Dad’s Christmas Quiz

Every year my Dad does a notoriously tricky quiz for Christmas. Here's this year's effort, answers to follow: quiz_numbers_questionsDownload

Sometimes I forget to eat or drink – an autistic view

I grew up going to Brownies and Guides which meant trips away camping, memories from those trips contain plenty of instances of adults nagging me to eat and trying to find things I could eat. The issue wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy food, when I did eat what I liked I ate pretty well. I …

My Dads quiz

quiz-questionsDownload quiz-answersDownload

Dental care and mental health

I have always struggled with dental care. I don’t like the feeling of a toothbrush in my mouth and often just forget to do my teeth. I am autistic and struggle with my mental health. My difficulties with teeth brushing are compounded by periods of severe depression and also acid reflux- a legacy from having …

Diverse Autumn Photography Competition

Competition rules: This is a photography competition is for people over 16 who have a diagnosis of autism or who identify with a diagnosis of autism who live in the Bristol/Bath/North East Somerset area.Up to 2 photos per person can be entered (you can enter less if you like) Please send your photos to autumnphotocompetition@gmail.com …

Community Rehab

Community Rehabilitation When people heard that I was being supported by the Community Rehabilitation service their immediate thought was often that it was a programme for withdrawing from drugs or alcohol. People often associate the word ‘rehabilitation’ with withdrawal from substances. In this case though the Community Rehabilitation team are a mental health team who …

Mountains of the mind

The last two weekends I've finally got back into the Welsh mountains after a year away from them. I was walking with just my partner and there were moments of comfortable silence. When you know someone well enough there is no pressure to talk. I know sometimes we can get overwhelmed by our thoughts, but …

Mental health and dietetics during a pandemic

Mental health and dietetics during a pandemic My name is Ruth and somehow I have managed to work towards anorexia recovery during a pandemic. I wanted to write about how dietetics have innovated to support me through the pandemic as I feel it’s important to have a record of good practice and to share it …

In my skin

The psychiatrist seemed surprised when I explained that I have been shouted at on the street by people. Why is my mere presence so offensive to people? I don’t care what I look like particularly, which can mean that I’ll stand out at times. In the winter in my Paddington bear coat, with furry hood …

Distraction by details

Content warning: Depression/Suicide/Hospital It's been a long time since I've written a blog - advance warning that the end of this blog is one big photo gallery. Writing has felt out of reach since last November. Last November I had what I can only describe as a breakdown. I'm autistic and really struggle with uncertainty …