Being autistic, adhd and random stuff
- Thread starter stickygirl
- Start date
Yesterday actually turned out to be semi-productive until I
[a.] Ran out of paper in the office, and
[b.] Attempted to get a haircut. Took my chances on a walk-in, thinking I could make an appointment if that failed. Plan failed because they only take appointments via an app.
After that I was stuffed because I had lost my flow.
[a.] Ran out of paper in the office, and
[b.] Attempted to get a haircut. Took my chances on a walk-in, thinking I could make an appointment if that failed. Plan failed because they only take appointments via an app.
After that I was stuffed because I had lost my flow.
Strixaluco
Owned little owl
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2022
- Posts
- 18,361
So... You didn't even get the haircut? How frustrating.
No haircut - and I am overdue!
It's a bit of a story...
My old barber was a woman who had a little shop down by Kroger (supermarket) which was within walking distance. She retired suddenly just before Easter and no-one took over. There's a barber's by the Post Office, also walking distance, which is where I tried yesterday, but they are just weird - don't really do walk-ins but say that they do, and the app thing. It is beginning to look like I'll be borrowing the dog clippers.
Update: On the plus side... I found the barber's I vaguely remembered as being at the back of CVS. Turned out to be an Hispanic place but between his limited English and my three words of Spanish we managed, and I now have a summer haircut!
On the negative side... the phone company updated their system and now my passcode won't work on the voicemail system.
On the negative side... the phone company updated their system and now my passcode won't work on the voicemail system.
stickygirl
All the witches
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2012
- Posts
- 24,202
My bf has male pattern baldness and opted to go broke/go home and shaved his head. I wasn't over the moon, but I've mow got used to velcro in the bedroom... I miss wrapping hair round my fingers
I'm on the same boat as your bf, but I am at the stage where there is just enough hair left to for me still want to make the most of it. Give it another 3 to 6 months it'll will be time for the buzz. It'll be all-over no.4 for me, rather than shaved. I don't fancy the Buster Bloodvessel look!
I'll deal with the bleep-bleep phone company on Monday.
Strixaluco
Owned little owl
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2022
- Posts
- 18,361
My late husband had the same situation. His scalp didn't agree with shaving with 0mm (he got acne there), so I had to talk him to leaving a few millimetres. It's the combing over that is embarrassing, not having 3-10 mm around the bald spot. And it makes a huge difference for the scalp health.
I'm considering learning to cut mine. I've yet to find myself a hairdresser since moving back to the city, and it's been 4 years since last cut. My hair has grown from mid-shoulderblades to almost long enough to be sat on. Hairdressers cost a lot of money, good specific scissors for the job cost less than one haircut.
I'm struggling today. I sort of know why - too darn much to do with a high probability the work will be ignored/rejected - but the clincher is something I thought I was over. I did not see my Closest Autistic Friend yesterday as she was elsewhere pushing her book, so I am really missing our usual 5 to 20 minute check-in that I didn't get yesterday.
liliput1
Hot Mess
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2007
- Posts
- 2,207
Listening to audiobooks while doing chores isn't quite body doubling but it's better than nothing.
But the nice thing about listening to an audiobook you've already been through a few times is that you no longer need to pay close attention, like leaving reruns of a TV show running in the background. If you space out or doze off and you miss a bit and you pretty much know what it is, and don't need to play the game of trying to back up to the last part you remember hearing and playing it again.
Music might be better for tempo but not for endurance.
But the nice thing about listening to an audiobook you've already been through a few times is that you no longer need to pay close attention, like leaving reruns of a TV show running in the background. If you space out or doze off and you miss a bit and you pretty much know what it is, and don't need to play the game of trying to back up to the last part you remember hearing and playing it again.
Music might be better for tempo but not for endurance.
I tend to do chores when I need to either (a) release tension, or (b) do something where I can see where I have been. Loud music helps in those circumstances.
In my world audio books are for long boring journeys in the car.
I'm quietly dreading tomorrow in case she is away again... just need to see her and check in.
liliput1
Hot Mess
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2007
- Posts
- 2,207
That's a distinction between *DHD and straight autism. Making chores into a meditation takes years and years of practice and even then it's not automatic. I can zen out doing chores. I rarely do, because the initial investment is high.
That's how I started with audiobooks. Used it for classics I hadn't managed to get through on paper.
Underscore_2
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- May 15, 2026
- Posts
- 8,615
Many years ago during my extended misguided youth I self medicated in extreme ways that I wouldn't recommend. Sometimes I would feel a serious lack of control and I would then resort to the simplest of household tasks just to maintain some semblance of stability.
Strixaluco
Owned little owl
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2022
- Posts
- 18,361
And with AuDHD or ADHD mind can start to resist immediately when it's starting to be an actual routine.
