Hi folks,
Hi folks,I am a 15-year-old girl who recently got diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I was wondering if any of you guys have tips on how to cope with life, especially when you're going through something.(Note: I do have Bipolar Disorder, so I don't know the line between Autism and Bipolar. It could be that I'm confusing the two, not knowing where to draw a line. I am in a manic episode while describing this.)I just lost my dad. One month before that, I was officially diagnosed with Autism. After masking the crap for as long as I lived, 'refinding' myself was my next job because I don't know about you guys, but masking is hella exhausting. Learning that things (which I thought were weird) were, in fact, normal for autistic people. Tics are a thing in real life, and not just something in movies. While I was still processing this, my dad died.Since he died, I have been in a manic episode, and my tics have become worse and way more frequent.Though I know that tics are okay and respected, I'm still scared to just not hold them in or do it silently and feel bad. I have received a lot of comments from people saying I "behave more autistic" than I did before my diagnosis. And I have the feeling that just ticcing will make people's reactions worse.The point of this very long, confusing story (sorry guys :( ) is: does anyone have tips on how to handle the Autism, the manic episode, and the tics?
Yours sincerely,
Gandalf
Hey, some tips for sensory overload and meltdowns that use are: find a quiet spot; sensory tools like earplugs, face mask, etc.; and having people I trust who can take care of me when I feel like this. Same with manic episodes, kind of. I am also bipolar. I thankfully have a good net of friends who keep me in check when I'm severely manic, but also, if you notice you're manic, or someone else does, have them or you take you away from dangerous objects or activities, and set alarms for eating food. I really struggle with losing track of things so alarms and lists on my phone really help me.