Category Archives: Autism

Sticks and Stones

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”

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’”

My pronouns: What and why?

It is International Pronouns Day so here is what my pronouns mean and why I share them. “She/they” (or I sometimes express this “she/her or they/them”) means that I am happy for you to refer to me using the traditional female pronouns (she/her) or standard gender-neutral alternatives (they/them/their). Although I do identify as a woman andContinue reading “My pronouns: What and why?”

National Coming Out Day 2024

I was sixteen when I first concluded that I was bi (thanks, Winona Ryder). I was open about this with my best friend, and my boyfriend at the time, but I was too embarrassed to discuss it with my family or wider social circle. However, the truth did come out during a sixth form residentialContinue reading “National Coming Out Day 2024”

7 facts about my Complex PTSD

This World Mental Health Day, here are 7 things I would like you to know about my PTSD and complex PTSD (cPTSD, C-PTSD). #WorldMentalHealthDay #PTSD #ComplexPTSD #CPTSD I mention both because I self-identified complex PTSD, but my official diagnosis just says PTSD. Complex PTSD is not recognised by the medical profession; it is not inContinue reading “7 facts about my Complex PTSD”

Neurodivergent or neurospicy?

‘Neurospicy’… This word is again a hot topic in the neurodiversity scene. Some people love it, some do not like it. And some don’t like the word ‘neurodivergent’. Here are my thoughts: ‘Neurodivergent’ is a deliberately vague and inclusive socio-political term that expresses in non-medicalised language that one’s mind works in some way differently fromContinue reading “Neurodivergent or neurospicy?”

Support Local Artists over AI Art

Rather than flooding social media with AI art, why not commission a local artist to create your images? Here, Piper Strange Arts captures one moment when I felt truly seen during my autism diagnostic appointment, and the moment I informed my employer. Yes, I texted the good news to my line manager, the HR SharedContinue reading “Support Local Artists over AI Art”

Introduction Post for New Followers

Introduction from me: I am Charlie, my pronouns are she/her or they/them. I am bisexual, pansexual, and gender non-conforming. I am also multiple neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD, complex PTSD). I have been a social media neurodiversity advocate since my autism epiphany in 2018, under the name ‘Ausome Charlie’ with an ‘Au’ for ‘Autistic’ in addition toContinue reading “Introduction Post for New Followers”