tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11146929649712743252024-02-02T15:30:56.311-05:00The Realistic AutisticResearch and book reviews, life on the spectrum, and autistic perspectives on important topics. Updates Mondays and FridaysSarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.comBlogger785125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-11782446327260746332021-05-24T09:00:00.001-04:002021-05-24T09:00:00.216-04:00See you on Wordpress<p> I have officially moved! Please find all future posts, research, and important topics at <a href="http://www.realisticautistic.com">www.realisticautistic.com</a>. My entire archive of work has been migrated there as well. See you there!</p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-67211522240538805462021-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:002021-05-21T08:00:00.262-04:00Book Review: Parallel Play<p>(Hey folks, I've moved! Please find the new site at <a href="http://realisticautistic.wpcomstaging.com">Wordpress!</a> This will be one of the last posts on Blogger- I hope you like the new site as much as I do!)</p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6595779-parallel-play">Parallel Play: Growing Up With Undiagnosed Asperger's</a>, by Tim Page, is a "my life with autism" story from one of our older survivors. The book mainly deals with his childhood, as the title suggests, and is written in the typical autistic conversational-explanational tone that so frequently graces our literature. Mr. Page's prose is more polished than most, I would say, which is likely due to his many years of wordsmithing. </p><p>I call this autistic generation The Lost Generation, personally, because few of these autistic people avoided institutionalization, and those that did typically suffered immensely. Autism was simply not understood, let alone supported. There was no community to which we could find advice from others like us. No comradery and fellowship. No support services designed to meet our needs. </p><p>Those of us that survived without being sent to the destructive prison-institutions typically bear scars and unhealthy adaptations from the experience. Depression and anxiety are common. For this author? One of those unhealthy adaptations is a fixation on death. This isn't uncommon for autistic people- anything can turn into a hobby or fascination. Morbid subjects aren't unreasonable, especially when a close family member (such as the author's grandfather) dies when the autistic person is young. </p><p>In the author's case, there are no gory details to be had. His interest in the subject included a much-heightened fear of death and interests in deceased authors, musicians, and silent films. I suspect this book would be quite a nostalgia trip for an older person, especially one that grew up in the Northeast US at around the same time. In that sense, I am very much not the target audience.</p><p>One thing is painfully consistent regardless of generation, though. The pain of living in a world that constantly misunderstands and willfully rejects you is clear throughout this book. You can see this same pain in <a href="https://realisticautistic.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-review-pretending-to-be-normal.html">Liane Holliday Wiley</a>'s writing. Both Tim Page and Liane suffered immensely, and neither of them had any kind of fellow autistic community. They were simply alone, and found their way as best they could with other misfits. </p><p>Another painful echo found in this book as well as other autistic accounts was perhaps summarized best by <a href="https://realisticautistic.blogspot.com/2020/06/book-review-autism-in-heels.html">Jennifer Cook O'Toole</a>: "How can I be so smart, yet so <i>stupid</i>?" Tim Page mentions scoring well on IQ tests (though no specific numbers) a couple times in the book, and inevitably with those mentions also comes a certain disbelief, and the suggestion that his father might have tampered with the results. I certainly have no special insight into that suggestion, but I suspect Mr. Page, like many people, operates on the idea that IQ is somehow a blanket score for intelligence. </p><p>I strongly suspect I will go blue in the face before I ever finish convincing people <a href="https://realisticautistic.blogspot.com/2018/11/worth-your-read-value-of-iq.html">that no, it is not</a>. IQ is a measure of how well a person is likely to learn in a typical school setting, using typical teaching methods. It does not account for learning disabilities. It does not cover common sense, emotional intelligence, musical ability, hand-eye coordination, and social skills. It's a highly restrictive scale that should only be considered useful in highly restrictive settings. But because of the value people place on it, a person with a high IQ score is assumed to be good at all these other things. When they turn out not to be, disappointment is about the kindest response I've seen. Rejection, disbelief, and avoidance are significantly more common.</p><p>This aloneness and rejection tends to breed a mindset of "I don't fit in and it's my fault. If only I wasn't so ____, I would have friends and be happy." This sense of being wrong and bad is pervasive. I should know: a part of me still believes that even though it's definitely unhealthy, bad, and just flat-out wrong. It's the same poisonous mindset as believing that I can't be beautiful because larger women can't be beautiful (except for every other larger woman, because obviously the beauty industry is manipulative and horrible). </p><p>It's exactly these kinds of experiences that make it worthwhile for me to step forward and identify myself as autistic. Simply knowing "there's someone else like me" is a massive relief and boost to quality of life. It's why representation in the media, especially genuine representation, is so important. Parents do better knowing autistic adults, because it gives them a picture of what their kids might grow to be. Autistic kids can receive that same benefit, but they also can gain courage to be themselves. Also strategies and insights they might never have had themselves.</p><p>In short, they can have the things I never had, and hopefully be healthier and happier humans for it. We march to our own drums, we autistic people. Each of us stunningly unique. One day I hope that uniqueness won't contain a rainbow of trauma as a given. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Read This Book If</h3><div>You want to experience a vivid slice of life narrative from an autistic man who grew up in the 50s and 60s. They were a remarkably different time, those days before the Internet came to everyone's phones, computers, and homes. This era wasn't my era, but I think there's value in knowing what life was like before the modern one... and in knowing the stories of the Lost Generation, perhaps find something of ourselves.</div>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-68662997755752874972021-05-07T08:00:00.005-04:002021-05-07T08:00:00.232-04:00Book Review: Asperger's Syndrome: Helping Siblings<p>(Hey folks, I've moved! Please find the new site at <a href="http://realisticautistic.wpcomstaging.com">Wordpress!</a> This will be one of the last posts on Blogger- I hope you like the new site as much as I do!)</p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26035021-asperger-s-syndrome">The Visual Guide to Asperger's Syndrome: Helping Siblings</a>, by Alis Rowe, is a plainspoken children's book-sized publication focused on helping parents help siblings of autistic people adjust and thrive. I found this book in the autism section, not the children's section, but it's pretty clear from the font size and pictures where it's meant to go. At less than 100 pages in large sized font, it's not a long read. </p><p>I picked it up anyway because this is a vastly under-served and under-recognized need. There are hundreds, if not thousands of books geared towards educating parents and professionals. Even books specifically focused on other autistics, often written by the same. But very little has been done to help siblings of those on the spectrum cope with, say, the resentment of regularly being overlooked in favor of handling the autistic child's special needs. </p><p>Sometimes, in the stress of everything that has to be done to manage the finances, support services, and even themselves, parents miss things. These things can include their own self-care and wellness, and it can also include making time for doing things with just the sibling(s). This is entirely understandable- after all, every autistic child is different, so there is no one "do this and everything will be fine" guide. Children are already challenging, even without factoring in unusual developmental patterns and the need for support services, specialized learning, etc. </p><p>Though all this happens unintentionally, it can be really hard on the neurotypical sibling(s). Anger, embarrassment, jealousy, and frustration are common. If autism isn't well-explained to the child, confusion and misunderstandings about why the autistic child is treated differently may result. </p><p>This book tackles the job of pointing out common pitfalls as well as providing answers and suggestions as to how to address each problem. It lists and addresses specific concerns and feelings a sibling might have, which I thought was useful as well as enlightening. </p><p>One thing I particularly appreciated was that the book spends time explaining the difference between a <i>tantrum</i> and a <i>meltdown</i>, which is an exceptionally important concept for family to understand. For the unfamiliar: tantrums are goal-oriented. The person throwing the tantrum wants the attention, or wants something (like candy, ice cream, a toy, etc), and when that want is met, the tantrum ends. </p><p>Meltdowns, on the other hand, are a response to overstimulated senses (like loud environments) or other adverse circumstances, and only end when the person has calmed down. The two behaviors look superficially the same, especially to someone unfamiliar with the person, but should be treated very differently. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Read This Book If</h3><div>You're a parent of an autistic child with at least one other, neurotypical child. This is a tightly focused, easy-to-read book meant to guide parents in helping both their autistic child and their neurotypical child(ren). It lays out important basics as well as very specific concerns and feelings a sibling might have. At less than 100 pages and in large, easy-read font, this is a good starting place for a parent to begin with this important, often sidelined, subject. </div>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-14486598237405905132021-05-03T09:00:00.102-04:002021-05-03T09:31:28.916-04:00Reading the Research: The Real Link Between Violence and Mental Illness<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-01/wkh-wat011321.php">Today's article</a> merited underlining simply because this link is still, after all this time, misunderstood over and over. I'm tired of seeing it, so here's the truth. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">There is, in fact, a link between mental illness and violence. But it's not what people think. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">People with mental illness (which often includes autistic people) are far more likely to be <i>the targets of violence. </i>We are not the perpetrators. The perpetrators typically people without diagnosed disorders. To quote the article: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">"The large majority of the perpetrators of violent crimes do not have a diagnosable mental illness, and conversely, most people with psychiatric disorders are never violent," Dr. Swanson writes.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Popular culture and the news seem to desperately want to play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey with mental illness when some new violent horror pops up. Because people always want to know "how could this happen," but never want to consider that it might be because we've been strangling social services for decades, or because the US has so many more guns per person than other Western nations. They seem to want a nice, safe "it was something specifically wrong with this one person" answer so nothing has to change and we can all move on with our lives. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">As any idiot could tell by paying attention, these quick, individualized theories have had no useful effect in ending violence in schools, churches, and against marginalized people. If it's not <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Breonna_Taylor">the police shooting a black woman in her bed</a> (or any number of other murders), it's <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/nyregion/asian-hate-crimes.html">attacks against US citizens of Asian descent</a>, or the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States">painfully numerous school shootings</a> (including three in 2021). </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The suggestion that mental illness might have been involved with violent perpetrators' motives for their horrific actions is nothing more than victim-blaming misdirection. It's much like how some awful humans seem to think that wearing certain clothes is "inviting sexual assault," as if adult male humans are toddlers with no self control who can't possibly be expected to answer for their actions. