Social Hangovers

Social hangovers

Why don't I see this being talked about more? For many years I thought I'm depressed and/or getting sick after socialising, which was one of the reasons I hesitated to be more social. NO. Turns out it's a social hangover and it's common for autistic people to experience that. Some of the symptoms can include: • exhaustion • headaches • lack of motivation • irritation • stomach problems • low/depressed mood • feeling numb/empty • taciturnity • dizziness ...and more. I- I've learned that about a year ago, but as I was very socially hungover yesterday for no real reason, it brought up thinking about it again and understanding that genuinely helped myself figuring out how to recover easier. Because being actually depressed and having a social hangover are different things that require different strategies.

Beth Cavener

Through an empty place. 2017

Omg omg omg. It all makes so much more sense when you realise it's not social anxiety but a fear of being perceived.

Why do you feel more comfortable with a long coat and a mask as opposed to summer clothes?

Why do you DESPISE taking pictures? Especially if it's someone else and not you taking them.

Why do you feel like you have to stop doing whatever it was you were doing when someone passes by?

Why don't you want to tell anyone how leisurely you go about your day, taking a nap, going for a snack, sitting on your phone playing games etc. because you know they will comment on it and even though it's not negative or mockery it's still feels like you've been perceived?

Why can't you make eye contact? Why can you do it only if the other person is looking away but the second when they look at you you stop listening and when you're the one speaking you can't bear to look at them because you know their eyes are on you and they are perceiving you?

Why don't you want to dress excessively or wear nicer clothes? Because you will stand out

People mistake you for shy because you don't speak often, but it's really the fear of drawing attention to yourself more than it is the things you actually say, isn't it?

Why do you hate overpopulated areas even when no one is speaking? BUT you still feel more comfortable when more than one person is in the room (but not too many!) so that the burden of being perceived is directed on someone else and you can safely lay back just observing the scene.

It's all a defence mechanism

20 reasons to play I Was A Teenage Exocolonist

1. You can date emo boys

2. You can date emo girls

3. You can date basically everyone in the game that’s your age

4. You can date people no matter your gender

5. Bio gender and pronouns are separate sliders that you can change at any point, and it includes gender neutral options too if you’re like me!!!!!

6. A lot of the characters are lgbtq+, and there are more than the cishet characters

7. Accurate representation of anxiety and other mental disorders

8. It’s just a fun fucking game

9. Overthrow the government

10. Your girlies are allowed to be girls, sexism just doesn’t happen in this game <3

11. Overthrow that bitch ass named alum

12. All forms of abuse, including in romantic relationships, are treated as terrible and not romanticized

13. There are so many potential sexy men you have no clue

14. Silly little alien boy- did I mention that you could date everyone?

15. Dating isn’t required, and isn’t even brought up as necessary at all so you can totally aroace this shit

16. It has more diversity than any other game I’ve played

17. Rip lum’s barely there heart out of his ass and take over

18. You can hyperfixate and play through multiple times (and playing multiple times is actually a feature)

19. You can play on switch so it’s portable too

20. Just fucking play it. It’s such a good game you have no clue.

Shoutout to neurodivergent people who struggle with critical thinking.

A lack of critical thinking skills is often ridiculed online. It's seen as laziness, a lack of effort, intelligence or training. Naive and ignorant. A personal fault you need to work on, or else you're part of the problem.

For some people, their lack of abilities in this field is an integrate part of their neurodivergence. It could be a problem with executive functions, or a difference in thinking patterns, processing or world-view. We can have problems recognizing lies and falsities, how opinions differ from facts, the role of rules, thinking "outside the box", forming theories and conclusions, seeing different viewpoints, etc.

Critical thinking is an important skill that people benefit from learning. But it's like any other skill; some people are naturally good at it and some have major disadvantages. Learning and practicing help you get better, but it won't magically change who you are.

If you're neurodivergent and struggle with critical thinking, know that you're not lazy or ignorant. You have a difference in your brain that make certain things harder for you. And that's shouldn't be mocked.