likeContinue reading “Reflections on WSPD2024”
Grief Awareness Day
Grief Awareness Day, 30 August 2024. My experience of grief is atypical. Yes, I know the grief curve is only indicative, and it’s not a smooth line for anybody, but… For neurodivergent people, especially those with Alexithymia and Complex PTSD, it can be unrecognisable and baffling. People wonder: – How can I talk about suchContinue reading “Grief Awareness Day”
Mental Health Awareness Week 2024
This Mental Health Awareness Week, I have no paid work, but I plan to publish free content about mental health every day. YouTube (4 minutes) for Speakers Collective Transcript: I’m Charlie and I am neurodivergent. That means neurologically different; my brain is not standard issue. Some of my neuro differences I was born with, othersContinue reading “Mental Health Awareness Week 2024”
Time to Talk Day 2024
Hi, I’m Charlie, and I am neurodivergent, which means I am ‘neurologically different’; my brain is not standard issue. Some of my neurological differences I was born with, and others I acquired. I was diagnosed Autistic, aged 42. Then with Complex PTSD, aged 46. I am now partway through ADHD assessment, aged 48. Before myContinue reading “Time to Talk Day 2024”
Alexithymia
Alexithymia: Difficulty experiencing, identifying, describing our feelings. This is common with autism and ADHD. My emotions can be buried deep under the surface, then bubble up suddenly, engulfing me. I can feel nothing, and compartmentalise my feelings. I lock them up in a box, and do whatever I can to feel something. Often for me,Continue reading “Alexithymia”
World Mental Health Day
My reflections for World Mental Health Day by Charlie Hart (Ausome Charlie) “It’s OK not to be OK”, so the well-meaning slogan goes. That slogan bugs my daughter Z, who suffers from moderate depression and severe anxiety. She cannot access treatment through CAMHS (apparently, she does not exhibit anxiety over and above what can beContinue reading “World Mental Health Day”
World Mental Health Day 2020
“It’s OK not to be OK”… It’s not OK to not be OK, not for a prolonged period anyway. What that phase actually means is, it is good to be open about not being OK. Yes we all have bad days and low moods, but if you are often full of dread, you have aContinue reading “World Mental Health Day 2020”
You’ll never run alone
I was due to run with two friends, but one pulled out due to sore calf muscles, the other with bad hayfever. “Sorry to let you down, Charlie” says one in the group chat. “That’s fine”, I replied, thinking “it is sometimes easier to run solo anyway, as I can play the route by earContinue reading “You’ll never run alone”
Ausome Charlie 