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div>So the next time you see a news article on the latest school shooting or hate crime, and the author suggests mental illness might have been involved, please recognize it as the gaslighting, red herring bullshit that it is. </div><div><br /></div><div>People with mental illnesses are the victims of violence, not its perpetrators. Blaming the victims solves nothing and helps no one. </div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></div>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-53929527076627349592021-04-30T09:00:00.075-04:002021-04-30T09:00:00.217-04:00Valuable Online Resource: Fair Health Consumer <p>You know how you can use the <a href="https://www.kbb.com/">Kelly Blue Book</a> to look up the price of a car? You input the make, model, condition, etc, and it tells you more or less what a fair price for the car is?</p><p>Imagine having something like that for medical expenses. Hospital stays are notoriously ruinous without insurance, and sometimes even with it. The thing about insurance is that they keep staff onhand to dispute markups on services. So the insurance company (and by extension, you) aren't stuck paying <a href="https://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/home/topics/regulatory-issues/hospitals-charge-479-of-cost-of-drugs-on-average/">a thousand percent markup on over-the-counter painkillers</a>. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Problem</h3><p>Why is it like this? It's actually not as simple as hospitals being greedy. It's because the US healthcare system has, overall, shifted away from the metaphorical ounce of prevention in favor of the metaphorical pound of cure. Hospitals, you see, can't refuse to treat someone based on whether they can pay. But because healthcare is so expensive, a lot of people don't go to the doctor or dentist immediately when they have a problem. </p><p>Instead, they postpone dealing with the issue until it goes away or turns into an emergency. Naturally, this is when it's most expensive to treat, and narrows your options considerably, but if you can't afford even the basic prevention (because your insurance sucks, or you don't have any at all), it doesn't really matter to you. So the hospital treats the unfortunate person, but the person can't pay. The hospital is still out that money, so what are they to do? Pestering the person via debt collection agencies isn't a very successful option, plus it takes time. </p><p>The solution, as it happens, is to jack up all their prices on everything. By making people who <i>can</i> pay, pay more, they can systemically balance their budgets after a fashion. </p><p>As you can hopefully see, this is a crappy solution. And it's vastly unfair to people without insurance companies to negotiate on their behalf, or even with an insurance company that half-asses their negotiations. It's also typical that people will go into getting medical procedures with absolutely no idea how much it'll cost them, then getting slapped with the bill later. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Immediate Solution</h3><p>For both of these issues, <a href="https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org/">there's a solution, and it's called </a><a href="https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org/">Fair Health</a>. While the website has its own tutorials and informative videos, I'll briefly explain how some of the site works.</p><p>You can look up how much a procedure or treatment will cost you. The site will ask you where you are, because that matters in the calculations. It may also ask you whether you're in-network or out-of-network, which is insurance-ese for asking whether you're getting the service from a doctor they approve of, in a place they approve of. </p><p>Finally, they'll ask for something significantly harder to provide: a CPT code or precise description of the service. I know about CPT codes because I did a bit of work with them at the front desk of an ABA clinic, but I don't think most people are familiar, so:</p><p>In brief, a CPT code is a precise designation for a medical treatment or procedure. </p><p>For example, I looked up D2392, which is "a plain white resin-composite filling that covers two surfaces on a back tooth." You've got the material type (resin composite), the procedure type (filling), the location (a back tooth, like a molar), and the approximate amount of effort involved (two surfaces, meaning the top and side of the tooth could be involved, which means a moderate amount of material, molding, and drilling is likely to be involved). </p><p>You can <a href="https://www.aapc.com/codes/cpt-codes-range/">look these CPT codes up online</a>, but in all honesty, you're better off just getting the exact CPT codes from the doctor's office when these procedures are proposed. If you've got a smartphone, you could even look up the codes while you're in there with the doctor. </p><p>The site also has informative sections about insurance, including explanations of common insurance-ese terms like "in network" and "out-of-network." It's fairly basic information, and I don't feel like it's super-well organized, but it <i>is</i> good information to know. Having it somewhere free and publically accessible is definitely preferable to not having it. </p><p>There's one odd caveat with this site, and it's that it doesn't cover government insurances. Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare data is not included here. The site pretty much exists to help uninsured people, and people on private insurance, make sure they aren't scammed or overcharged. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">In the Long Term</h3><p>You may have noticed this website doesn't solve the systemic problem of hospitals jacking up their prices to compensate for treating people who need the help but can't pay. It can help by educating individual consumers, but the overall problem persists. Y'know what would solve that overall problem? </p><p>Universal healthcare. Whether that's Medicare for All or some other version, returning to the "ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure" model of healthcare would save us all a fortune. People would be able to get cavities filled without feeling like they've chosen their health over being able to pay rent that month. </p><p>In an age of unprecedented bad physical and mental health, where the average lifespan (for everyone, not just autistic people) is actually decreasing for the first time in decades, I feel like we could use the change. </p><p><br /></p><p>By the way, if you ever want to do a good deed and personally take a metaphorical bite out of the suffering this unfair healthcare system creates, <a href="https://ripmedicaldebt.org/">RIP Medical Debt</a> is an excellent way to do so. They buy up uncollected medical debt from debt collection agencies and forgive it. It's an unusual method, but it lets them take $100 in donations and use it, on average, to forgive $10,000 of debt. Be sure to check it out!</p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-73012815090948072612021-04-26T09:00:00.069-04:002021-04-26T09:00:00.234-04:00Reading the Research: Autistic Sociability in a Pandemic<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.uoc.edu/portal/en/news/actualitat/2021/082-lockdown-minors-asd-autism.html">Today's article</a> has a bit of a skewed view on what likely happened, but presents some positive information I'd like to highlight. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This article comes to us from a university in Spain. While that's certainly not the US, it is still a "Western" country with some of the same cultural values and similar home/work patterns. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The TLDR (Too Long; Didn't Read) is: autistic kids, and their families, did much better than expected during the COVID 19 lockdown. These families even improved their communication over the course of the lockdown. I say "families" rather than focusing specifically on the autistic children, because communication is a two-way street. Autistic people communicate. We just don't always communicate in words. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This article doesn't say the transition wasn't difficult on the families and the autistic children. The pandemic destroyed or massively altered regular routines, which is very hard on people that rely on those routines for comfort and safety. That's autistic people, and others that struggle with regular life. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Things were also more difficult because support services for the autistic children were not available, or were less available. Educational options were minimal or nonexistent as well. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So initially, things became more difficult for families with autistic members. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">However, in the long term, as new routines were established, the autistic children and their families thrived more. The parents, often unable to go to work, spent more time at home, interacting with their kids. With the additional interaction and attention, the autistic children thrived. Or put another way: with more social interaction with people they love and trust, autistic people thrived. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The last thing I want to underline from this article is this: autistic people are often stereotyped as not being social, not caring about others, etc. This study specifically states that these autistic children were calmer and happier when they were able to use the Internet to see their distanced grandparents, classmates, and other family members. In other words, autistic people were also happier being social and seeing people they cared about. </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">In other words, yes, we are just like you this way- diagnosis or no. </span></span></p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-71244532178621653472021-04-23T09:00:00.001-04:002021-04-23T09:00:00.241-04:00Book Review: Start Here<p><a href="https://autisticadvocacy.org/book/start-here/?emci=c09ede81-e296-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=0de4c3aa-1297-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=7860496">Start Here: a guide for parents of autistic kids</a>, is a booklet available for sale or for free online from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), which is a group of adult autistics and parents of autistic people that got together to educate and advocate for the rights of autistic people. The book is what it says on the tin: a starting place for parents who've gotten the news their kid is or may be autistic, and are sitting back and going "uhhh, now what..?" </p><p>Like many publications from ASAN, this is written in an easy-to-read style. Complicated or specialized words are defined. Important concepts are defined and repeated regularly to ensure understanding. The writers don't shirk from pointing out the racism and sexism in the system, in addition to the prejudice against disabled people you'd expect from such a book. </p><p>In total, the book is 52 pages long, which is somewhere between a book and a pamphlet, I suppose. The resource list begins on page 42, though, so you're really only reading about 40 pages. I agreed with almost everything mentioned in the book, which was a nice change from some of my previous reads. </p><p>Topics covered include: what autism actually is, communication differences, listening to autistic advocates, defining disability, presuming competence, choosing services, and schooling options. It's all done in pretty broad brush strokes, and with the assumption that the parents in question live in the US. (This isn't unreasonable, since ASAN mainly operates in the US.) </p><p>My only disagreement with the publication was its section on vaccines. I'm afraid the subject is a great deal more complicated than this book makes it. While the overall message isn't... entirely wrong, it's not accurate to say Dr. Wakefield put out a study that said the MMR vaccine causes autism. He put out a set of case studies, or stories of children he was treating, that suggested the MMR vaccine might be related to their symptoms, including autism. Case studies are a basis for further research, not a means of determining cause and effect. By putting out the study, he was simply saying "hey, someone should maybe look into this, because here's what happened with these people." At no point in that study did he say, "vaccines cause autism" the way people seem to insist.