Autistic at 40

This week I talk about the fight or flight trigger of anything new or unfamiliar (anything I don't have a 'schema' for), and how this has affected my friendships and relationships.

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).

I talk in this episode about my experience of what triggers an autistic meltdown, what it's like having them and why our needs being met on an ongoing basis is the only way to prevent them.

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).

In this episode, I talk about my late autistic father's older age and end of life health experiences. This includes the impact of the lack of autism knowledge in health services and practitioners on his access to care and treatment. Extra end of year episode.

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).

To mark the 12 days of Christmas (or Yule), I am talking about 12 of the many signs of my autism. These were not obvious to me at the time I became aware of them, but they are now I know I'm autistic. 

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).

This week I explain why autism is not a superpower - as well as the pros and cons of being an autistic person with specific strengths and skills.

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).

This week I share what I have learned about navigating Christmas or other festive occasions, including respecting my own boundaries and preventing burnout.

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).

I talk about developing the understanding that loss and grief have long been a part of my life, including the loss and grief of what might have been. 

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).

I share my current thoughts on the relationship between autism and disability, as well as type of risks we are vulnerable to. Trigger warning: brief reference to abuse and assault.

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).

This week I share how I have made sense so far of being Autistic and also having ADHD (AuDHD), and how I made use of the 'window of tolerance' to manage my executive functioning and wellbeing.

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).

In this episode, I talk about my life with my autistic father. I explore ask what might have been different between us if we'd both known that we were both autistic.

To send any comments or questions, or to request to join the Autistihood forum on Discourse - email Toni at autisticat40@outlook.com or find me on Instagram (@Autistic_at_40_podcast).