Thoughty Auti - The Autism & Mental Health Podcast

What is masking as an autistic person? How do autistic and neurotypical differ in communication style? How do you improve your social communication skills?

In this episode of the Thoughty Auti Podcast, Thomas talks to a librarian and Instagram spokesperson Lauren (@Autienelle) about what it means to be social on the autistic spectrum. Lauren has always been the type of person to mask at school and she tried her very best to fit in with society, it's only later in life that she realised just how much she needed her own space to be happy and has since tapered down her extroverted ventures. Thomas, on the other hand, has always been very withdrawn and quiet at school but found that with age that he enjoys being more extroverted and outgoing than he previously thought.

Are there any benefits or negatives to masking in certain situations, what things should you keep in mind when partaking in large extroverted endeavours & how do you go from being lonely and isolated... to well networked and outgoing?

There is often a hidden misconception that autistic people don't enjoy socialising or prefer to be alone; whilst we may need more space than your average joe, we are all human and interaction with other people can enrich someone's life more than you can comprehend.

Both Thomas and Lauren come from two different ends on the extroversion scale, and with that in mind, they discuss all the techniques and methods of getting that social interaction many people crave, but so often... can't find.

If you have an exciting or interesting story and want to appear on the next Podcast, please contact me at: [email protected]

Lauren's Link:-

►https://www.instagram.com/autienelle/

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Channel Merchandise - https://teespring.com/stores/aspergers-growth

Support via Patreon! - https://www.patreon.com/aspergersgrowth

Social Media ♥ -

☼ Facebook - Aspergers Growth

☼ Twitter/Instagram - @aspergersgrowth

♫ Listen On -

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6vjXgCB7Q3FwtQ2YqPjnEV

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/thoughty-auti-the-autism-mental-health-podcast/id1470689079

Music -

♫ Track: [Chill Music] Ikson - Reverie [No Copyright Music]

Advert Track: Empty Parking Lot - Colours Of Illusion [Epidemic Sound]

Why are 70% of daily marijuana users Autistic? How can medical marijuana be used by Autistic or ADHD adults to support them? What are the negative impacts of marijuana on neurodivergent or neurotypical individuals?

DISCLAIMER: This information should NOT be viewed or used as medical advice, rather an exploration of data, science and experiences of neurodivergentand neurotypical individuals with Marijuana usage.

Dr. Miyabe Shields ( @miyabephd ) has a PhD in endocannabinoid pharmsci and is co-creator of 'Network of Applied Pharmacognosy' with Dr. Riley Kirk, a non-profit contributing to education and destigmatising of emerging medicinal natural products. Miyabe is also a thriving queer and neurodivergent Instagram personality with over 40K followers, which is often used to promote 'Project Chronic' from 'Dose Like A Scientist', a community-based educational platform for neurodivergents providing a network, teaching them about pharmacology and advocacy.

My Links - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ // Miyabe's Links - https://projectchronic.com/links/ Dbud Noise Cancelling Adjustable Ear Buds (20% OFF with code: THOUGHTYAUTI) - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dbud.io/thoughtyautipodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Introducing Season 3 of the Thoughty Auti Podcast, Thomas explains the new upload schedule of the podcast before pivoting to the episode topic... Marijuana and Autism. Miyabe gives a brief background to why she chose to pursue Pharamacological research into endocannabinoids before highlighting the differences in the legality and prescription of consumable hemp, recreational, and medical marijuana between the USA and the UK. Two big distinctions were product diversity and black market prevalence in obtaining marijuana. Thomas highlights his introduction to recreational drug users at university, sparking an interest in the physiological and experiential elements of alternative medicine and drug use. He had a very bad association with drug use, personality, work ethic, and intelligence, common to many proclaimed 'tea-total' individuals. Miyabe describes the Stoner Archetype and how it influences public perspectives on marijuana use as opposed to the use of legal highs like alcohol and tobacco. Miyabe explains the Triad Of Suffering, three issues common to neurodivergent individuals, but also something treatable with medical marijuana. Listing off the immediate and long-term potentials of THC and CBD through a medical lens, it's clear this medicine has a lot of therapeutic potential for neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. A clear advantage to recreational use through the heightening of social rewards and reduced discomfort with eye contact through an oxytocin mediator seemed to explain the positive regard towards marijuana testified by neurodivergents in a social setting. Marijuana is not without potential risks, being linked to triggering schizophrenia, an array of mental illnesses, and neuronal changes in users under the age of 25; although correlation does not always equal causation, it's a clear concern for medical professionals and the public. Touching on the history of hemp and marijuana use, Miyabe details the many reasons why she is fighting for more widespread legalisation of both medicinal and recreational marijuana use. Ignoring its potential benefits, it proves to be a relatively lower toxicity and crime-facilitating option than the socially accepted recreational use of ethanol and nicotine. Whether you agree with legalisation of such a plant, you'll surely take away a lot of new perspectives and information about marijuana use for neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. Song Of The Day (Listen Here) - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5UDIyN5TSYN4zMcRoQPrG8?si=9255ed3480d840b5

What is the reality of being Autistic in the music industry?

SD (@pj_au_) is an Autistic rapper from Mississauga Ontario (Canada) performing in the Greater Toronto Area. Diagnosed with Autism and ADHD at 4 years old, SD was influenced by the renowned rappers in his city, drawing on his negative past experiences to produce rap music.