</p><p>Also, vaccines are not always 100% safe, and in rare cases, can have side effects. Even lifelong ones. Pretending otherwise is absurd, since the <a href="https://vaers.hhs.gov/">VAERS</a> exists to help track these. I found it kind of unfair that the publication didn't even bother to mention Dr. Wakefield's doctorate. I suspect this was done to give as little legitimacy as possible to the antivax movement, which some consider him a part of. Still, it sits poorly with me to continue tarring an innocent man that way. </p><p>Beyond that disappointment, this is a broadly useful resource that I feel fulfills the need it sets out to address. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Read This Book If</h3><div>You're a parent of an autistic child, especially a newly-diagnosed one. More seasoned parents might still be able to use this as a refresher, but overall it's a quite targeted publication. It's a short read, which is appropriate for an overwhelmed parent, but it covers most relevant subjects in broad terms. A list of resources is included at the end for further (much needed) reading. </div>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-46022134831223825772021-04-19T09:00:00.075-04:002021-04-19T09:00:00.247-04:00Reading the Research: Supportiveness<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uoma-spp040821.php">Today's article</a> showcases what I wish every person had. Especially autistic people, but just in general, too. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Depression is a part of normal life. Typically people will experience a couple months of it here or there, when someone they love dies, or a major life change happens... like, y'know, a worldwide pandemic that mandates staying away from other people as much as possible. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In most cases, people recover from depression in a few months. Sometimes, though, the emotional burden is great enough that it doesn't. Or toxic substances, like mold or allergens, cause systemic inflammation, which in turn causes lasting depression. There's a lot of reasons a person can end up depressed. Autistic people tend to suffer depression at a much higher rate than the general population, in part due to how poorly designed the world is for us. </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">In these all cases, the focus is typically on the depressed person to make changes and improve. Pills may be prescribed. Changes in diet, in activity level, and in location might be suggested. Therapeutic services might begin. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">New habits might need to be established, and new patterns of thinking or talking. All of these things can be helpful in recovering from depression.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">What's not typically considered is the effect of the other people in the household on the depressed person. So it's good to see this article, which shows us a path that others can take to help people with depression.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">While the article focuses on significant others (mainly spouses), I have no doubt significant results would have been found if they'd decided to study depressed children and these behaviors in their parents and siblings. Having someone closely onhand who understands and will listen without being judgmental or taking it personally is invaluable to feeling supported and helping the person recover. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">There are certainly some people who are naturally better at these listening and supportive behaviors than others, but it's all behaviors that can be learned. I wish it was taught in schools, so everyone would know how to be supportive and kind to people with mental illnesses. That's not just autistic people, after all. Everyone would benefit from that learning. </span></span></p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-19162339036281924882021-04-16T09:00:00.001-04:002021-04-16T14:32:12.051-04:00Getting Shot (With the COVID Vaccine)<p>April 5th was the first day in my state that the vaccine is available to the broader public (ie: not just the elderly and healthcare staff). Thanks to the diligence of a friend, I was able to get an appointment at a downtown clinic for that exact day. </p><p>I had only about a week's notice, so I tried to spend the time preparing my body for the panic attack the vaccine would be inducing. Unfortunately, my poor mental health also had an opinion, and so I was only partially prepared for the injection. </p><p>The ideal would have been to have a month to prepare, with regular light exercise, plenty of water, good nutritious food, extra Vitamin C every day, religious tooth care, and a steady dosage of the zinc-elderberry lozenges I use to prop up my immune system when I'm sick. </p><p>Instead, I probably achieved less than a third of those preparations in the week between getting an appointment and the day of the injection. I'm not a severely at risk human, and my immune system is usually pretty good at its job, but given what the actual virus can and has done to autistic people, I wanted to be very safe about it. </p><p>I woke up that morning feeling anxious and under-rested. It was storming outside, with distant thunder to prod me awake about a half hour before I'd normally get up. I stayed in bed for a full hour out of protest. But eventually I got up because I wanted to at least make an effort at being prepared for the day. </p><p>I put on comfortable but stylish clothes, favorites of mine delivered by a shopping service. Then a dose of vitamin C (1000 mcg, the usual daily limit). Then, begrudgingly, brushed my teeth. Good digestion (which affects your immune system) starts in the mouth, and brushing and cleaning between your teeth is very important. The experience is still vastly unpleasant to me, though, and I haven't found a way to make it a positive experience yet. </p><p>Next was chopping fruit and preparing green salads. I'd see my parents (both fully vaccinated) for lunch before the actual shot, and it wouldn't do to not be prepared. I'd been slightly adventurous this week in the fruit department: yellow dragonfruit and small yellow mangos accompanied a more typical European pear. Thankfully my parents are supportive of my interest in diverse food. </p><p>It was a bit of a crunch between lunch time and getting downtown to the vaccine clinic, but we managed to find parking (which was free, yay) in a parking structure just underneath the converted convention center. We were given directions upon entering, which basically told us to text "here" to a particular number, and enter the building when texted back, or when our appointment time arrived. Despite being 15 minutes early, we were immediately texted to go in. </p><p>Upon entering the building, the first thing they did was check our temperatures with handheld forehead thermometers. Since neither of us were running a fever, we were ushered in and offered hand sanitizer. Once that was applied, it was down the stairs and into the convention hall proper. Which looked like this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFC-67lZsQqQUqdZIXxK1BejYOqF0eLD9JZhhMQqYxMXTMiLOL7Cc02miHUBt-CRSmtHrwwYs2AfWNNxW2CgumcEHIwnIIUOafj3LqbQXl44mokfVCiYgBP5sstVbJlNqVv4nbrFA2e97/s4128/20210405_131349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFC-67lZsQqQUqdZIXxK1BejYOqF0eLD9JZhhMQqYxMXTMiLOL7Cc02miHUBt-CRSmtHrwwYs2AfWNNxW2CgumcEHIwnIIUOafj3LqbQXl44mokfVCiYgBP5sstVbJlNqVv4nbrFA2e97/w400-h300/20210405_131349.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Everything was very neatly laid out for maximum efficiency, with probably hundreds of volunteers politely guiding you in case the arrows and lanes weren't sufficient. All the volunteers were, at worst, blandly polite. Some were significantly more cheerful, and a few even thanked us for coming in. There was no immediate sign of our friend, who we'd planned to meet up with for the event. </p><p>Mostly what I noticed was that it was very easy to go on autopilot and simply follow the clear signs, lanes, and verbal directions. We later called this "being in the flow," and I experienced it as something akin to being in a waking trance or a near-dreamlike state. At every step of the way, you knew where you should be going and what you should be doing. There was no need for conscious thought, because at the slightest uncertainty, there was immediately a staff member to tell you where to go. </p><p>This actually made it rather difficult to take pictures, but I still did, because it's kind of a once (or twice, I guess) in a lifetime experience. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ePEuhceifHrA3C7chY6bm4QCMntp0tlV4VWrOkn4JQy8ZlpWb3IWKTBYM2Lu2oeOv-2bFD5Ta1X3HVS51w9DsBfVA5DRjMg1g27b7-Bux_O3q6n-fe039Titrq2hexnnFULP8fkC-Aou/s4128/20210405_131500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ePEuhceifHrA3C7chY6bm4QCMntp0tlV4VWrOkn4JQy8ZlpWb3IWKTBYM2Lu2oeOv-2bFD5Ta1X3HVS51w9DsBfVA5DRjMg1g27b7-Bux_O3q6n-fe039Titrq2hexnnFULP8fkC-Aou/w400-h300/20210405_131500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLhG7eaLQcYFB0xB2E8JTTMPJTw5RczmiLQvT7E8OxqqAvOSunSn-BZ1T273-HcZXIe4Je77c0BYsa7vWBLwTjNSeGgqJG9Enm8FPIt9lV7lpcxTQmwJqaSabnE7gkpEgEYLOg9jHMjAv/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLhG7eaLQcYFB0xB2E8JTTMPJTw5RczmiLQvT7E8OxqqAvOSunSn-BZ1T273-HcZXIe4Je77c0BYsa7vWBLwTjNSeGgqJG9Enm8FPIt9lV7lpcxTQmwJqaSabnE7gkpEgEYLOg9jHMjAv/w400-h300/VaccineCon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Several friends of mine referred to this event as Vaccine-Con, which isn't the worst name for it, in all honesty. It's definitely getting the foot traffic of a convention, and it's in a convention hall. Seems fair enough to me. The major difference is that the focus of this is health, and the focus of most conventions is making money. </div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGIgktzHk_e_bxsB00BKLgP8rlFKM_tyNb_UXOZLAkw27mBxuMSm33scZwVWeyc5DWmFp-T1XYRC1uIxHYkd4ZEjTX_o9t-YxpV16K5pc6lHkNgScKeK8AZeKXbYZV7eMnk5H0T7jmHE2/s4128/20210405_131529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGIgktzHk_e_bxsB00BKLgP8rlFKM_tyNb_UXOZLAkw27mBxuMSm33scZwVWeyc5DWmFp-T1XYRC1uIxHYkd4ZEjTX_o9t-YxpV16K5pc6lHkNgScKeK8AZeKXbYZV7eMnk5H0T7jmHE2/w400-h300/20210405_131529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There were four lanes like this in the convention center. Note the stickers placed 6 feet apart, the extra-wide hallways, and the open ceiling. Also note the chairs placed strategically for people that don't do well standing in line. In truth, we maybe spent like 10 minutes queuing, if that, but I can imagine the place being significantly busier at other points in the day. Particularly with the previous eligible group, which was mainly comprised of the elderly. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHAi3lJSnSM_c4Zl4buONMlM2u_Ml9uF0Z2qwALKD9vXnrjnrPcgqy5X_lQUNjbwl1XEHnNhx3p6G-YUpWiUrkdgivRrSvrqDHEOOL22n1zY23pKG2OIjG2ukOnXbMpLBJqQOnrkUQ70M/s4128/20210405_131602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHAi3lJSnSM_c4Zl4buONMlM2u_Ml9uF0Z2qwALKD9vXnrjnrPcgqy5X_lQUNjbwl1XEHnNhx3p6G-YUpWiUrkdgivRrSvrqDHEOOL22n1zY23pKG2OIjG2ukOnXbMpLBJqQOnrkUQ70M/w400-h300/20210405_131602.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Getting to the front of the line afforded you this view, where a staff member would give you some short paperwork and have you sign in and verify essential details on the computer. It took us maybe a couple minutes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9XDwwjdZ_bgoLm8o2POvRucp2l01uBLGK508zoAJMMng6q9qNXURmnOuoBCp9yhj3444TIFQmsHuS9Ka1weOu2xWUWaYCyA2VQNlzFlluNiN9eck-OGh0zWki0IXKWn8gOR2FmKaAaJM/s4128/20210405_132200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9XDwwjdZ_bgoLm8o2POvRucp2l01uBLGK508zoAJMMng6q9qNXURmnOuoBCp9yhj3444TIFQmsHuS9Ka1weOu2xWUWaYCyA2VQNlzFlluNiN9eck-OGh0zWki0IXKWn8gOR2FmKaAaJM/w400-h300/20210405_132200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Once past the final registration, it was time to stand in line for a booth. Each contained a nurse or someone trained in administering the shots. The staff that gave us our first dose (Pfizer, one of the two mRNA vaccines) is named Kristin. She seemed weary, but in reasonably good humor. I'd honestly assume there were hundreds of people before us, and maybe it was near the end of her shift. At any rate, she checked our information and then gave us each our shot.</p><p>I went first. I didn't look at the needle going into my skin, because there's no need to make the poor nurse's life any harder than it already was. I did watch my spouse get his shot, though. The vaccine liquid was perfectly clear, which was weird to me for some reason. I didn't even bleed, and barely felt the shot at all. She gave us a bandaid and then we were on our way again.</p><p>I left the booth feeling jubilant (one step closer to being done with this pandemic!), but also a little fuzzy in the head. My doctor tells me I'm extraordinarily sensitive to changes in my system. I have the ability to tell, based on the sensation in my stomach, whether something I've eaten or drunk was alcoholic. Same with painkillers, for some reason. So it could be simply that I could tell my system was reacting to the "invader" vaccine. Ooor it could be a trick of my imagination. </p><p>Either way, once the shots were done, it was time for the 15 minute cool-off period. This was implemented because on rare occasions, people would go into anaphylactic shock after receiving the vaccine. You really don't want that happening while the person is trying to drive home, or on a bus. So instead they parked us in seats with a big clock to help us track the time. Bathrooms were also available as needed. