Comments on: Okay, So I Really Am Disabled. Now What?

By: Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg

Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:53:25 +0000

Louise and Caroline, I’m so glad that my experience resonates with your own. Sometimes, it’s so difficult to make the connections between being overstimulated and feeling sick, because most doctors have no idea how these things could possibly be connected. It’s just a process of going through the same thing enough times to get the connection for ourselves.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:02:25 +0000

HI,

I want to thank you for your blog, especially this post. I found it very personally illuminating. I find I tend to get frequent mystery illness – not serious but debilitating enough to take time of work. I have been looking into food intolerances and had my blood tested but reading your blog I wondered if it could be my reaction to the difficult atmosphere and hostility (not specifically directed at me although sometimes it is – just a difficult enviroment) that is causing these episodes.

I had previously noticed that when I am seriously depressed I don’t tend to get seriously ill – but depression couild aslo be another way of processing (or being unable to or refusing to process) emotional confusion/difficulty.

Thanks again for all your sharing

By: Louise

Louise — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:20:26 +0000

Hi Racheal,

Thanks for posting. I read often but dont always write comments. Since reading this post it made me understand myself a bit more and why after being over simulated or stressed I cant get out of the bed, and think Ive got the flu! yet after silence and sleep I usually feel OK in the morning or within the next day. I hate having people over to my house especially if they have kids and make a mess! ahhhhh! Ive not been diagnosed with Autism but each time I read your posts I feel like you are talking about me! keep writing and thank you xxxxxxxx

Louise

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:06:48 +0000

Jennifer, you’re absolutely right that my auditory and neurological differences are not conducive to meeting a wide array of new people and exploring new places. And that’s because, apart from the wonderful people I’ve met in my community, the society I live in is not welcoming or accessible to people with autism.

I think you’re beginning to see what marginalization means for me now.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:22:12 +0000

Rachel, the quilt is marvellous.
I really believe you that talking is tiring and should be optional (that is, when you want it.)
The only thing is that if someone’e bringing up an autistic child, I don’t think that it’s wrong to put the child in situations that challenge them. I don’t mean put them in melt-down situations on purpose, but I mean, gently test the waters, and in ever increasing circles widen their horizons. I’m speaking as someone who mostly doesn’t approach people, but has the luck that people approach me. Making friends is such a precious thing, when it happens.
I wish I could understand what it is that you want, or what is precisely happening that is so stressful, because I’m afraid that what you’re trying to achieve will isolate you. It doesn’t seem condusive to meeting new people or being in new places. I would like a world where autistic people were more visible, as in, that people encountered them more often.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:25:44 +0000

Thanks, Alison. I really love the way it turned out!

By: Alison

Alison — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:50:27 +0000

Hi Rachel,

I know this is a little off topic, but I LOVE how you fixed that quilt. I think it looks great.

By: Roia

Roia — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:18:03 +0000

Thank you so much for writing this. It was helpful to me.