As an Autistic Peer Support Coach, I empower people to love themselves, release limiting belief systems, and live with more joy. Gender equality, autism, spiritual abuse, and unique approaches to healing are my obsessions. https://www.discoverclarity.cahttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3m4biwolhrk2gA new episode of Autistic Stuff for Autistic People is out! In it, a few autistic friends talk about special interests, how they're often different from hobbies, and how they make us feel as autistic adults. After listening, let me know about your special interests. https://www.spreaker.com/episode/special-interests--6803580028 Oct 2025 17:55 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4biwolhrk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3m46uqg6bdc2eFor my fellow AuDHD friends, how do you create momentum for larger projects? I've tried lists, schedules, creating challenges for myself, small rewards, figuring out my "why," and more. At the moment, the only thing that seems to work is to start my day with something I enjoy. What about you?27 Oct 2025 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3m46uqg6bdc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lyyuhk73ss2fIt took me almost a week to write about the celebration of a man by white evangelical Christians whose words violently targeted and marginalized so many groups of people (and were the exact opposite of the Jesus they preached). #WEC #hypocrisy https://open.substack.com/pub/discoverclarity/p/the-death-of-empathy?r=2p5zd4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true17 Sep 2025 03:12 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyyuhk73ss2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lyystqzscs2fSo excited! Another Autistic Stuff for Autistic People podcast episode dropped today. Join our chat about community - why it's important, how it's formed, some of the potential drawbacks, and even the benefits of non-human community. Let me know what you think! https://open.spotify.com/episode/5JR0I5EwO5heYrWuc1byeD?si=I0eI5T7BQNWTB1Od0mTYUQ17 Sep 2025 02:43 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyystqzscs2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3ly3wtqwn4k2cWhen Language is Used to Minimize When I started telling people about my autism, I heard several phrases that left me feeling small, invisible, and invalidated. Three years later I am starting to understand my feelings. What would you add to this list? https://open.substack.com/pub/discoverclarity/p/when-language-is-used-to-minimize?r=2p5zd4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false05 Sep 2025 15:07 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3ly3wtqwn4k2chttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lxupgwnbsk2fHave you ever wondered about the difference between an autistic meltdown and a tantrum? They are not the same! If you're autistic, how do you experience meltdowns? What situations lead to meltdowns for you? https://open.spotify.com/episode/4I2SUnEF2hxSdnk5LQ6OTq?si=DzyZ6QtNQnut-rst3iZw1g02 Sep 2025 18:06 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxupgwnbsk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lxkcmfblf22yHave you ever read an article or social media post and been enraged by the use of certain words or phrases that actually minimize the injustice or inaccurately shape people’s perceptions? In your opinion, what phrases are deliberately misleading? https://open.substack.com/pub/discoverclarity/p/when-language-is-used-to-harm?r=2p5zd4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true29 Aug 2025 14:50 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxkcmfblf22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lwzaouxntc2iYou might not think making decisions is a big deal. But for my AuDHD brain, oh boy. Dread. Check out my Substack this week to find out why. What about you? What's your decision-making process? And if it's easy for you, please help.... :) https://discoverclarity.substack.com/p/making-decisions-while-audhd22 Aug 2025 20:00 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwzaouxntc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lwrequbjmc2oCheck out my new podcast if you or someone you love is autistic and want to learn more about understanding ourselves in a world not built for us. #autism #ADHD #podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/64LpLRKuhtOaBgnOnHOLnz @bestfirstchair.bsky.social @theautisticcoach.bsky.social19 Aug 2025 16:52 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwrequbjmc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lwrcc7mb5s22I watched Season 2 of "Shiny, Happy People." It brought up a lot. If you have experienced spiritual abuse or if you love someone who has, this Substack will be insightful. #spiritalabuse #shinyhappypeople https://open.substack.com/pub/discoverclarity/p/growing-up-shiny-and-happy-part-2?r=2p5zd4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false19 Aug 2025 16:08 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwrcc7mb5s22https://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lwrc2l4jrs22I watched Season 2 of "Shiny, Happy People." And it brought up a lot. If you have experienced spiritual abuse or if you love someone who has, this Substack will be insightful. #spiritualabuse #autismacceptance https://open.substack.com/pub/discoverclarity/p/growing-up-shiny-and-happy-part-1?r=2p5zd4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false19 Aug 2025 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwrc2l4jrs22https://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lwrbtonmx222I started a new thing. If you want to read about late discovered autism/ADHD, healing from spiritual abuse/high control religion, and gender equality and justice....do I have a Substack for you! #autism #genderequality #ADHD #spiritualabuse https://open.substack.com/pub/discoverclarity/p/a-lifelong-passion?r=2p5zd4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false19 