https://www.attunedmindtherapy.com.au/resources daily 0.75 2024-07-09 https://www.attunedmindtherapy.com.au/resources/article-hypersensitive-hyperfocused-and-ready-for-hijack-an-autistic-experience-of-sensory-anxiety monthly 0.5 2024-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1720489481582-CAENLI8Y1QO5XBIN8024/image-asset.jpeg Finding Knowledge - Article: Hypersensitive, Hyperfocused and Ready for ‘Hijack’: An Autistic Experience of Sensory Anxiety - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.attunedmindtherapy.com.au/resources/video-finding-autistic-wellbeing monthly 0.5 2024-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1720490163065-B21T56PHTZ3X4VSBH7HD/image-asset.jpeg Finding Knowledge - Video: Finding Autistic Wellbeing - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.attunedmindtherapy.com.au/resources/relationships monthly 0.5 2024-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/ff34c521-a8e7-4849-a649-d11343dc1ecf/Importance_of_Halfway-1024x576.png Finding Knowledge - Article: Love Across Neurotypes - The Beauty in Meeting Halfway - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.attunedmindtherapy.com.au/resources/monotropism-an-autism-theory-developed-by-autistic-people monthly 0.5 2023-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1674721254170-0FEEEGWMSOSBOSBVSPZL/unsplash-image-_-TwILDnZSU.jpg Finding Knowledge - Blog Post: Monotropism - A Theory of Autistic Cognition - Sensory differences Monotropism is characterised by intense focus on relatively few things with less mental resources available to deal with ‘outside input’. By outside input, I mean anything that attempts to pull our attention away from the object/subject of our focus. Outside input can therefore be experienced as intrusive if it captures our attention and we are unable to tune it out. As an example, imagine this: You are a passionate writer drawn towards drafting your novel. Words are flowing as you enter a focused state. Then, a pigeon flies onto the tree outside your window. “Coo-coo-coo” goes the pigeon, over and over again. Your attention is torn away from your novel and towards the pigeon. This is involuntary; you cannot find a way to block out the intrusive bird call. It’s distressing to have your attention so focused on something that you don’t even want to be attending to at all. That is how monotropism might explain autistic people’s tendency to experience “sensory sensitivities” and associated overwhelm. It is a combination of: (1) the discomfort of our attention being drawn away from where we want it to be, and (2) a tendency to experience something intensely when it enters our awareness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1674721389032-3T8X5ODJGVEEH04VS1Q1/unsplash-image-_EXjK18DOUE.jpg Finding Knowledge - Blog Post: Monotropism - A Theory of Autistic Cognition - Social differences Social situations are more cognitively complex than they seem. There are multiple channels of information to attend to including words, tone, gestures, facial expressions, body positioning, eye contact, perceived social norms, and context. No wonder the back-and-forth, multi-dimensional nature of neurotypical conversation is difficult for monotropic minds that prefer to focus deeply on few things. Monotropic processing also explains our tendency for literal-mindedness. A monotropic mind might expect one thing to follow from another directly, whereas polytropic minds are constantly pulling in multiple strands of information. Non-autistic people are therefore primed to attend to and decode indirect language (e.g., metaphors, implied jokes). Whereas, autistic people might experience the literal meaning of words springing to mind first and then have to consciously shift towards interpreting the metaphorical or implied intent. We can get there eventually, but it may take some processing time. Taken altogether, our monotropic minds might lead us to miss things that other people seamlessly register during social situations. However, whatever HAS captured our attention, we are attending to deeply. I tend towards focusing on facial expressions and body language over spoken words. I might miss the verbal content and contextual undertones of what people are speaking about sometimes, but I am picking up on a whole lot more depth in people’s movements and faces than a polytropic mind is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1674721500873-ITUQA27U6RKDDCOL84B6/unsplash-image-GX8KBbVmC6c.jpg Finding Knowledge - Blog Post: Monotropism - A Theory of Autistic Cognition - Focused interests Autistic interests tend to be more deep, passionate, and accompanied by sustained focus and/or motivation, compared to the interests of non-autistic people. This is the manifestation of a monotropic mindset that prefers to (and indeed thrives upon) focusing on the details of a few topics. I’ll use my interests in philosophy and psychology as an example. I see most things in life through a philosophical lens. I sometimes struggle to imagine that other people don’t care for reflective philosophical questions or for analysing minds. In my ideal world, every conversation I have would be a vulnerable deep-dive into our existences. I feel it is important, necessary even, to live aligned with philosophical values and pursue a career that centres these interests. Compare this to an imaginary person - let’s call them Sam - who is not autistic and has a polytropic mind. Sam has a strong interest in philosophy and psychology too. How they see the world and their direction in life is coloured a little by their philosophical and psychological knowledge, but also determined by social influences, cultural expectations, and other interests of theirs. Sam’s polytropic mind is therefore spreading attention across a number of different things, with less focus and passion for individual interests. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1674711004598-DNXAAWQ5XSI39CQHCB3A/unsplash-image-omu9aMd9w7A.jpg Finding Knowledge - Blog Post: Monotropism - A Theory of Autistic Cognition - How to support yourself, or someone you know, as an autistic person (through the lens of monotropism): 1. Allow the autistic person to take on tasks, demands, or pieces of information one at a time. 2. Create an environment in which the autistic person can focus deeply on what they’re doing with minimal distractions. 