SD's Links - https://linktr.ee/S.D_Flame // My Links - https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK

In this episode of the Thoughty Auti Podcast, Thomas Henley talks to SD Flame about the reality of 'making it' in the music industry and how his neurodivergence of Autism & ADHD positively or negatively impact his career as a music artist.

Kicking off they talk about their shared love for rap music before diving deep into the SD Flame's experiences in secondary school; he mentions that rap battles were a large part of how he became renowned in his school. Flame also experienced a harsh family divorce in his adolescence.

SD constructed and paid for his own recording studio with the funds he saved from evening jobs as a dishwasher, this was where he met and befriended other neurodivergent individuals in his area. At 19 he decided to take rap more seriously, freestyling in local bars and networking with other music artists at nightclubs and learning the values of respect and humbleness through personal experience.

They soon transitioned to talking about ADHD and Autism, and how his fast-paced brain, pattern recognition, hyper focus and creativity positively impacted his musical ability. Difficulty with burnouts, transitions and inertia became a large focus when talking about the negatives, also explaining the difficulties of mental conditioning (de-tense), managing stress/anxiety and coping with the intense sensory environment of the stage.

Thomas draws comparisons to his experiences as a combat athlete in Taekwondo, and the difficulties of anxiety, panic attacks and meltdowns before fights.

They finish up by talking about the importance of pacing your workload, making adjustments to your environment and mental conditioning.

Song Of The Day (Listen Here) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5UDIyN5TSYN4zMcRoQPrG8?si=9255ed3480d840b5

Interview me, 1:1 Autism coaching, Public Speaking for events, workplace training - https://www.thomashenley.co.uk

What is it like to bi-racial AND autistic? How can you make transitions easier? Which are easier for an autistic person to deal with: Big or Small transitions?

In this episode of the Thoughty Auti Podcast, Thomas talks to the half British, half Taiwanese autistic blogger, and writer Grace Liu (@UnwrittenGraceBlogs).

They focus their conversation around the topic of transitioning and why it's difficult for autistic people, her experience emigrating from Taiwan to the UK... but also all about what life was like at school as an autistic person of a different ethnic background.

They talk about the very odd phenomena of Grace being seen as a 'spectacle' in her adult life due to her diagnosis and ethnicity. Thomas and Grace share stories of experiencing racism in the UK, Taiwan, and Thailand... but also tell personal anecdotes such as one of Grace's customers in the past sharing that 'God can cure autism' and the helpful security staff member that helped Thomas out during a BAD meltdown.

They go on to tackle what can be done about the ethnic stereotypes around autism and identify ways that society can be more accommodating for autistic immigrants... and autistic people in general!

If you have an exciting or interesting story and want to appear on the next podcast, please contact me at: [email protected]

Grace's Links:-

► Blog - unwrittengrace.wordpress.com

► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/unwrittengrace

► Twitter - https://twitter.com/unwrittengracel

► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unwrittengraceblogs/

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Channel Merchandise - https://teespring.com/stores/aspergers-growth

Support via Patreon! - https://www.patreon.com/aspergersgrowth

Social Media ♥ -

☼ Facebook - Aspergers Growth

☼ Twitter/Instagram - @aspergersgrowth

♫ Listen On -

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6vjXgCB7Q3FwtQ2YqPjnEV

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/thoughty-auti-the-autism-mental-health-podcast/id1470689079

Music -

♫ Track: [Chill Music] Ikson - Reverie [No Copyright Music]

Advert Track: Empty Parking Lot - Colours Of Illusion [Epidemic Sound]

What gender stereotypes surround autism? What can we do help represent ALL autistic people? What is it like to work for the National Autistic Society?

In this episode, Thomas talks to an award-winning poet and Content Officer at the National Autistic Society... Hermione Cameron (@Hermirony1). They focus their conversation around the importance of expressive arts, the depression metaphor of the Dementors in Harry Potter, but mainly on their opinions on gender stereotypes around autism .

We talk about the vicious cycles in anxiety and depression, and how they interact with autism, but we also dive into the inherent differences between men and women!

Male Vs Female bullying, research bias towards the problems of being autistic, the extreme male brain, and how to approach controversial topics in a social setting. With kindness and productive conversation at the forefront, this is an episode that definitely gets into the nitty-gritty parts of society that we often shy away from...

If you have an exciting or interesting story and want to appear on the next podcast, please contact me at: [email protected]

Hermione's Links:-

► Recipe For Being A Women (Review) - https://falwriting.com/new-blog/2018/2/26/review-recipe-for-being-a-woman

► Blue Bottle Mystery - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1526654.Blue_Bottle_Mystery

► Stories From The Spectrum - https://www.autism.org.uk/about/stories/thomas-henley.aspx

► Twitter - https://twitter.com/hermirony1?lang=en

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Channel Merchandise - https://teespring.com/stores/aspergers-growth

Support via Patreon! - https://www.patreon.com/aspergersgrowth

Social Media ♥ -

☼ Facebook - Aspergers Growth

☼ Twitter/Instagram - @aspergersgrowth

♫ Listen On -

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6vjXgCB7Q3FwtQ2YqPjnEV

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/thoughty-auti-the-autism-mental-health-podcast/id1470689079

Music -

♫ Track: [Chill Music] Ikson - Reverie [No Copyright Music]

Advert Track: Empty Parking Lot - Colours Of Illusion [Epidemic Sound]