Underscore_2
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- May 15, 2026
- Posts
- 8,615
And even the simplest of routine can become a real challenge demanding disturbing levels of concentration
liliput1
Hot Mess
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2007
- Posts
- 2,207
Most of my rituals are about not fucking things up rather than getting them done.
Underscore_2
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- May 15, 2026
- Posts
- 8,615
Mine are about retaining control and not dropping over the edge
I'm AuDHD, so it can be interesting how I am going to react to the routine. It is very much a case of get up, wiggle the key, turn it, and see what is going to work today, if anything. It depends whether ASD is in control or inattentive ADHD, or whether they're having a little dance with one another.
stickygirl
All the witches
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2012
- Posts
- 24,202
Well finally - I've got an expert to admit he's wrong... well maybe not just me!!
Not long after I was diagnosed, I saw a YT lecture fronted by world-leading autism expert, Prof Simon Baron Cohen, extolling his concept of "extreme male brain" to a spell-bound audience. Now he admits, not so much that he was wrong but that people misunderstood him...Oh how often we have heard this plaintive cry?
I nearly had a coffee spew moment when I read the linked article further, to find this quote
"I can't generalise, but many autistic people think differently..." I'm not kidding - he said that out loud!
Like the recently, and rightly disgraced, Uta Frith, Baron Cohen deserves to be ignored and ridiculed. He emerged back in the day when to be become an entitled academic, one only had to write papers full of made-up terms and then make sure one introduced long pauses in interviews to suggest he was thinking deeply and meaningfully. He's a fraud.
WHY DON"T THEY ASK US?
Not long after I was diagnosed, I saw a YT lecture fronted by world-leading autism expert, Prof Simon Baron Cohen, extolling his concept of "extreme male brain" to a spell-bound audience. Now he admits, not so much that he was wrong but that people misunderstood him...Oh how often we have heard this plaintive cry?
I nearly had a coffee spew moment when I read the linked article further, to find this quote
"I can't generalise, but many autistic people think differently..." I'm not kidding - he said that out loud!
Like the recently, and rightly disgraced, Uta Frith, Baron Cohen deserves to be ignored and ridiculed. He emerged back in the day when to be become an entitled academic, one only had to write papers full of made-up terms and then make sure one introduced long pauses in interviews to suggest he was thinking deeply and meaningfully. He's a fraud.
WHY DON"T THEY ASK US?
Underscore_2
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- May 15, 2026
- Posts
- 8,615
Well the only reason that I've failed to obtain an official diagnosis is because there is only one specialist employed to cover a massively populated geographical area, and his expertise is based upon his own asperger experience. ie: "you fill the multiple choice questionaire with limited options that don't fit and if they don't tell me what I want to hear then I'm not interested in you as a client". I can't name him because I don't wish to face another court case. I've won every one that I've had to deal with but I just don't want the pain of it all. He's a charlatan and there's nothing I can do about it short of moving to another location where I'd be totally lost and know absolutely no-one.
The problem arises out of a health service run by a government that isn't interested in investing in adult mental health services unless there's a backhander or two somewhere along the line.
The problem arises out of a health service run by a government that isn't interested in investing in adult mental health services unless there's a backhander or two somewhere along the line.
Noor
Citizen of the World
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2003
- Posts
- 33,480
I suspect that we do think a bit differently, but that’s a good thing.Well finally - I've got an expert to admit he's wrong... well maybe not just me!!
Not long after I was diagnosed, I saw a YT lecture fronted by world-leading autism expert, Prof Simon Baron Cohen, extolling his concept of "extreme male brain" to a spell-bound audience. Now he admits, not so much that he was wrong but that people misunderstood him...Oh how often we have heard this plaintive cry?
I nearly had a coffee spew moment when I read the linked article further, to find this quote
"I can't generalise, but many autistic people think differently..." I'm not kidding - he said that out loud!
Like the recently, and rightly disgraced, Uta Frith, Baron Cohen deserves to be ignored and ridiculed. He emerged back in the day when to be become an entitled academic, one only had to write papers full of made-up terms and then make sure one introduced long pauses in interviews to suggest he was thinking deeply and meaningfully. He's a fraud.
WHY DON"T THEY ASK US?
Underscore_2
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- May 15, 2026
- Posts
- 8,615
I, for one, believe that I'm perfectly normal and think it's the rest of the world that's neurodivergent 
She was missing last week, and very much there this week. We have a lovely time catching up.
liliput1
Hot Mess
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2007
- Posts
- 2,207
I knew a guy when I was young who from some obscure screenplay had stolen the line:I, for one, believe that I'm perfectly normal and think it's the rest of the world that's neurodivergent
"I am perfectly sane, it is everyone else who is insane and they're all trying to steal my magic bag."
