What keeps you fighting?

I concur....

...and Spotty...you did it....not only 1 photo upload....but 2!!!!!! Yay!

Thank you for your thoughts Misfit, I am making an effort not to beat myself up so much , but old habits die hard.  Painting and drawing are my only real means of expressing myself, possibly writing too, and I've avoided doing it for most of twenty years, I've made reasonable progress in the last eighteen months (making not selling) so I need to fight to keep going or I'll feel like I have nothing again.

Being here definitely helps, though I feel a little like I've wasted half a day trying to get a photo off my phone and onto here)))  You definitely are not rabbiting or being too intense either, please keep writing whatever you like, it's well worth reading.

 Very glad to hear that.. I looked earlier and couldn't see it, thought it must be tucked in the bag but have now seen the Tortoise in disguise 

I cannot stress strongly enough at this juncture...,that this is NOT my carpet!!! Lol

Ha! yes, Spotty spotted the tortoise, what a carpet!

Too right.....nothing wrong with Pooh....

Like something Winnie the Pooh would say 

Try to stop over thinking Misfit...you'll over-thunk yourself..

Thank you so much. Just been telling myself off for rabbiting and getting too intense again. You are joining in just by reading and I like hearing what you have to say as well That's another thing we do ..beat ourselves up. So what if you stayed in bed till 11? You must have needed to. I hope you do start your creativity again soon but again it's ok if you don't. Maybe you could inspire yourself by trying something different but still uses your skills photography or printing or felting ... or something completely different that will give you a boost.. just an idea. 

Always cheers me up when you come out and play and please do share more of your artwork....

btw, saw this online yesterday and I thought if you! Can you spot the tortoise, Spotty?

I love @Misfit61 (link didn't work again and I waited ages) 3 good things idea and it was so good to read all of this today.  I think I woke up with a hurricane of internalised rage this morning and I just didn't get up until 11am, nothing good will come of that. I haven't even been able to paint lately but maybe all your positive thoughts will give me a kick up the backside to go and pick up a paintbrush and a pen.  I'm so grateful that you are all here even though my capacity to join in appears to be somewhat limited.  Thank you all.

Good 

Yep they were. yes gets skimmed today. Safer than I've felt in a long time

But it's lovely waffle.....Misfit.....

Were misfits 1 to 60 lost in a previous fight.......I'm thinking along the lines of a cat having 9 lives.......?

hang in there...,the crack in the wall is almost mended....

feel safe here..you?

Lots of rounds in the fight. But the fight is mostly worth it. It's a huge thing to become aware of our unique wiring. We blame ourselves for so long and being women think it's our fault and we must be doing something wrong. But hey guess what it is not our fault. The discovery is slow but we now know women do have dyspraxia, adhd and autism and that is a positive thing to know. It should make it less hard for future women and girls who even in primary school instinctively know so early they're just not part of the group. Most of my family aren't interested either and yes it hurts but my sister cared enough to help me get the diagnosis but doesn't really like talking about personal stuff. And when she's not here my dad takes me out about once a week but has absolutely no understanding of this nor wants to. So yes this is the only place so far that is open to talk freely about the downs and loneliness but also the funny positive quirks that make us who we are and perhaps allow ourselves to be so. 

We just need more networks nearer to home but has anyone else thought it's easier for us to chat like this? No nvc, no judgement or expectations because of the way we look all extra stimulus is removed and it's just about what we think and can join in contribute in our own time. 

Omg waffle waffle I always spout more when I'm tired. 

And your awesome too Misfit...

i've had an up and down couple of weeks since self diagnosing....and hoped that my husband would be my rock,...but he is not interested...and that hurts....

but on a positive.....

instead, I am here and have found lots of amazing rocks, some pebbles...but not shingle, as yet....

now...like you....I shall bite my lip and try to keep posts positive......

how many rounds are in this "fight" btw?

Quirky is pretty awesome....isn't she! I hope appreciated and much loved....

They are lucky to have you and they clearly feel better for your support. Just shows a gently positive inclusive household can rub off in a good way. And the momentum of feel good factor does generate more possibilities and self esteem. It's great that you can offer this to help her. I'm trying to keep this message upbeat so will leave it at that

Everyone needs that person routing for them..,the challenge is sustaining the effort if you're having to do it yourself....and that's when breakages happen...

your statement...no matter how hard I tried it wasn't good enough.....rings very true....and with that temperament and an Aspie head.....life can be quite exhausting and self-flagellating...

whose's your rock?

I had a pet rat called Ratus (Latin for Rat) and he was a mammoth mover of bedding.

I've realized recently my FOO gave me a huge gift: self belief that I could do things. Perhaps not as fast or even the same way as NT folk but I could find a way.

I had a horrible bout of depression in 2015 and the worst bit was I felt no matter how hard I tried it wasn't good enough. It took 6 months and a rejigged medication routine (same drugs different timings, that's a real spectacular ND drug adverse event) to get right and I'm still much more fragile.

I've pointed out several times our biggest challenge is not SD16s diagnosis but rather her mother's unwillingness to work with us on ensuring she's getting the care she needs. One thing this sweet girl needs is someone who is going to be more stubborn than she is. When she's with us longer than a week her behaviour improves hugely. I don't let her fade into the background. I support her Dad to get her engaging with us as a family.

If we can do that in a week, what would 6 months do?