3. Provide opportunities for the autistic person to develop their areas of interest as this can increase motivation, wellbeing, and other positive outcomes. 4. Learn about an autistic person’s interests as a way to become part of their ‘attention tunnel’ and connect with them. If you’re autistic yourself, discussing your interests with someone who shares your passion is a means to find belonging and connection. https://www.attunedmindtherapy.com.au/resources/ujs79u9vm1hi3mrv8mkq2lg9nwo9t2 monthly 0.5 2023-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1658108108173-Q0T9P6DNY9SFWJLH8QZD/unsplash-image-O8MEiT825uU.jpg Finding Knowledge - Research: Mental Health Perspectives from 200 Autistic Women and Non-binary People - These themes were… Speaking with a professional that is autistic themselves, has lived experience with autism, or is otherwise highly specialised in the experiences of autistic women. Feeling heard and having autistic identity or experiences validated by the professional. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1658108404364-LSFQU2U24FVDCWAIA1VI/unsplash-image-wESKMSgZJDo.jpg Finding Knowledge - Research: Mental Health Perspectives from 200 Autistic Women and Non-binary People - These themes were… The professional having a poor understanding of autistic women or autism in general. Feeling dismissed, invalidated, or gaslighted. Use of mainstream strategies that fail to account for neurodivergence. Not using an autism-friendly communication style. *in order of frequency https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/f1fe3749-4cc1-4adc-a5e5-03962abbfd52/unsplash-image-iJ2IG8ckCpA.jpg Finding Knowledge - Research: Mental Health Perspectives from 200 Autistic Women and Non-binary People - Putting it all together “Unfortunately, I've had a difficult time finding psychologists who have expertise in supporting autistic people. This has led to some instances where I felt that the person I was working with was dismissive of my experiences and lacked the relevant knowledge to provide me with skills and tools that were tailored to my experience as a neurodivergent person. I've come to realise that I want to work with a counsellor or psychologist who is also neurodivergent and is focused on providing support for me to be my authentic self rather than masking. I also think I would benefit from someone who really understands the impact of autistic burnout.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1658471137942-TN4PMUC7ZZ3GNRHNLMF1/unsplash-image-tYUgtItTpkY.jpg Finding Knowledge - Research: Mental Health Perspectives from 200 Autistic Women and Non-binary People - These autistic women regulate their stress through multiple strategies, including: “Petting my dog, sitting in a dark, cool room with a quiet podcast. Permission to not be helpful to anyone for a designated amount of time.” “Being alone in a controlled environment that I feel comfortable in. If it's ongoing day to day stress I consciously make myself slow down. I wear noise cancelling ear plugs, use breathing techniques, stimming and/or humming.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1658472515278-OW1TAXP2PUKU35X69B86/unsplash-image-RgAUYSTa0NI.jpg Finding Knowledge - Research: Mental Health Perspectives from 200 Autistic Women and Non-binary People - Sad emotions were often managed through a combination of strategies, such as: “Talking about it, distracting myself with things that make me happy, sleep, letting myself cry, physical comfort.” “Crying and allowing myself to feel my feelings, taking time to rest, speaking to my partner and therapist, spending time with my pets.” https://www.attunedmindtherapy.com.au/resources/the-voices-of-autistic-women monthly 0.5 2023-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/6d4a24f7-03e0-4e9a-b08c-d0a32090017d/unsplash-image-TzVN0xQhWaQ.jpg Finding Knowledge - Research: The Voices of Autistic Women and Non-binary People - Contrary to autism stereotypes: We are often empathetic We can often make eye contact (even if uncomfortable to do so) We very rarely lack emotions Some of us love schedules and routines, whilst others don’t Most of us like being unique or different (we don’t want or need to be “fixed”) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1651016808992-LW3QCW1V55S9Y537JVS7/unsplash-image-VzqEavUGnss.jpg Finding Knowledge - Research: The Voices of Autistic Women and Non-binary People - “Masking makes me feel like a shell of myself. I get exhausted during and after. Often I get pushed to my sensory and social limits, and when I get home or in a more private place, then I cry and struggle mentally. I also dissociate (feel disconnected, like I'm floating, etc.) quite often… Masking makes me feel like I'm only worth anything if I'm not myself.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1651029962850-ARP5LY05P5XPT9FGOC59/unsplash-image-eNGbt2wKYOs.jpg Finding Knowledge - Research: The Voices of Autistic Women and Non-binary People - “I have felt like an alien all my life, I wanted so badly to feel accepted and loved for being me.” “As someone who rarely if ever experiences true belonging and acceptance, it is something that I am always searching for…I can never truly be myself and therefore can never truly be at peace.” https://www.attunedmindtherapy.com.au/resources/the-double-empathy-problem-and-autism-acceptance monthly 0.5 2023-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623f7bdfacdb3e427a98cb00/1649815628515-9DVP43YBNT8FWMJDTXIT/Abstract+faces.png Finding Knowledge - Blog Post: The Double Empathy Problem and Autism Acceptance - In the words of the existential philosopher, Albert Camus, “Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow. Walk beside me… just be my friend.” Please do not try and lead us to your way. Instead, we encourage you to walk beside us. Ask us how we see things, what we need, and let’s meet in the middle. 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