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nVwH3UG2xP8eoFH6AaReS_KkZS5gvDkL8EaGri0mIn4W4W51N78HsVfTZI2l1iRDrNmSlWsnTUuposhesHwrO2xNYJ5tmsMJgLcGrWgrDM0tuvmPoKKZQw1Jp7HrfVeOcMGpix30Bwod/s4128/20210405_133328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nVwH3UG2xP8eoFH6AaReS_KkZS5gvDkL8EaGri0mIn4W4W51N78HsVfTZI2l1iRDrNmSlWsnTUuposhesHwrO2xNYJ5tmsMJgLcGrWgrDM0tuvmPoKKZQw1Jp7HrfVeOcMGpix30Bwod/w400-h300/20210405_133328.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've tried to keep people's faces out of my pictures on account of not having their permission to appear in this blog, so you can't see the row of double-chairs for couples or pairs of friends that went together. My spouse and I settled into one of those to wait out the 15 minutes. It was a pretty uneventful wait, thankfully. We did manage to meet up with our friend, and so we spent most of the time just chatting about whatever happened to be on our minds. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNamMe4pkDdsPfyx2ZX-Q3OIb0IwW0kDgydAQXLf7Q3zsqUE4V-KgFujiPgCxTuZvJllTXke5FYIV-CxoFk-ieReV54bgohN1UcZEf_7lPA2dy9XdjEr0C27OW9oOfNvaCYC-7TGpI9z7/s4128/20210405_134859.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNamMe4pkDdsPfyx2ZX-Q3OIb0IwW0kDgydAQXLf7Q3zsqUE4V-KgFujiPgCxTuZvJllTXke5FYIV-CxoFk-ieReV54bgohN1UcZEf_7lPA2dy9XdjEr0C27OW9oOfNvaCYC-7TGpI9z7/w400-h300/20210405_134859.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once the 15 minutes was up, we followed the obvious signs (and verbal directions) to leave Vaccine-Con. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AymQJkkfDMGI6BGtJGddOkyUU3pEI6BarwJRBWID83n9R44XopQyIiD56E9XihiLHwIrMMYmgYbHeqrQZsCqWE2LQ0Icw2KBbxNmiQVdurx98HRJZvof9iTPO_rntiw8Jhr2fdz3AHpR/s4128/20210405_134910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AymQJkkfDMGI6BGtJGddOkyUU3pEI6BarwJRBWID83n9R44XopQyIiD56E9XihiLHwIrMMYmgYbHeqrQZsCqWE2LQ0Icw2KBbxNmiQVdurx98HRJZvof9iTPO_rntiw8Jhr2fdz3AHpR/w400-h300/20210405_134910.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I can't begin to describe how big this place was... which I guess makes sense since it's a full-on convention center. Still, as you can see, there was a lot of unused space. We were lauded with various signs on the way out. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCxL1nfd7gAneKIC2nbeLMW-3_53XN1BaUrg7bLEUBsufqm-GIz-lMMVpFa1sXKB9XSxIrHStfp8Slpv20m8jQnAgRWEDenXE1uyxMlSSnkfdK9RvzdEX0zooujHUTPNCai7tl5mrcT7K/s4128/20210405_135005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCxL1nfd7gAneKIC2nbeLMW-3_53XN1BaUrg7bLEUBsufqm-GIz-lMMVpFa1sXKB9XSxIrHStfp8Slpv20m8jQnAgRWEDenXE1uyxMlSSnkfdK9RvzdEX0zooujHUTPNCai7tl5mrcT7K/s320/20210405_135005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The "in the flow" effect applied here, too. My pictures aren't great because of that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIjjwJOaQOzrqu9SOMfWfctGf3lByWqTe4BuMa04Rm9thNoWypfjsXU_r1O8efoMsEL2qzKMeKoBnimILxg_2XFBYSeWEypcH3cILEORXiYtLoXmWsnhOjGSCCNEJn6CSXwW5_qWRXa4i/s4128/20210405_135020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIjjwJOaQOzrqu9SOMfWfctGf3lByWqTe4BuMa04Rm9thNoWypfjsXU_r1O8efoMsEL2qzKMeKoBnimILxg_2XFBYSeWEypcH3cILEORXiYtLoXmWsnhOjGSCCNEJn6CSXwW5_qWRXa4i/s320/20210405_135020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KYajqourH1Z4ddx5CHGOOSfSmCFxDyZEpUa2m9t1IRTQARWpqK4ouf6Xeegei8ijSIx9tu6t0PCJnrJIEHiLzE2y0DKV3lUq91tjuEtkSy0dIEw6F4IkiAskWeS4PB3Ri2pOdgO6XHg8/s4128/20210405_135028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KYajqourH1Z4ddx5CHGOOSfSmCFxDyZEpUa2m9t1IRTQARWpqK4ouf6Xeegei8ijSIx9tu6t0PCJnrJIEHiLzE2y0DKV3lUq91tjuEtkSy0dIEw6F4IkiAskWeS4PB3Ri2pOdgO6XHg8/s320/20210405_135028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9r0b5yqq6sAib2CNMhMbLHVOD_gNZK7wQSCnzZ1-yIFc21qNBsWjFsaHOqJ97FYk2LpaB5ZNE9Ch8czywcObGU7uA1mE5kawRai7vtnYRBiL3LD8j7P4eO_H05w0eoz5qcSUTN7gKNF4/s4128/20210405_135036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9r0b5yqq6sAib2CNMhMbLHVOD_gNZK7wQSCnzZ1-yIFc21qNBsWjFsaHOqJ97FYk2LpaB5ZNE9Ch8czywcObGU7uA1mE5kawRai7vtnYRBiL3LD8j7P4eO_H05w0eoz5qcSUTN7gKNF4/s320/20210405_135036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zyrRqXXyEOB3ppO7tlu4L7HFpWwDn7NRFnqdRfItb6QtCACNf9iShMOXwAgTHWY2OECVDZPAHQK5CnQINPwpv8lViUfWSoPQ9t1AeqPqCFGgiHSCVdfK7LP9LhcyXYT48VOsxOHK54My/s4128/20210405_135043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zyrRqXXyEOB3ppO7tlu4L7HFpWwDn7NRFnqdRfItb6QtCACNf9iShMOXwAgTHWY2OECVDZPAHQK5CnQINPwpv8lViUfWSoPQ9t1AeqPqCFGgiHSCVdfK7LP9LhcyXYT48VOsxOHK54My/s320/20210405_135043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqHkFuC-0oKV3YvqPRVVirKLuHeuJ5h2BiddBKjj7JwS3SuFn2Qd2X7UzYUoOUiaoU5jX17xsBb5NzPpsu2QAhuG_W5wl2VqMedvLAxMyKRsH2BWwkTqsv2u59RYOzZkGS7TouhL1DTBd/s4128/20210405_135053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqHkFuC-0oKV3YvqPRVVirKLuHeuJ5h2BiddBKjj7JwS3SuFn2Qd2X7UzYUoOUiaoU5jX17xsBb5NzPpsu2QAhuG_W5wl2VqMedvLAxMyKRsH2BWwkTqsv2u59RYOzZkGS7TouhL1DTBd/s320/20210405_135053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From top to bottom, the signs read:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">💗 You did it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Keep up the good work. <b>Please remember:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wash your hands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Socially distance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wear a mask.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">💗 Thank you.</div></blockquote><p>I'll return here in about three weeks for my second dose, which we were able to schedule online within an hour of receiving the first dose. </p><p>The side effects I experienced from this first shot were soreness, mind fog, malaise, and systemic inflammation, which I can now recognize as my neck being crickey-crackity, as well as swollen joints. The inflammation could be treated with ibuprofen, though I opted not to this time since it wasn't that bad. My spouse and friend only reported soreness in the arm. </p><p>The second shot is said to be harder on the system than the first, so I may take that day off and just prepare to be dead on my feet. It's either that, or I won't have symptoms at all, and I'll have a strong suspicion that I was an asymptomatic carrier sometime last year. I can't decide which concept I dislike more, but thankfully I have zero choice in the matter. Either I got it on one of the shopping trips I did during the pandemic, or I didn't. </p><p>It'll still be two weeks after the second shot before I can really say "I'm safe and won't need to go to the hospital for this." Even after that, it's still possible for me to carry the coronavirus asymptomatically and infect people who can't be vaccinated or refuse to do so. So I'll have to keep washing my cloth mask and expecting to wear it in the long term. </p><p>Still, it'll be a relief. Both for me and for the people that care about me. </p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-45132416025153626942021-04-12T09:00:00.071-04:002021-04-12T09:00:00.446-04:00Reading the Research: Catastrophizing <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/cfaa-nrf032921.php">Today's article</a> is some long overdue pushback against the Autism $peaks style catastrophizing of autistic lives and outcomes. </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">For decades, studies on autistic people and our lives have typically focused on what we <i>can't</i> do, and what things we struggle in. This is because of the history of the diagnosis and the medical field overall. Things are labeled as illnesses, a treatment (typically just one, like for a broken leg) is prescribed, the patient does the treatment and gets better. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is simplistic, but it works for many physical ailments. The thing is, autism is not that. There is no broken bone. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment, and there never will be. We are simply too different from each other. Those individual differences have to be accounted for.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">This study differs from those of the past by having a much broader focus. Instead of starting and stopping the narrative with, "well, your kid is autistic, and they're always going to be autistic, so it's time to give up any dreams and hopes you had for your kid and prepare for a life of suffering," this study instead chose to see whether autistic children learn and grow in understanding and ability. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Unsurprisingly, I hope, to anyone who's met an autistic person, the answer is yes. While not every autistic kid will necessarily reach all milestones for "normal" communication or independent living, we do continue learning throughout our lifetimes. Recognizing those successes is an important part of support for autistic people and our families. It also goes a long way toward undermining the doom and gloom that medical professionals and even some parents project onto </span></span></p><p>The study also examined what factors contributed to autistic growth and development of skills. Unsurprisingly, it helped to have a certain amount of income. Adequate income takes a significant amount of stress off the family, and allows for more options for family and singleton therapy, as well as support services, better schooling options, and their choice of doctors and medical professionals. </p><p>I'll be interested to see what this group's research on adolescents shows. This study only went up to age 10, which is definitely sufficient to prove that autistic people aren't magically stuck at the developmental age they're diagnosed at. But the teenage years are distinctly more demanding and difficult than the years before them, and so that data would be exceptionally useful as well. </p><p>For further information on this learning and growing (also called neuroplasticity), please also consult <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-better-behavior-show-with-dr-nicole-beurkens-2542528/episode-107-the-brain-can-change-and-grow-even-with-a-diagnosis-like-autism-anxiety-or-depression">this podcast episode</a>.</p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-6928261390216543662021-04-09T09:00:00.308-04:002021-04-09T09:00:05.344-04:00Book Review: The Game of My Life<p><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/301534/the-game-of-my-life-by-jason-j-mac-mcelwain/">The Game of My Life: A True Story of Challenge, Triumph, and Growing Up Autistic</a>, by Jason "J-Mac" McElwain with David Paisner, is the story of one autistic guy's 15 minutes of fame. It's less than 250 pages, mainly narrated by the autistic guy, with bookends from the other author. </p><p>I found this book deeply disappointing, in retrospect. Save for the blunt honesty of the star and some of the contributing family/friends, this is pretty much a textbook case of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspiration_porn">inspiration porn</a>. The vast majority of the book's focus is not Jason McElwain's life, his childhood, or his future. It's basketball, and more specifically, one particularly meaningful game near the end of Jason's high school career. </p><p>Jason's favorite hobby and intense interest in the story is basketball. Terminology from that game is everywhere, including how the sections of the book are named. It isn't too overwhelming, though I did have to look up how many players are in a basketball team (typically five) to understand why his fan club was called "The 6th Man" group. </p><p>Bits and pieces are given of Jason's life prior to the basketball team, but only enough to give you the faintest amount of background... which is pretty in line with most news articles of the same type. </p><p>A neat feature of this book, which I can now only consider a very extended inspiration porn news article, is that it folds in little pieces from Jason's family, friends, coaches, etc. It's done in the conversational tone so common to other autistic writing, too, such that Jason will sometimes respond directly to what was said in those miniature pieces, or even vice versa. </p><p>What I found most telling about this book, and where it became crushingly clear to me what I was reading, was at the end of the book, more than 200 pages in. The writer here, probably David Paisner, calls it "bittersweet." I'm not honestly sure where the sweet is.