Neurodivergent confusion?

Hi and welcome.

I am a big fan of "busy day" followed by "recouperation day".  In our busy modern lives this might seem untenable - yet, if you decide to yourself to be bold about doing something essential / challenging / experimenting with un-masking strategy on a given day - but then try to mentally afford yourself a reserved time in which to regroup / recharge from your efforts and energy expended - I find that helpful. 

It also can give you the thought space to reflect a little on quite what on the busy day was more successful / not quite so successful as hoped. 

There are not points to be awarded for overstretching yourself.  In your own style, you are trying to learn how to pace yourself into becoming comfortable within your new Autism-friendly style.

One aspect I have somewhat struggled to: observe / realise / accept / adapt to (still a bit in the early phases of un-masking myself): you might not always have the same reserves available from which to experiement with un-masking.  That can be a bit confusing as for some situations you might actually not be able to follow through with the intended un-masking approach.  Perhaps you had a prior poor night's sleep, maybe the environment / scenario / busyness and noise of people around you put you off balance - whatever it was - not to worry - there will be future opportunities to try another time.

I have been experimenting with ear plugs / ear defenders / active noise-cancelling headphones in different situations.  It is a very personal thing so it is not easy for one person to recommend something which will definitely work for another person.  I find it a challenge that whatever I have used to date really does not adequately totally block the racket I am trying to avoid.

Therefore, for me, sometimes a chosen distraction also may work well.  For example, I keep an old no longer used favourite dumb mobile phone and old-school standard stringy earbud headphones in my bag or rucksack when I plan to pause in a coffee shop on my travels (or the chatter I would prefer to avoid while waiting for public transport etc.).  I chose that old mobile phone as it has a good battery life, clear audio and it has an excellent performing radio when used with the stringy earbuds.  Rather than trying to totally block out the chatter and noises of the coffee shop - I am choosing to focus on a noise of my choice - selecting the radio station and volume which best matches my mood and inclincation at the time. 

I have better tech, smartphone and music devices available etc. - but it would irritate me to have that music or podcast or audiobook etc. intruded by the inevitable surprise noises of the cafe.  It is sort of a matter of "don't worry so much about that inevitable other stuff you are going to be able to hear - instead, try and concentrate passively more on this chosen thing which you like".  

Hi and welcome.

I am a big fan of "busy day" followed by "recouperation day".  In our busy modern lives this might seem untenable - yet, if you decide to yourself to be bold about doing something essential / challenging / experimenting with un-masking strategy on a given day - but then try to mentally afford yourself a reserved time in which to regroup / recharge from your efforts and energy expended - I find that helpful. 

It also can give you the thought space to reflect a little on quite what on the busy day was more successful / not quite so successful as hoped. 

There are not points to be awarded for overstretching yourself.  In your own style, you are trying to learn how to pace yourself into becoming comfortable within your new Autism-friendly style.

One aspect I have somewhat struggled to: observe / realise / accept / adapt to (still a bit in the early phases of un-masking myself): you might not always have the same reserves available from which to experiement with un-masking.  That can be a bit confusing as for some situations you might actually not be able to follow through with the intended un-masking approach.  Perhaps you had a prior poor night's sleep, maybe the environment / scenario / busyness and noise of people around you put you off balance - whatever it was - not to worry - there will be future opportunities to try another time.

I have been experimenting with ear plugs / ear defenders / active noise-cancelling headphones in different situations.  It is a very personal thing so it is not easy for one person to recommend something which will definitely work for another person.  I find it a challenge that whatever I have used to date really does not adequately totally block the racket I am trying to avoid.

Therefore, for me, sometimes a chosen distraction also may work well.  For example, I keep an old no longer used favourite dumb mobile phone and old-school standard stringy earbud headphones in my bag or rucksack when I plan to pause in a coffee shop on my travels (or the chatter I would prefer to avoid while waiting for public transport etc.).  I chose that old mobile phone as it has a good battery life, clear audio and it has an excellent performing radio when used with the stringy earbuds.  Rather than trying to totally block out the chatter and noises of the coffee shop - I am choosing to focus on a noise of my choice - selecting the radio station and volume which best matches my mood and inclincation at the time. 

I have better tech, smartphone and music devices available etc. - but it would irritate me to have that music or podcast or audiobook etc. intruded by the inevitable surprise noises of the cafe.  It is sort of a matter of "don't worry so much about that inevitable other stuff you are going to be able to hear - instead, try and concentrate passively more on this chosen thing which you like".