Heather Cook

A green chrysalis attached to a long leaf.

The Chrysalis of Autism Discovery

A personal reflection on the interior process (confusion, discomfort, and transformation) of accepting my autistic identity.

Close-up of the top of a computer screen, opened to Gmail.

On Email Anxiety

Does emailing trigger anxiety, procrastination, negative self-talk, intrusive thoughts, and more? Here’s what I do to get through it.

A mouse standing on its hind legs, looking around at the floor covered with mouse traps filled with cheese bait.

Note To Self: On The Choices I Do Have

When I get wrapped up in all that I have to do, or can’t do, or should do, I feel trapped. Today I needed a reminder that I have more choices than I think I do.

Roll of toilet paper laid on a blue background.

You Don’t Need My Permission To Pee

A short rant on how our society teaches us to give away bodily autonomy.

How to Recover from Autistic Burnout

Here’s an overview of how to get out of Autistic burnout permanently, so you can get your life back — an autism-friendly life you are excited to live.

Woman with pale skin and dark shadows beneath her eyes holding up a drawing of a smile in front of her mouth.

You Might Be Masking If…Part 2

20 More examples of masking in real life.

You Might Be Masking If…Part 1

Here are 20 examples of masking in real life. Do you do any of these things? If you resonate with several of them, you might be masking.

Man wearing a t-shirt and shorts, with pale skin and dark hair, lying on a sectional sofa draped with a red blanket.

Reflection Prompts on Rest

Here are a few prompts to reflect on what messages you were taught about rest, and how you would like to engage with it in the future.

Close up of a hand putting two bandaids over a cut elbow.

I’m Not Broken, But I Have Been Hurt

I used to despair that I was always a little (or a lot) different no matter how hard I tried to fit in. Figuring out I’m autistic explained why, but created a complicated relationship with that feeling of being broken.