</p><p>The short version is that Jason's friends have graduated and, as is typical for that age, scattered to the four winds. He rarely sees even the ones that remained in the area. He did not graduate high school with a diploma, and at the time of the book, works as a baker at a supermarket. A job which he seemingly enjoys, but not one where he does anything with the love of basketball and the team that this book is centered around. </p><p>His parents' wish is for him to be able to live independently someday. It's even said, and I quote, "Forget the sectionals. Forget the twenty-point game [both things the literal whole point of this book]. <i>That</i> would be the true pinnacle, if Jason could harness his abilities and his growing independence and find a way to make it on his own." </p><p>The twenty points Jason scored in under 4 minutes, the feat that made this whole book and dozens of news stories, ESPN clips, etc, possible... and that's how they choose to talk about it at the end of the book. "Forget all that, <i>this </i>is what matters." Talk about buckets of metaphorical cold water.</p><p>I think maybe why this gets my goat so much is that in the end, the 15 minutes of fame is over, and everyone except Jason has moved on. Those 4 minutes and the surrounding time might be the best his life will ever be. The community rallied around him, everyone celebrated him, and then it was over.</p><p>As a somewhat disabled autistic person, many jobs are closed to him. Expectations are low. Opportunities are minimal. If this is all there is, and by the tone of the book, it pretty much is... that's it. </p><p>Maybe Jason feels otherwise, and I hope he does... but that's really depressing to me. He'll likely live another few decades, and only have being a stocker or a clerk to look forward to. I don't see why he couldn't learn to be a coach, or aim to be a team manager for a sports team like he was in high school. Or, I should say, "I don't see why unless he doesn't want to." </p><p>In the end, this feels like a story of met potential, and then ignored potential. I'm aware that the 15 minutes of fame is called that because it goes away after 15 metaphorical minutes, but the expectations the other author and his parents seem to have for him are depressingly low. </p><p>I don't know the guy, but I really hope things got better for him after this book was published. That he did make it to living on his own (maybe with help, maybe without), finding a life partner if he wants one, pursuing whatever dreams he has. I hope his parents give him the space to do those things, and don't stand in his way, afraid he'll be disappointed, the way his mother did over and over in the book. </p><p>The struggle with autistic kids is figuring out when to let us try and succeed or fail on our own merits. Because we don't develop at the same rate as our neurotypical peers, it can be really challenging to recognize when it's appropriate to do so. Some parents will stand between their kids and almost every risk in the world, lest we fail and become disheartened. Which, counterintuitively, steals our opportunities to learn and grow, and makes future failures extra-disheartening. </p><p>Don't do that. Let autistic people try things. Don't treat failure as the end of the world, but instead recognize it as the normal part of life, and the learning experience, that it is. </p><p>And definitely don't grab your kid's head between your hands to demand their attention. Good Lord what a hideous, tyrannical action. Jason hated it, and he says so in the book, and I'll back him up. <b>Don't. Do. This</b>. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Read This Book If</h3><div>You want to read an account of a very autistic 15 minutes of fame, and don't mind that it is definitely inspiration porn. This story is written mainly in the typical autistic honesty and conversational style, and Jason McElwain is quite frank about the way he puts things and acts. I'm not sure his story has a happy ending, but the 15 minutes of fame and what led up to it are described in a way that almost lets you be there in person. </div>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-42518861778590594632021-04-05T09:00:00.091-04:002021-04-05T09:00:00.555-04:00Reading the Research: Misjudging Stereotypical Autistic Behaviors<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/fu-pjo040121.php">Today's article</a> helps show that the miscommunication issue between autistic people and neurotypical people is not simply an autistic failure, but a failure on neurotypical peoples' parts as well. </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">There's a few stereotypes you can see in the presentation of autistic people mentioned here. Things like avoiding looking people in the eyes (can be overwhelming), literalist thinking, and repetitive movements (often used to calm ourselves in stressful situations) are all factors. It's gotten to the point where I can, in some circumstances, interact with a person and be able to tell almost immediately that they're neurodiverse. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Apparently, this article says, these behaviors look like the actions of a person being deceptive. Oddly enough, these behaviors are actually not particularly indicative of a person being deceptive... we as a culture simply think they are. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">The implications go much, much further than the article suggests. In court, autistic people receive harsher sentences than our typically developing peers. But I'll bet dollars to doughnuts the same effect holds true in other arenas of life, such as job interviews and first impressions. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">When we talk about autistic people being disabled, this is a major part of it: the way others see and react to us. Others' prejudices and failures are not our fault, but we're expected to bend over backwards to compensate for them. That's neither fair nor healthy for anyone involved. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's the same expectation as saying, "well if women don't want to be sexually assaulted, they should wear clothing that hides every inch of skin." Or maybe more accurately, saying, "Well if black people don't want to be murdered by the police, they should act like they're white as much as possible and be as nonthreatening as possible at all times."</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Because of this prejudice effect, autistic people are denied the chance for friendships, the ability to participate in our communities, job and volunteer opportunities, promotions, and general human consideration. We deserve better. </span></span></p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-20424299722132748612021-04-02T09:00:00.249-04:002021-04-03T01:01:04.911-04:00Inspiration Porn and Disability<p>This post is brought to you by the book I'll review for next week, but it's been an issue for years. It crops up in local newspapers, in social media, even by word of mouth. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Defining</h4><p>What is it? It's typically images, videos, articles, and memes of disabled people accomplishing something, used to motivate or shame abled people. The gist is basically "well if this <i>disabled </i>person can do it, of course you (an abled person) can!" There's a variant where the disabled person is the prop by which an abled person shows how nice/noble a person they are.</p><p>Inspiration porn is called this because it is objectifying just like regular porn. No sex is involved, but it reduces our personalities, loves, hates, and quirks down to our disabilities, as if "autism spectrum disorder" or "cerebral palsy" or "sacral agenesis" tells you anything at all about the human involved. It erases us and our struggles for the sake of the comfort and happiness of abled people. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Problem</h4><p>I shouldn't have to tell most parents of autistic people that not all autistic people are the same. My life's trajectory, as mainly a highly verbal loner without a community to support me, but successful in academia (though not outside it, really), is one possible route of many for autistic people. </p><p>There are also autistic people that are raised by proverbial villages, and have massive support networks and people looking out for them. There are autistic people with intellectual disability and autistic people with average intelligence. There are autistic people who are savants, and autistic people without "special interests" or favorite hobbies they love intensely. There are brilliant wordsmiths and nonspeaking people who are still incredibly gifted, thoughtful, intelligent humans. It is, after all, a spectrum. </p><p>Yet my life, if I were to get famous suddenly, would be boiled down to "autism spectrum disorder." Maybe "Asperger's Syndrome" to dissociate me from nonspeaking autistic people, as if I haven't spent several points in my adult life nearly or totally unable to communicate verbally. And as if I don't share any traits with nonspeaking autistics, despite sensory sensitivities being very common, as well as depression and anxiety. </p><p>It also demands that disabled people always be inspirational, for the benefit of abled people's pleasure and comfort. It makes the sum total of our disability "a burden to be overcome" and refuses to acknowledge the social barriers that so often stand in our way. And finally, it reinforces the stereotype that disabled people are less competent and capable than abled people. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">An Example</h4><p>This is probably the first example I ran into, years and years ago, on Facebook. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihV2Yp5FvuZ2u9FFYi_wkgJXI1Eq0szv_tNzgKLRs1tNfSJQ2aAjnGVD3BG9PUz3kbrnFiIf_-_B5iTdJwe_8dcHaLcXffwgkBs_yVlwe2DkEeGk3qW8HTgydVwLbzaDSj9DitPNDd5Mi/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="221" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihV2Yp5FvuZ2u9FFYi_wkgJXI1Eq0szv_tNzgKLRs1tNfSJQ2aAjnGVD3BG9PUz3kbrnFiIf_-_B5iTdJwe_8dcHaLcXffwgkBs_yVlwe2DkEeGk3qW8HTgydVwLbzaDSj9DitPNDd5Mi/" width="233" /></a></div><p></p><p>The text says "Your excuse is invalid" and the unwritten subtext is "if this small child with prosthetic legs can get out there on a racetrack and enjoy running despite having no legs below the knee, you have no excuse for not doing whatever it is you're not doing." </p><p>We know nothing at all about the child. He is simply "small white boy with prosthetic legs" and his image is being used to guilt trip people for supposedly not accomplishing enough. </p><p>I did some searching. This child is now old enough to drive (and soon drink, too). His name is Cody McCasland, a resident of Texas, and he's a serious athlete, but not a runner. Running is a hobby. He's a swimmer, with hopes of competing in the 2020 Paralympics. And according to <a href="https://www.challengedathletes.org/athletes/cody-mccasland/">his bio</a> on a website, he also wants to be an anesthesiologist, in part due to all the time he's spent in the hospital (30ish surgeries). </p><p>Looking at the information from the media, it seems Cody has leaned into the publicity to some extent. I sifted through a dozen or so articles, and all they typically wanted to do was rehash what amazing odds Cody beat, his promise as an athlete, and how wonderful that all is. </p><p>Nothing is said about the difficulties inherent in affording, using, and cleaning prosthetic limbs. Nothing about how many types of limbs he has, or why you can't just have one set for everything. Nothing is asked about Cody's high school experience, his home life, any siblings... Nothing about the stares he inevitably gets from strangers, nor the invasive questions. Nothing about him is of interest except his "overcoming" of his disability. </p><p>In summary, Cody McCasland is reduced down to his disability, his struggles are omitted, and he is merely a prop in this picture. His triumph is reduced to a bludgeon that, in the best case, might be used positively to elbow an abled person into starting to be healthier. It might also be used to guilt trip someone with an invisible disability, because "well you have both legs, so get out there!" (left unsaid: "I neither understand nor care that you have chronic back pain or <a href="https://realisticautistic.blogspot.com/2019/09/histamines-taking-misery-out-of-exercise.html">some weird allergy that makes you utterly miserable when you do moderate to high intensity exercise</a>").</p><p>Let's look at an article from a prosthetic arm user. Let's see, it's titled, "<a href="https://www.inputmag.com/culture/cyborg-chic-bionic-prosthetic-arm-sucks">I have one of those most advanced prosthetic arms in the world -- and I hate it.</a>" Hmm, can we guess how this is going to go? The article is worth your read, by the way. Real talk from someone whose life is unfamiliar to you often is. She's even included short videos of her using the limbs. