Hi from the burnout bunker!

I’m Radgie—writer, storyteller, systems enthusiast, and currently operating at about 40% battery, mostly thanks to peach iced tea, poetry drafts, and the occasional existential crisis.

I was diagnosed autistic in adulthood (at 46 just three months ago), which explained a lot: my love of structure, my aversion to fluorescent lighting, and my tendency to treat small talk like a boss fight.

Until recently, I was an assistant manager at an autism specialist college—a role I cared deeply about, but one that eventually asked more than I could sustainably give. I’ve stepped down to a tutor role to protect my regulation and wellbeing, but I’ll be honest: I’m still deep in the burnout woods, trying to navigate with a compass made of metaphors and caffeine.

I’m here to reconnect with the parts of myself that don’t revolve around crisis management or masking. I love creative writing (especially poetry and sensory-rich fiction), vocal storytelling, and building low-pressure, neurodivergent-friendly routines. I’m also slowly working on a portfolio site and a storytelling channel—gently, at my own pace, and with full permission to pause.

If you’re navigating burnout, late diagnosis, or want to chat about writing, advocacy, or the strange comfort of existential humour, I’d love to connect.

I’m not always quick to reply (executive function is a fickle beast), but I’m always glad to be here.

Parents
  • You've come to the right place.  The coms system works pretty well between here and the bunker!  

    I enjoy comedy.

    Here's some that came to mind in response to your post:  Steve Martin's character in "The man With 2 brains":

    Dolores:
    The Complete Poems of John Lillison, England's greatest one-armed poet.

    Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr:
    He wrote 'In Dillan's Grove' and 'Pointy Birds.' O pointy birds, o pointy pointy, anoint my head, anointy-nointy.

    Share some yours? :-)

Reply
  • You've come to the right place.  The coms system works pretty well between here and the bunker!  

    I enjoy comedy.

    Here's some that came to mind in response to your post:  Steve Martin's character in "The man With 2 brains":

    Dolores:
    The Complete Poems of John Lillison, England's greatest one-armed poet.

    Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr:
    He wrote 'In Dillan's Grove' and 'Pointy Birds.' O pointy birds, o pointy pointy, anoint my head, anointy-nointy.

    Share some yours? :-)

Children
  • Hi Phased,

    I love The 'Pointy Birds'. I am a massive fan of the poetry of Spike Milligan, also in the same vein.

    I am totally eclectic in my tastes of poetry—I love things like Edgar Allan Poe and Dante—but then I love poets like Keith Jarrett and Salena Godden.

    I have only just started writing again after a long break, but after my diagnosis, I have a lot of poems that came out of it too!