Autistic and NeuroDivergent People’s Struggles Are Invisible (Pt 1): Masking & Sensory Issues

Hey Humans, Lyric here, and this week, I'm going to talk about something that people often forget, online, when they see Autistic People sharing their experiences...

That many of the struggles Autistic People have are, in fact, invisible because they have to do with how we process information and interact with the world.

These things are happening behind the scenes, so if you're curious, and would like to learn more, please stay tuned.

This video was shot and released to Patreon Subscribers, Facebook Supporters, and YouTube channel members on June 30, 2021, as a thanks for the support you give my blog. The video's public release is set for August 4, 2021.

An autism and neurodiversity blog based on personal experience. Please remember - this is only ONE autistic perspective. We are all unique.

On the web:

Support:

For Vlogs & Daily RV living -

[mert]

I have auditory triggers. Repetitive noises (not usually music, though I hate things like techno with the repetitive tracks) kill me.

[ambitiousfailure]

I didnt realise the pain thing... I have several times broken bones and ignored it, also had a UTI once that I ignored until I literally passed out at work due to it moving to my kidneys. I also worked, and rode my motorbike to/from work, for 3 days with a broken arm and whiplash before seeing a doctor once.
Never occured that could be an sensory thing!

[icravedeath.]

Some of my colleagues have no idea how hard I have it at college, as an autistic weeb.

[minibus]

great video, I have sensory processing issues with light and sound and crowds, also in terms of masking i have masked both knowingly and unknowingly because despite knowing i was autistic, from the age of 6 when i was diagnosed i did not have a word for what i was doing when masking which looking back made things harder, when i discovered what masking was thanks to the neurodiversity movment and autistic led stuff like this online things becme much better. I also have had people expecting too much from me and then getting upset with me when i can't process everything

[danyelPitmon]

Sensory processing issues here can’t stand it at all high sensitivity to pain which is zero tolerance to pain photo sensitivity sound sensitivity you name it I probably got it under visual sensitivity sunlight regular lights fluorescent lights all light in general at times is extremely painful and debilitating and migraines are not something to laugh out to me I have them and when I do I have to sleep for hours in order to get rid of them including take my migraine medication

[sarahleony]

I actually enjoyed this unscripted video a lot!

[jasminegaddy]

I had migraines and stomach aches everyday for years and doctors didn’t understand

[ThePhantomQueen]

Thank you for this im so confussed so many times

[givmarcham]

I'm highly sensitive to pain.... But it's a high pain tolerance... But I've got fibromyalgia so I guess it's why I can handle my pain... That was my low point I was in chronic pain... I got hypermobility

[danyelPitmon]

PS I also forgot to mention I have knee pain my right one I wiped out while training for a bike tour going around a sharp turn and I left knee is just as bad then and that one at all but I have a problem with that in my lower back I do have some problems with that and it’s been reaggravated again and I also do have neck problems with muscle tension and some pain in my neck in general I also have within my lower back a bone spur but luckily it’s not really bothering me but I’m afraid when it does it’s going to be a pain I even have ankle problems especially with my left one when I got hit by a car and they had to surgically put the bone back together and now I get pain in the tendons and in the bone every so often that really hurts a lot and my right ankle I tried out for track in high school and I ended up having pain problems and had to go through physical therapy I could not use stairs for almost a month I had to use an elevator to get around the school so that’s how bad I’ve been with that no fun

[carlosgavilanes]

Yes and the modern world is extremely eurocentric because colonialism/colonization, industrialization, capitalism and globalism! I'm mad with the white man! Also, from personal experience, going to the grocery store the music to me is very loud and distracting to me, especially when I'll be going back to work at Safeway! And I'm Latinx!

[givmarcham]

I've got noise cancelling earphones... My sunglasses and my hats and I wear hoodies

[givmarcham]

Yea I put my hands over my ears and I would lash out... Now I'm And now when I go out I have my coats and glasses ect

[wesbeuning]

One thing that was really great was wearing a literal mask during the pandemic because I didn't have to continuously consider the shapes of my mouth and cheeks, etc, to keep from slipping into by default rbf or make any other expressions, like broadcasting boredom or annoyance, which people usually react to, or at least create erroneous judgements and analysis. Working from home was great in that respect. Only had to constantly monitor what and how I thought, said, and typed. Then twenty other things went wrong constantly for more than a year and literally almost shut down. Heart rate got down to 20 bpm, aneurysm swelled up in my brain, like ten other things. When everything you represent yourself as being you in this world feels nothing but just a projection of what you've learned is an edit of yourself with the least, worst consequences it becomes eventually evident that your authentic true self is not at all getting what it needs to even feel like it should be awake at all, I think.

[givmarcham]

My foot got knocked off my bike at 18 never went to x-ray lmfao 😂 I got up and road back home I was like I don't react like NEUROTYPICAL People

[givmarcham]

Lmfao 😂 it does get difficult when being intimate

[givmarcham]

I always got myself into trouble so I could go to the Oncall room

[FirstmaninRome]

The bad Knee, I know a lady like that, also dislexic and has two autistic brothers, have you got ehlors Danlos syndrome? I think she does, hyber mobile but some joints are coming apart at 26

[ThePhantomQueen]

Were you seen as an out of control child?

[sarinalight]

I can relate, Especially when it comes to hats!
Snap Crackle Pop, Yes indeed. Take Care👍🏼