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Generalizing Disabilities</h4><p>There's one more issue with generalizing Cody's story to every possible situation, sitting back, and saying, "well if he can do it, anyone can!" </p><p>Let's start by noting the obvious: Cody's disability is physical. His legs from above the knee are flesh and blood, and below that do not exist due to a major difference in his DNA. To move around at a normal height, he uses prosthetic legs. This is a visible, physical disability. </p><p>Visible disabilities mean you get stares and invasive questions. This is typically unwanted. However, because your difference is obvious, no one questions whether it is real. An invisible disability, like mental illness or autism, can be disbelieved. A person can decide, after looking at you, that your struggles are not real. Seeing, as they say, is believing. </p><p>Physical disabilities tend to be visible, but they don't need to be. Chronic joint pain, fibromyalgia, and blindness without the person carrying a white cane or some other identifier are all physical disabilities, but not simple ones to notice in a second or two. </p><p>Invisible disabilities include a spectrum of things people don't necessarily notice or care about, including depression, anxiety disorders, chronic back pain, chronic dizziness, diabetes, sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, and agoraphobia. Because no apparent disability is noticed, the effects of these disabilities may be blamed on the sufferer's innate qualities. </p><p>Instead of recognizing the very reasonable tiredness and reduced performance of a sufferer of insomnia, people might instead decide she simply isn't trying hard enough, or that her sleepiness is because she's too busy partying to adhere to a normal sleep schedule. In reality, she may have spent hours lying in bed, fruitlessly trying everything in her power (from podcasts to boring textbooks to exercise to adult coloring books) to get to sleep, all as the clock mercilessly ticks onward towards the next work day. </p><p>So while Cody's disability is clear, obvious, and the path to addressing the disability is clear... that is not the case for other disabilities. </p><p>One need really only look at autism for a demonstration of this. Some autistic people can find sensory relief in small perfume jars, swatches of fabric, or particular blankets. Others would find those things ineffective or torturous. Some autistic people suffer from gut dysbiosis or allergies, and need to eat according to special diets. Choosing the wrong diet can be terribly painful. Still others benefit from basic lessons in the mechanics of conversations. I, however, would find such lessons irritating at best. </p><p>What works for one autistic person does not necessarily work for another. This is pretty common knowledge, immortalized in the saying, "If you've met one person with autism, you've met <i>one person</i> with autism."</p><p>Saying, "well this kid with a clear disability has a harder life than you, and still is doing this thing, so why aren't you doing this thing?" is insulting not only to him, but to the person you're talking to, who may have struggles you don't know anything about. </p><p>For further reading, please consult <a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/6/inspiration-porn-further-disables-the-disabled.html">this article</a>, which also links to an excellent TEDx talk. </p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-49550906787755062552021-03-29T09:00:00.064-04:002021-03-29T09:00:03.122-04:00Reading the Research: Companion Cats<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://showme.missouri.edu/2021/cats-may-help-increase-empathy-decrease-anxiety-for-kids-with-autism/">Today's article</a> is one of various articles I've seen about companion animals and autistic people. </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">The research is pretty simple here. Owning a compatible pet can be a very positive experience for autistic people. Many studies focused on dogs, since dogs display their affection more. As a bonus, they need to be walked, which can mean built-in exercise for the family or individual. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">There's something to be said for cats, though, and that's that if you get the right one, they're comparatively low-maintenance while still being affectionate and supportive. They're typically quieter than dogs, which is a bonus for humans with sensory sensitivities. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">In both cases (or other, less common pets, like rats, snakes, birds, gerbils, hamsters, etc), the fact that the animal doesn't judge by human criteria is incredibly valuable. Their needs are simpler, and they're often more forgiving than human peers. A good pet can be a support and a joy to any household, not merely ones with autistic people. </span></span></p><p>I'd tend to say furred and affectionate animals might be a better match for most autistic people, given that petting the animal can be a pleasing sensory experience. Particularly with a purring cat, indicating the petting is making both you and the cat happy. </p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">As with any support for autistic people, careful consideration of the specific person and their needs is required. Immediately rushing out to buy the cutest cat or dog you can find is not kind to the autistic person or the animal. Keeping noise considerations, specific human and animal temperaments, required responsibility, and other relevant factors in mind is important in these decisions.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's also relevant to consider whether adopting a grown cat or dog might be worthwhile. A pet bought while it's still a puppy or kitten may not have sufficient socialization to be a proper support animal. Older pets, on the other hand, have settled personalities. They also have a harder time being adopted, so you can be a good person and change a pet's life for the better, while also being a good person and change your loved one's life for the better. </span></span></p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-46336372597345262712021-03-26T09:00:00.002-04:002021-03-26T09:00:05.026-04:00Book Review: Divergent Mind<p><a href="https://www.divergentlit.com/">Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed For You</a>, by Jenara Nerenberg, is less of the practical guidebook I expected from the title, and more a work of history, philosophy, and suggestions and guidelines for changing the broadly disabling systems we live and work in. Please also note that "neurodivergent" includes autism, but it also includes synesthesia, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and more. </p><p>The book begins with a section which read to me like a defense of the book's existence, which... kind of made me sad, because I've only seen such things rarely, and usually by autistic adults needing to prove their viewpoint matters. The author says that this book was written in response to and in addition to Elaine Aron's "The Highly Sensitive Person," published in 1996. I suspect that book might also make for good reading.</p><p>Once the defense of the book's existence was done, it got into the deconstruction of the words and concepts we use to pathologize people, such as "mentally ill." The author presents the historical context and evolution of cultural thinking about neurological differences in the recent few centuries. "Female hysteria" is one of the earlier terms discussed, obviously having its roots in the male-dominated thought processes of the day. </p><p>The book also briefly covers more recent developments, like the rise and overdiagnosis of ADHD. Generally, the point was that what we consider normal or abnormal changes depending on what's going on in the world and who has power. There's also discussion of various diagnoses and how they are part of a larger phenomenon that's mainly been sidelined up 'til now. </p><p>Finally, the third section talks about changes that can be made in the self, in the home, and in the workplace. Again, this book doesn't really specialize in concrete ideas. I'm not at my best in terms of retaining information right now, but mainly what the author seemed to recommend was, "listen to what you feel you would do well with, try things and keep the ones that work." That included things like paying attention to the paint colors. </p><p>Something that specifically stuck out to me was the suggestion of figuring out what colors appeal to you and making a point to have them around. Which just reminded me that I tend to buy everything in blue or neutral tones. I am currently wrapped in a pale blue blanket while typing this at my computer. Next to me is a bright medium blue cloth organizer box. My hair is currently two-toned sapphire and Carribean ocean blue. My computer background is a blue-hued galaxy. My water pitcher with built in filter is a dusky dark blue. My pill organizer is blue. A lot of my clothes are blue. </p><p>Apparently I've been subconsciously shaping my environment towards easing the burden on my senses for years. Fortunately, my spouse doesn't mind my very strongly held preferences. </p><p>I mostly liked this book, but I worry it doesn't have a lot to offer people without a lot of control over their lives. Many autistic people live in poverty so they can get the support services they need. That situation may not give the person (or their parents) the influence they need to change the paint color on the walls, let alone choose a career that doesn't strain their senses to the breaking point every day. </p><p>I can't argue with the usefulness of at least teaching people to recognize the differences in their senses and experiences, and finding what ways they can to improve their lives. Adding in a safe room, with colors to relax the person's senses, perhaps textures or smells that do the same, etc, would do pretty much any autistic person good. </p><p>More concrete examples of changes people made in their lives, and how that helped them, would have helped make this book more accessible and useful to a broader audience, in my opinion. As it stands, this is more of a philosophic piece about changing your mindset away from the disabling and limiting crap we've been fed systemically. While that's valuable, it's not immediately... actionable, I guess. </p><p>Changing someone's overall mentality is valuable and important, but they have to have the time and energy to devote to it, and my fear is that many autistic people and their parents don't have those resources to spare in these unusually and overly interesting times. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Read This Book If</h3><div>You're autistic, especially if you're female, and you want a new perspective on neurodiversity and sensitivity. I expect parents of autistic people could also benefit from the ideas in this book. They include history, philosophy, and broad suggestions for improving the experience of home, work, and existing in general. The suggestions aren't concrete, firm, easy-to-follow ones, but nothing valuable in autism is cookie-cutter anyway. This book is perhaps aimed at people with influence and means, rather than the average autistic person. Still, the ideas within can be valuable to anyone. </div>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-37657811654005976812021-03-22T09:00:00.018-04:002021-03-22T09:00:00.230-04:00Reading the Research: Hiring Limitations<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/press/news-2021/increasing-neurodiversity-within-organisations-can-boost-skill-base">Today's article</a> touches on a sore spot for many unemployed and underemployed autistic people (hi!).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The fact is, the hiring process in most companies is extremely discriminatory. Not in some cartoonish way, with an evil HR person twirling his mustache and leeringly stating, "we don't hire black people/women/neurodiverse people here." And yet, it might as well happen like that, because that's more or less the results, repeated over and over across thousands of companies worldwide. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">As far as I've seen and heard, there isn't really a standard set of practices for hiring. As a result, hiring managers are pretty much given criteria for what skills the job requires, which lets them sort resumes... but after that, and sometimes even during that, is when things go wrong. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hiring managers tend to hire people they personally like. Their gut tells them this person or that would do a good job, and so they hire that person. The problem is the criteria used. Humans tend to shorthand "this person is like me" to "this person is competent and will fit well into the company." Which puts neurodiverse people out in the cold unless the company is already mainly neurodiverse. So effectively the hiring process is gatekeeping, and on a massive scale. </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's during the interview process that many autistic people fall flat on our faces. It's not that we lack the skills necessary. It's that the interview process is an elaborate dance of lies and wordplay. Is anyone really enthusiastic about a job in retail? Especially after applying for 20 more positions elsewhere, managing multiple interviews, and being turned down repeatedly. And yet "enthusiasm and positivity" are major hiring criteria for most retail chains, if not most workplaces. