The Asperger's Girl Guide

  We're going back into Lockdown, it can be a scary time trying to adjust to the new rule changes. We've had sudden routine changes following the Tiered system and now the resurgence of a Month Long Lockdown can be distressing and overwhelming.  Have no fear, I have put together some helpful and useful tips and tricks to get through the second Lockdown.  On the 31st October 2020, the Prime Minister made an announcement that the whole of the UK was going back into a month long lockdown from starting at 12.01am on Thursday 5th November (tomorrow) until the 2nd December 2020.  Wales have already been in a month long lockdown which is due to end on the 9th November 2020 (although it seems like this one has now been extended), Scotland and Northern Ireland have also set out plans respectively for their own Lockdown period.  How to Adapt your Routine and Keep yourself Healthy:  Try and Stick to your Normal Routine: Trying to keep to a routine when you are working...

It's no secret that we all have Periods, apparently it's the 'most natural thing in the world' a girl can experience and is a symbol of finally becoming a woman!  What they don't tell you in your handy health class is that your boobs feel like the size of bowling balls and are sensitive or tender, your stomach feels like it's in a vice and your back constantly aches, Bloating and feeling Fatter than normal and if all that wasn't bad enough prepare yourself for crying at any given time, feeling depressed and moody and just generally craving anything sweet, deep fried or covered in loads of chocolate.  Periods are somewhat a taboo subject even now in the 21st century, it's something to do with the fact that people really don't want to understand or even acknowledge that blood comes from the intimate area of your body every single month with or without warning.  The best representation of what a period can do to you! They arrive with th...

It can be difficult in Social Situations to engage and interact with the people you work, socialise and live with.  Many of us use the technique of Masking, which in a sense is copying 'Normal" behaviour but in social situations if the trusty mask slips it can be the most awkward thing in the world and misread by your friends, work colleagues and even to some degree family.  We've all seen many TV programmes now integrating Autistic Characters into their dramas and comedies with the most popular  being Sheldon off The Big Bang Theory, but as per usual there hasn't been a development of Autistic girls in TV programmes due to the lack of awareness and also because when it comes to performing extreme autistic characteristics in forms of behaviour there is a lot more documentation on Males with Aspergers and Autism in general.  Which in a way is ironic, but aside from this Masking is something that I sometimes feel girls do more effectively ...

All Aspergers Girls and Boys at some point will have a meltdown!  For those who are confused to what a 'Meltdown' means, it basically is a massive release of anxiety or frustration which can turn violent in many circumstances and for loved ones can be a traumatic experience to see their autistic child/partner lose themselves in a meltdown.  It isn't pretty and it can be frightening for anyone involved including yourself, I hate to say this but when it all gets to much we all fall into the Meltdown cycle.  Depending on how stressful life is at the moment, pressure with exams and other things such as work commitments, family life, grief and other normal daily stresses can pile up on you and make you flip that switch in your head.  It is important to see the signs as usually Meltdowns come from Anxiety or Frustration which manifests itself over time. It can be days, weeks or months worth of anxiety that you think you are managing that can sudden...

It's that time of year again where we all get to throw the diet out of the window, watch rubbish TV and get to spend time with our family.  But for an Aspergers person the preparation for the 'Most Wonderful Time of The Year' can be hell on earth.  I actually thank god for internet shopping!!!  Just the thought of going into a crowded shopping centre gives me a massive anxiety attack before I walk out of my front door.  I love getting people I love gifts, in fact it fills me with joy but at the same time if someone says to me I want to go to the Shopping Centre or Manchester at this time of the year I try my very hardest to get out of going but sometimes that easier said than done!  Being in crowds can be stressful and more terrifying than people realise for an Aspergers person.  People go a little bit mental - just look at black friday last year in the UK, we nearly killed each other over reduced TV's that would've normally been in t...

We all have one of those Neighbours who can make life hell, hey there is even TV programmes about the subject these days but as someone with Aspergers when does the odd confrontation become something more than that?  Having experienced this for the last 15 years of my life with constant runs in and being threatened on a numerous occasions when does it become more than Harassment and turns into a Hate Crime?  Under UK law a Hate Crime against a Disabled Person is classed as the following :  Threatening behaviour Assault Robbery  Damage to Property Inciting others to commit a Hate Crime Harassment If any of the above has happened to you then it is defined as a Hate Crime against a Disabled person.  "As someone with Aspergers Syndrome I don't see myself or even class myself as Disabled and this is not because I don't believe I am Autistic but rather I don't see myself as less abled as a Normal Person but rather Differen...

Although the UK seems to have the best weather ever at the moment! Going away on holiday is everyone's summer dream!  But whether going away abroad to another country or even holidaying in your own country there are stressful situations that can pop up for every Aspergers person!  These situations can be something as simple as packing your suitcase, finding what outfits you want to take with you, baggage allowance (if going abroad), taking things that help you cope and even what books you want to read!  Yep and thats just the tip of the iceberg. As a woman it seems that packing and even going on holiday is a massive challenge to undertake. But when you add the Aspergers in there are other anxieties that need to be factored in.  In this series of special Survival Guides I will try and help with all situations you can face from my own travelling experiences. Covering the Holidays home and away and how to cope with Airport Security, Aeroplane...

University of Salford Campus Media City! My old Home from Home!  To go to University or not? Is one of the biggest decisions you will make when you are at College.  Since Leaving High School your only focus was on furthering what your favourite subjects were at School, but with University it's time to think about the future in the long term. The questions about what Career you would like to have and in what field all becomes apparent as well as taking on the biggest financial decisions you will make.  Don't be alarmed as there are steps you can take to make sure that you know what you want to do when you do truly decide that University is right for you. You don't have to make a decision right away but always have it in the back of your mind for when your lecturer finally asks you about applying for university.  University is a massive step for any Aspergers person to take and shouldn't be taken lightly. There are other things to worry about beside...

Sometimes little curve balls are thrown at you and you can't avoid them even if you try. But forget running around panicking as I have some helpful tips to get you through.  We've all had that moment where we haven't written something down or a tutor mentions something and you have no idea what they are going on about, but when does that little something going from something you've forgotten about to a complete and utter shock.  The reason i'm writing this is because it happened to me and I didn't handle it very well, I had a complete and total melt down with crying being my main reaction. So lecturers and tutors pay attention - if you're going to throw a spanner in the works make sure you tell the Aspergers person in your class what is happening a few weeks in advance!  So what does this all have to do with us Aspergers students??  Well if a tutor says: "Ok you've got a exam or test in a week."  Before the actual exam...