Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello!
Within the last few months I found out that all my sons and I are autistic. I self diagnosed, but now have a doctor's diagnosis too. It threw me into an emotional roller coaster of relief and questioning who I really was (>>masking). I am in my early forties and have been diagnosed with some mental illnesses before that never explained my behavior.
I am on disability retirement now but make lots of art, I love color.Also I am very interested in spirituality and play the harmonium.
About being autistic, my favorite trait is probably that I am able to focus intently on whatever catches my interest.The least favorite are my sensory processing problems, not because meltdowns are not worse, but because they are with me every moment.
This has been on my mind lately: Who - of the people I have known - have autistic traits, and that this person may have been masking too. (What a non-necessity of spent energy!)
Thank you! I have followed a guru's instruction/methods about meditation at first. His name is Yogananda. (movie: Awake)Then I switched mainly to the philosophical part of spirituality by exhaustively listening to Ram Dass (formerly Richard Alpert) online. There's a ton of his speeches.
He is so accessible because he is charismatic and funny.
There is way more to my spiritual path, but I didn't want to overwhelm you.
Once you're thinking about getting on the path, you're on it. So may I welcome you in turn there!!?? :
Hey welcome here, lovely to meet you and hear your interests :-) your cat is very cute. I do meditation sometimes and am trying to get into spirituality myself.
Thank you, likewise. :-)
Sounds great, on the humorous side: I used to have a dog, she brought my heart rate up by barking at any dog in sight. But I get it. A therapy dog sounds like a great opportunity for some. I have thought often: If I could just bring my cat, I would be ok. But my training in the first year was not good enough, He doesn't like to go places. Like 99 % of cats, huh !?
Hello welcome to the forum
Love your cat what a cutie
Look forward to seeing you around the forum
We had a Therapy Dog for years. She was a regular visitor to a ward where patients had been detained under the Mental Health Act. The Consultant in charge used to be a huge fan of Therapy Dogs and did a presentation on them to a medical conference in Australia, if I remember rightly. She told us something like "for many of my patients and for about XX% of the time Roxy is cheaper than drugs, more effective than drugs, faster acting than drugs, and longer acting thatn drugs." The dogs bring down heart rate, help people relax, reduce stress and promote the sort of mind state which facilitates healing.
Hi and welcome. Meditation and midfulness isn't everyone's thing but it definitely works for me.
Thank you.He is a cutie. I read some study that oxitocin helps young autistic children be more sociable.Snuggling with a cat would do something similar maybe?
Yes, I have meditated quite a bit last year, but got out of my routine. It helps me a lot. Sorry, I didn't know anyone answered me here until I just checked today.Zen is pretty strict, isn't it?Does it help you?
Thank you. I guess it is mine.
Hello and welcome to the community! I love your cat, so cute :)
Look forward to seeing you around here.
Enjoy your time and I hope to hear more of your interests.
i am currently reading up on and practising zen buddhism/meditation,,,,, have u tried meditation ?
Welcome to this forum --- who owns the Buddha ?
Thank you! :-)
Hi Tania! A big welcome to the community! Love the cat picure, what a cutie I am sure you will some like minded people on our commiunity to chat with and share experiences, thank you for sharing some of your interests already!
Best,
SarahMod