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Autistic people often aren't great at lying. So we're more likely to give honest answers, which get us disqualified. Sometimes even before the interview, since there's an increasing movement to use online psychiatric measures with opaque criteria.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">The typical path for autistic people to even be considered is for our work to speak for us. Portfolios and work samples are key. Or knowing someone in the company, someone who can vouch for your skill and usefulness, and someone who can help mediate issues as they arise, is another path. Not all jobs have a portfolio option, though, and connections to others even more limited in autistic people than they are in neurotypical people.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">So it's kind of a mess, and a major reason why neurodiverse and autistic people aren't well represented in the workforce. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">This article offers a solution to the problem, in the form of changing the hiring criteria, and changing workplaces so they actively invite and support neurodiverse people. I agree with the suggestion that doing so would lead to businesses being more successful and competitive. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">As the Hollywood movie industry has shown us in recent years, you can only get so many interesting stories out of older white male Americans. If you want new ideas, you need to look new places. Women, people of color, neurodiverse humans of all stripes, our ideas will differ. To continue improving and growing businesses, those different ideas are necessary. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">For all of our sakes, I hope people listen.</span></span></p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-84726958112096215612021-03-19T09:00:00.117-04:002021-03-19T09:00:00.131-04:00Worth Your Read: Saying "I Love You" Autistically <p><a href="http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2020/11/recognizing-how-autistic-children.html">http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2020/11/recognizing-how-autistic-children.html</a></p><p>It's strange, that in a world so full of different and diverse people, it can be so difficult to accept that others express simple sentiments like, "I love you" differently than you personally do. </p><p>No human, myself included, seems immune to this fallacious assumption. This author, Ann, has written a very short list of nonstandard ways autistic people might express love, which I'd urge you to look over. See if you can find one or two you personally display, or your loved one does. </p><p>Having read the list myself, I would honestly say that I feel each of the four examples given actually falls within the "Five Love Languages" categories... it's just that they're so non-standard that they're not even recognized as such. </p><p>The second situation, for example, with the autistic person downloading and presenting information they value to the loved one. That's a form of the fourth love language, quality time together. It's initiating that quality time, and ideally, the loved one shares in that enthusiasm and interest. Maybe not to the same extent the autistic person does, but enough that the "togetherness" aspect is fulfilled. </p><p>This behavior actually isn't specific to autism. Requests for attention and a shared experience can be as simple as "oh honey, look at that bird outside" or "did you see what happened in the news today?" Or they can be as large as "let's go see a movie together" or "want to start a new TV show on Netflix?" It's the method of the request, not the actual category, that people don't seem to understand. </p><p>The first and third situations are simply iterations of the golden rule: "treat others the way you want to be treated." Alas, the golden rule is far too simple when it comes to neurodiversity and the broadness of human experience. A better version (that is harder to teach to small children) incorporates doing your best to treat the person well by their own standards. </p><p>Most neurotypical people, naturally, have no particular issue with regular eye contact or small talk, and may even cherish these things as emotional "togetherness" signs. So avoiding them is not received as the love it's meant to be, but as the opposite. </p><p>Something the article didn't mention is that it's not unusual for an autistic person to say "I love you" once, and then never again, contentedly assuming their loved one knows this still applies because it's been said and not recanted. Unfortunately, neurotypical people tend to require repetition to believe it. Especially after an argument or upsetting event. So this is another example of a miscommunication between autistic and neurotypical people. </p><p>I can't remember, offhand, how affectionate I was as a child. I would guess "not very" especially after I became a teenager. I don't feel I was a very warm person, despite my strong sense of justice, fairness, and fiery temper. That's changed somewhat since I've been doing LENS and more traditional therapy, at least I think it has. I feel more able to empathize and express concern for others in ways they receive. </p><p>It's still difficult, mind. The way people receive love and the way I tend to express it don't often match up. I do okay with listening to people, since pretty much everyone likes to really be listened to with 100% of the listener's attention. My brain doesn't typically give me a choice about the 100% attention thing, which comes in handy sometimes. After that, though, it gets sticky. </p><p>It's of some comfort to me that the Five Love Languages book and associated theory exists because neurotypical people don't get this right on a regular basis, too. It feels to me like it's still somewhat well known in therapeutic circles, but less so in common knowledge now that it's not the latest hot trend. </p><p>The last thing to say here is that <b>yes, your child loves you.</b> Maybe they aren't expressing it in a way you receive, like the examples in this article. Maybe they're suffering so much from medical issues like chronic pain or epilepsy that they can barely express their love. But please, please don't convince yourself your child doesn't love you. Listen to us. Become curious about how we think and why we do the things we do. I guarantee we'll make more sense if you do. </p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-13107304340852591182021-03-15T09:00:00.076-04:002021-03-15T09:00:00.231-04:00Reading the Research: Brain Differences <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/tcmi-atd031121.php">Today's article</a> is one in a lot of very long overdue research on autistic women. The scientific term is "sex differences" which might weird out a more general audience. In biology, "sex" can refer to the physical organs and characteristics. In psychology and sociology, this differs from "gender" which is the person's experience of their masculinity, femininity, both-ness, or neither-ness. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In this research, the focus is just specifically on the physical, which makes me wonder if they've accidentally thrown monkey wrenches into their work. The transgender and autistic communities overlap quite a bit (hi, that includes me!). Since transgender people also tend to have different brain scan readouts than cisgender folks, I'd kind of assume this would complicate any potential findings...</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">At any rate, potential flaws in the researchers' methods aside, they did find differences between male and female autistic brains. This is maybe not surprising if you've met a decent number of male and female autistics. The latter tend to learn more camouflaging behaviors and to be quieter due to societal expectations, while the former aren't expected to manage such nuances and can thusly be far more visible.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If I'm reading this summary I linked, and the main research paper correctly, the data shows autistic brains are more similar to each other, regardless of maleness or femaleness, than they are to neurotypical brains. There were differences based in maleness or femaleness, such as how well the visual parts of the brain communicated (wonder what that corresponds to in actual life? Poorer imagination skills?). </span></p><p>Mostly, I'm just glad to see research prioritizing figuring out what differences there are between male and female autistics. In the very recent past, the focus has pretty much exclusively been on male autistics, to the point that the autism criteria was written around them. Thusly, to "qualify" as autistic medically, you were judged on "how male you are" to quote a fellow autistic from the show Love on the Spectrum. </p><p>This isn't the first research to examine female autistics, but it might be important in establishing a more generally applicable autism diagnosis. And it's definitely relevant to recognize that distinctive challenges and differences exist between the sexes. </p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-87856089461805675752021-03-12T09:00:00.030-05:002021-03-12T09:00:06.517-05:00Grocery Shopping on a Special Diet: The Checkout<p>Welcome back to the final installment of my autism-aware shopping trip through the grocery store. Week by week, I've shown you what the store sells, pruned down the selection to what's safe for me (because autistic people can have very sensitive systems) and point out various gotchas the store tries to make you buy stuff you didn't come for. </p><p>This is a bonus post, which is just for the checkout lanes. There are actually three kinds of checkout options, including the traditional setup that was the standard for decades: a clerk, at a register, with a lane.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w4-oTQfFBrn04i8mjZhr8-_PKir3SUR6ArBeh53i8hjjsMIVzXAAtrrSWy_kwUXvejIMFV2yvd1-b-XP4Oy41GtJP3LZpp1Zhdmaq0mAJ8XcHC0_QNCPgns7pu1eZfHPeLKzgHNB1DRu/s4128/20210311_112057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w4-oTQfFBrn04i8mjZhr8-_PKir3SUR6ArBeh53i8hjjsMIVzXAAtrrSWy_kwUXvejIMFV2yvd1-b-XP4Oy41GtJP3LZpp1Zhdmaq0mAJ8XcHC0_QNCPgns7pu1eZfHPeLKzgHNB1DRu/w400-h300/20210311_112057.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>An overview shot. You can see the sheer amount of snacks and junk food artfully arranged to tempt you at every possible opportunity. You can also see the entrances to all three checkout options, if you know where to look. </p><p>We'll start with the traditional option. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mGXApeKp47DfHXX6QJthtWMoYQ9VcLjuBxHfqgR2LQfvWAzjJKQ39z8dOV1AS9NBgTfcNStTYm_vcPXB2QO-j9ReN9GSN4YhiCZfHMEuxpn31HwuEwucfGkbOry8y0EHZ_e9gFD48QCB/s4128/20210311_112201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mGXApeKp47DfHXX6QJthtWMoYQ9VcLjuBxHfqgR2LQfvWAzjJKQ39z8dOV1AS9NBgTfcNStTYm_vcPXB2QO-j9ReN9GSN4YhiCZfHMEuxpn31HwuEwucfGkbOry8y0EHZ_e9gFD48QCB/w400-h300/20210311_112201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXysVCDzjsiMTY_k2U647eGs01wmCHemKDFo9ylNkeo1nMHFrcqD3hl7OH2o7ZT2qrTZgE0Fx410DYHVnqGR00fWIHxDxXloE7-c1NCMFn2b2Xaz6-uKXub2dkUR0Z4CsMGcxMLRccSCG6/s4128/20210311_112147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXysVCDzjsiMTY_k2U647eGs01wmCHemKDFo9ylNkeo1nMHFrcqD3hl7OH2o7ZT2qrTZgE0Fx410DYHVnqGR00fWIHxDxXloE7-c1NCMFn2b2Xaz6-uKXub2dkUR0Z4CsMGcxMLRccSCG6/w400-h300/20210311_112147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two versions of the same thing. You have your impulse purchases on either side, followed by the conveyer you unload your bags/cart onto for the cashier, followed by the cashier's station, the register, and the bagging area. The cashier (a real person) scans your items one at a time, bags them for you, gives you the total cost of your purchases, takes your payment in cash, check, or card, and returns you any change and your receipt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I chose closed lanes because I didn't want to worry the cashiers, so you can also see the adorable plastic chain that wouldn't stop an excited toddler from passing. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVwoijhY4JkIUmDZWxvkDbDT7pS7NKfkIC718v2lM_eZT7qYTZUw93av2AFlLqatpe8mdtcwA5V_tyaeIp_jlR0xzbreFaxA84AmCTBdWIyMYWIoj3a7m8XdXLdjVhcX-hnhU7ObAFBZS/s4128/20210311_112310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVwoijhY4JkIUmDZWxvkDbDT7pS7NKfkIC718v2lM_eZT7qYTZUw93av2AFlLqatpe8mdtcwA5V_tyaeIp_jlR0xzbreFaxA84AmCTBdWIyMYWIoj3a7m8XdXLdjVhcX-hnhU7ObAFBZS/w400-h300/20210311_112310.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Right side of one of the traditional checkout lanes. Magazines, which run the gamut from "might be useful" to "what monster was okay with wasting paper on this garbage?" And after that, an array of candy. Remember how there was a candy aisle? Yeah, so this is in addition to that whole aisle. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is all designed to make you do what's called impulse buying, which is just buying stuff because the urge grabs you to, perhaps before you can think about it very hard. Now, a single candy bar might not be that much money on a single shopping trip, but over the course of a year, it adds up, and the toll is taken both on your bank account <i>and</i> on your body. