Me, Myself & Autism (MMA)

 Autistic individuals often adapt to fit in with those around us. From an early age, we may start masking our unique traits and challenges to protect ourselves.

We learn to conceal our true selves, not because we don't embrace our differences, but because being different has sometimes led to bullying and prejudice.

In this session, we explore our identities, self-esteem, and self-worth, as well as the challenges we face and the activities we enjoy.

 Our central nervous system processes sensory information, helping our bodies adjust and adapt to our surroundings.

In this session, we delve into our eight senses and their impact on our daily lives. 

We discuss the importance of choosing environments that cater to our unique needs. 

We also explore hyper- and hypo-sensitivities and strategies to keep our nervous system well-regulated.

Autistic overthinking often arises from monotropism, a cognitive style where an individual's attention is intensely focused on a few interests or thoughts. This heightened focus can lead to deep, detailed analysis, sometimes resulting in overthinking. Monotropism can make it challenging for autistic individuals to shift between different thoughts or activities, often leading to autistic inertia and executive function difficulties.

In this session, we explore strategies to help manage our thoughts and move forward when feeling stuck.

 In this session, we dispel the myths surrounding autism and emotions. 

We affirm the unique ways autistic individuals express and experience emotions, and explore why we often feel deeply empathetic towards others and animals.

We also take a close look at anxiety, how it develops within us, and strategies to reduce anxious feelings.

 How can we communicate effectively?

In this session, we explore the barriers to communication and strategies for improving it. 

We examine different communication styles and how non-autistic people often don't say what they really mean, which can lead to confusion for us.

We also discuss strategies for communicating more assertively.

Taking care of ourselves is essential for our independence. Independence means understanding when and how to seek support, not doing everything alone.

We all need boundaries to ensure our safety and the safety of others. Autistic adults may sometimes find it challenging to set and maintain boundaries, often saying yes to avoid conflict.

In this session, we emphasize the importance of asserting our boundaries and communicating assertively.