Aug 2025 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwrbtonmx222https://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lwhanrhe5225For those of us who grew up in white evangelical Christianity, physical and mental health challenges are often met with “just pray” and “have more faith.” Since leaving high control religion, I have discovered many different definitions and approaches to healing. https://open.substack.com/pub/discoverclarity/p/healing-in-unexpected-places?r=2p5zd4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true15 Aug 2025 16:12 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwhanrhe5225https://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3ld2pdqxpn22uI have officially reached the age where I can see how various events in my life that I thought were mistakes or bad situations actually led me to something better. It’s not so much about toxic positivity (“yay, everything hard is actually awesome”) but about seeing the larger connections.11 Dec 2024 21:31 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld2pdqxpn22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lcy6yejbcs2lI saw a video yesterday that talked about the importance of a “low-demand lifestyle” for a lot of autistic people. I’m trying to figure out where I can lower some of the external and internal demands that often weigh me down. I’m open to suggestions. What demands have you been able to drop?10 Dec 2024 21:33 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcy6yejbcs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lcvnsn4gdc2qBodyTalk is another approach to healing that has changed my life. It helps me identify the subconscious patterns, belief systems, thoughts, and emotionally charged memories that are negatively impacting me and allows me to release them. It puts the power to heal back in my hands.09 Dec 2024 21:21 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcvnsn4gdc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lcvnrup5e22qI love exploring different spiritual and healing paths. Reflexology connects me to my body and the earth. Emotion Code helps me identify and release emotions that are trapped in my body. Yoga reminds me to breathe and that I am more than my thoughts. What helps you connect to your body and spirit?09 Dec 2024 21:20 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcvnrup5e22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lcoo24ky2s2oWhen I first started healing from spiritual abuse, I was so angry. I felt robbed of my connection to my body, sense of self, joy, intuition, future. I was also angry that there was no “before” version of myself to reclaim or connect to. But she doesn’t exist. I can only love the me that exists now.07 Dec 2024 02:36 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcoo24ky2s2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lclqnf5jhk27Spiritual abuse isn’t talked about enough. When religious leaders use their authority and interpretation of doctrine to control and instill fear, shame, and guilt, the impacts are often far-reaching. Survivors are left with invisible wounds that often take years to first understand and then heal.05 Dec 2024 22:45 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lclqnf5jhk27https://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lcjmydlk4s2nBefore I understood I’m AuDHD, I tried to follow advice geared to neurotypicals. “Do the hard stuff first.” “Do a little bit each day until it's done.” But now that I know how my brain works, I start with easy tasks and feel energized. I block time and hyperfocus on one thing until it’s done.05 Dec 2024 02:34 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcjmydlk4s2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lcglkzsf6c2oSince leaving high control religion and spiritual abuse, I have had a lot to heal. In my childhood, healing was only to be found in prayer, faith, and obedience. Nowadays, I am open to so many possibilities. Reiki, BodyTalk, Emotion Code, yoga, community, nature, Reflexology, have all been helpful.03 Dec 2024 21:31 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcglkzsf6c2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lcemon56kk2vA big part of my healing has been recognizing patterns from my childhood that are still playing out today. I chose a career (teaching) that expects unpaid mental and emotional labour. Did I (subconsciously) do this as a way to create the conditions of growing up the oldest daughter of six children?03 Dec 2024 02:45 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcemon56kk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lbxne7tdus2iGrowing up in a high control religious environment can create debilitating shame, fear, guilt, anxiety, perfectionism, people pleasing, and difficulty making decisions. If you are a spiritual abuse survivor, what have you done to help yourself heal and move forward?27 Nov 2024 22:53 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbxne7tdus2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lbvfex7jm22lSince I've started spending time in neuro-affirming spaces with other autistic adults, I realized that many of my challenges connecting with people aren't because I'm bad at it. When I'm with other autistic people who "speak the same language" as I do, communication is often pretty simple.27 Nov 2024 01:25 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbvfex7jm22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/autisticjoy.bsky.social/post/3lbt5txxyns2lFor most of my life, I felt like I was too much and not enough at the same time. Learning I am autistic two years ago was the discovery that changed everything. My biggest success so far? Slowly replacing the ableist critic in my head with a much more compassionate voice.26 Nov 2024 04:04 +0000at://did:plc:xusgwlxppuqftnldu47e3f4a/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbt5txxyns2l