78 Results in Thoughts, Feelings & Behaviour

7 ways autistic people struggle to see the bigger picture

Seeing the bigger picture means being able to consider the entirety of a situation instead of each individual detail. It means zooming out and seeing things from a ‘bird’s eye view.’ Being able to see the bigger picture is a very useful way to think. However it requires much mental flexibility, which is a skill… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to cont…

The importance of being given a clear explanation

The Girl With The Curly Hair was working at her first job in a science measurement and testing company. During her time at this job, she encountered many confusing situations because of her autism (that neither she nor her employer were aware of at the time). Let’s have a look at two of these confusing… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this article…

“It’s not obvious to me!”

So many things are not obvious to me! I find this a serious impairment as I go about my day to day activities. I often feel bewildered in a situation because I am not sure what to do. Even if somebody has told me what to do, often their instructions do not make sense. In… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this article, along with receiving access to our exclusiv…

How might autistic people manage their time off?

I was once contracted to work at a science measurement and testing company for 12 months. This was a full time job role and included 28 days’ annual leave. I did not take any annual leave for 11 months. I remember my manager approaching me at some point during my tenth month to remind me… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this article, along with recei…

How to tolerate other people’s behaviour

Autistic people might have strong views on how other people ‘ought’ to behave. They might feel cross when others do not follow ‘the rules’. They might also find it difficult to understand those who behave in a different way from themselves. I was watching this train scene:… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this article, along with receiv…

Understanding emotional satisfaction

Have you ever had thoughts similar to “I wish I was like that” or “I wish I could do what they do”? Several times in the past when I had mentioned to people, “I wish I was like that” or “I wish I could do what they do”, their responses were interesting. They sometimes said,… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to re…

Should I think about things in a logical or emotional way?

Logic and emotions are two primary ways in which human beings are able to think about things, draw conclusions and communicate. Both logic and emotions are useful and can add value to a person’s well being. So what is the difference between logical and emotional thinking and how can each be used to improve well… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read th…

Understanding the fear of being ‘told off’

When I was a teenager, at school, I was exceedingly and abnormally well behaved. I still have a memory of a classmate remarking to me, “Don’t you ever do anything wrong?”. I went through the entire 5 years of secondary school without receiving a single detention. Detentions were quite usual occurrences for most students. They… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you…

3 Types of masking

It has been recognised that people on the autism spectrum engage in ‘masking’ behaviours. When an autistic person masks, it means that they appear more neurotypical than their cognitive profile would otherwise suggest…. Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this article, along with receiving access to our exclusive animations, podcast…

Understanding the ‘state of normal’

Autistic people can find change very difficult. One of the reasons for this is because change disrupts their ‘state of normal’. What is the state of normal? The state of normal is what a person is used to doing, what they are used to feeling and subsequently what they are used to thinking. It is the combination of… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continu…