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tasdbi-eVJ2il-dZGc-zhn3Mb0Z9ZRIx6OwBOMLapv0rP-wR_D0Sr5AZAqhChRr7F4ljcxj66SRqDkrrMJZNjIRQQkb6uJslQQQQg0HaT0ZVwCCeMZQluTryvmWvfAZMlGy15FW9QwzI/s4128/20210311_112319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tasdbi-eVJ2il-dZGc-zhn3Mb0Z9ZRIx6OwBOMLapv0rP-wR_D0Sr5AZAqhChRr7F4ljcxj66SRqDkrrMJZNjIRQQkb6uJslQQQQg0HaT0ZVwCCeMZQluTryvmWvfAZMlGy15FW9QwzI/w400-h300/20210311_112319.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The other side of a typical checkout lane. I was actually surprised at how standardized the lanes are now. In other stores I remember, the contents of the lanes would vary, sometimes rather widely. Perhaps because of less available space? But these seemed pretty cookie cutter. Magazines across from chilled drinks. Candy across from salty snacks, gift cards, and some small convenient items, like lighters, lip balm, flash lights, bleach pens, and travel sized hand sanitizer. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's option 1, the traditional checkout lane. I typically avoid this because dealing with a live human involves making conversation, or at least interacting to some small extent, and that costs effort and comes with tons of social pitfalls. And I just want to avoid those as much as possible. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's look at the other two options, shall we? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94WsUAKlHoVjBBfdpxPeKxBj2S04P4cEV600_vznFTdzlVoXDkERi7DBiTCfp51K-X5zmY-wpAft_FBYYmXtioM1_t8ytAGj6DbQSapvqeOgxsDD9ShfkEcsvmPyajVnvfdmdv7bxAVSO/s4128/20210311_112114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94WsUAKlHoVjBBfdpxPeKxBj2S04P4cEV600_vznFTdzlVoXDkERi7DBiTCfp51K-X5zmY-wpAft_FBYYmXtioM1_t8ytAGj6DbQSapvqeOgxsDD9ShfkEcsvmPyajVnvfdmdv7bxAVSO/w400-h300/20210311_112114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Here's option 2. It's the most high-tech one, and it requires you to have a smart device and their special app. You scan each item as you put it into your bag or cart, using your phone, and then take your phone and scan that at the checkout here. You are thus an unpaid cashier your entire trip through the grocery store. It gives you the total, you pay using the interface, bag your stuff if you want to, and go on your merry way. <div><br /></div><div>There seems to finally be an employee monitoring the area, but in times past, the whole place was deserted. Even by the customers. Seriously, nobody uses this despite the corporation really, really wanting people to. </div><div><br /></div><div>In my case, it's that I really don't want my grocery store having access to my phone, apps, and identity any more than it already does. Can't speak for everyone else though. </div><div><br /></div><div>In one store I visited, I saw these converted to "5 items or less, and also our system we're begging you to use PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE." It's maybe telling that even in a pandemic, people would rather use option 1 or option 3 over this one... </div><div><br /></div><div>And that brings us to option 3: the self-checkout. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPj-up56omyfkuVrBorvxpuEvWHYaGnDv2MX_rh_SMoraKK02M7BdKPzWPX_o_Ue5NfJqyjt346xutWBqOKMKUCsnvXVwRA73d49VwdqgVcbMmo7uL8c8aiRQNnVYqPiLy9U_9ZkH7Vhjl/s4128/20210311_112356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPj-up56omyfkuVrBorvxpuEvWHYaGnDv2MX_rh_SMoraKK02M7BdKPzWPX_o_Ue5NfJqyjt346xutWBqOKMKUCsnvXVwRA73d49VwdqgVcbMmo7uL8c8aiRQNnVYqPiLy9U_9ZkH7Vhjl/w400-h300/20210311_112356.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once upon a time, these used to come in the single lane variety of the first option. Unfortunately, some manipulative troglodyte in marketing realized that you could make people walk past a ton more impulse purchases if you just rearrange the checkout setup... and so we have this instead:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObm0rMD_2OdsF-xLxDv4eSba2UgZtdEh2rPiGeX-H2FRrxYBD2hJORUO7aFpAyhuCnj8Mqj0eDZWjy5270d-WAQVJgG7b1PbDAQERTQ3juGG_opDdaB9MGaLLO8iEA3gBeq7GdkNt1TN7/s4128/20210311_112406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObm0rMD_2OdsF-xLxDv4eSba2UgZtdEh2rPiGeX-H2FRrxYBD2hJORUO7aFpAyhuCnj8Mqj0eDZWjy5270d-WAQVJgG7b1PbDAQERTQ3juGG_opDdaB9MGaLLO8iEA3gBeq7GdkNt1TN7/w400-h300/20210311_112406.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is one long aisle that feeds into 10 mini-checkout stations. It has everything a traditional lane has, and more. There are candy bars. There are packs of jerky. There are pastries and sweetbreads. It's a smorgasbord of everything you shouldn't put in your body. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you're wondering why I sound so resentful of this development, it's because resisting the urge to buy impulse purchases costs mental effort, and I am painfully short on energy at most times, but especially now. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OArNi2PIAigd-LJqFPNUkJ0u6ztfFaoJDgkDgAdI8D6mQer3kdKffd6X8IEgR81ui4ACUTuMLcDqdllSfAtKcozlqza-ReJGlbzWk0z56dDq26pwgVjQ9JOG3wNYrFBXdxoXuG7W2mu7/s4128/20210311_112422.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OArNi2PIAigd-LJqFPNUkJ0u6ztfFaoJDgkDgAdI8D6mQer3kdKffd6X8IEgR81ui4ACUTuMLcDqdllSfAtKcozlqza-ReJGlbzWk0z56dDq26pwgVjQ9JOG3wNYrFBXdxoXuG7W2mu7/w400-h300/20210311_112422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These stations used to be "express." The definition of "express" varied, but it was typically 15-20 items or less. Now, I guess the idea was successful enough that they've pulled the numerical requirement off and opened it to any shopper that cares to traverse the gauntlet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's have a closer look. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrcDq6f_CZRPLk-ar7pbYus5RtzjqHkCsXWfJaSznRmISD1nIr7mLMwCCEfLUmDfiy_p3FNptDcDYpu5VeVXTYfsWgJqgqhKoitWqg0Rao_JlIap3YmTQUllGsYZ2TaN3BgRK4PsWfWCD/s4128/20210311_112455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrcDq6f_CZRPLk-ar7pbYus5RtzjqHkCsXWfJaSznRmISD1nIr7mLMwCCEfLUmDfiy_p3FNptDcDYpu5VeVXTYfsWgJqgqhKoitWqg0Rao_JlIap3YmTQUllGsYZ2TaN3BgRK4PsWfWCD/w300-h400/20210311_112455.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>So, from top to bottom, you have your screen, your scanner and credit card reader, your scanning surface that includes a scale, a surface to put your stuff on before you scan it, and a surface to put stuff on after you scan it. The latter comes with a plastic bag dispenser, for all your incredibly unfriendly-to-the-environment bagging needs. Below all of that is the cash and change dispensers, the receipt printout, and the coupon receptacle. </div><div><br /></div><div>In this version, you scan everything at the checkout, using the interface here. There's a way to <a href="https://www.ifpsglobal.com/PLU-Codes/PLU-codes-Search">look up fresh produce using the PLU (or Price Look Up) code</a>, like 4162. That's large Pippin variety apples, for anyone who was suddenly curious. Normally in option 1, the cashier would do this for you. </div><div><br /></div><div>You are also responsible for bagging all your own things, which at least lets me use my cloth bags without awkwardness. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is the option I almost invariably take when I buy things at this store, because although it makes me an unpaid cashier, it does let me circumvent most social contact, which... I really appreciate most of the time. </div><div><br /></div><div>And that's that! Let me know what you thought of this series, and if you're interested in similar walkthroughs of other stores, such as Target, Trader Joe's, or Aldi. </div>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-86670875624056274892021-03-08T09:00:00.086-05:002021-03-08T09:00:05.361-05:00Reading the Research: Microbial Transfer Therapy and Mental Health<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://biodesign.asu.edu/news/managing-microbiome-raises-new-hope-autism">Today's article</a> touches on a much lesser-known treatment for autism, or at least autistic suffering. </span></p><p>It's becoming known more widely, in recent years, that our guts (which is to say, mainly our intestinal tracts) have a huge impact on how our brains function. There are neurons around our guts that pass information to our brain via our spinal cord. So if you put junk food into your gut, you get bad signals sent back to your brain. Your mood, ability to plan, and ability to remember information can all be affected. </p><p>I've actually been experiencing this firsthand for the last week or so. It's been a hard week, and I'm prone to emotional snacking, so I've consumed a greater amount of junk food than normal. By the end of the work day, I find myself depressed, easily-frustrated, and far less productive than I would've been if I'd fed myself properly. Which, naturally, leads to more emotional snacking, thus creating a negative spiral. </p><p>It's not even just a question of what you put in your body, though, when it comes to autistic people. It's a question of what's already there, too. It hasn't been studied in as much depth as it should be, but what research we have tells us that autistic peoples' guts tend to be much simpler and more prone to overgrowth of candida (a class of harmful gut bacteria). Where most people have thousands of species of gut bacteria, many autistic people only have hundreds. </p><p>Without the checks and balances from all that diversity in the gut, autistic peoples' guts simply don't perform as well as they should... which means we don't absorb nutrients from our food as well, digest foods as much as we should, or break down toxins as quickly and effectively as someone with a healthy gut. </p><p>Which is why I'm on the wait list to be a subject for a fecal transplant experiment. It's also why I routinely take two hospital grade probiotics. Trying to keep my gut in balance is extremely important to managing my mental health and ability to function in neurotypical society. When my gut is properly functioning, I'm able to communicate more clearly, express myself better, and understand others better. When it's out of balance, I do worse in every aspect of my life. It's honestly that simple.</p><p>I'm glad to see this research, and I hope people are paying attention. This is one of many options parents and fellow autistics can look into when trying to improve our lives. In a world where most doctors throw pharmaceuticals at a problem and then say "there's nothing more we can do" if they don't work, we need more of this research to show people there's always something more to try. </p><p>On a personal note, Arizona State University and Richard Harth (the article's writer) in particular: Autism is not a disease. Calling it (and autistic people) that is insulting at best, along with being dehumanizing. It hasn't been okay to refer to autism in that manner for over a decade, so I'm not really sure how this happened... but it did. If I remember, I'll @ y'all on Twitter about it. Politely, as best I can. </p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-8400871071038065672021-03-05T09:00:00.001-05:002021-03-05T09:00:05.984-05:00Worth Your Read: An Autistic Experience with the COVID vaccine<p><a href="http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2021/03/getting-covid-19-vaccine-while-autistic.html">http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2021/03/getting-covid-19-vaccine-while-autistic.html</a></p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has gone on for almost a year now. While the vaccine rollout continues in the US, it's suffered from poor organization, and there is no centralized method to get an appointment. Distribution varies by the state. </p><p>In Michigan, I'm told the best option is to wait until your group is eligible, and then sign up in as many places as possible. Multiple pharmacy chains have supplies of the vaccine, as does the medical system (in my area, Mercy Health or Spectrum Health). Sign up with every entity you can. Just be sure to cancel your place on the waiting list with the others once you've gotten your dose. </p><p>At the moment, I'm not eligible for a vaccine. Last I checked, I'm on the younger side of things and insufficiently medically vulnerable. To my relief, though, my parents and my one remaining grandparent have all had their first and second shots. </p><p>There will likely be boosters and such for the variants, but even having that baseline immunity in the ones I love is a great weight off my shoulders. Like the author of this article, I miss giving and receiving hugs from my parents (and others). </p><p>Regardless, this article describes one autistic person's experience receiving the vaccine. It can be very helpful to know what to expect when going into an unfamiliar situation, and Kate, the author, does her best to describe it. </p><p>Unlike the author, I'm not rushing to get my vaccine. I strongly believe in the importance of herd immunity and don't even slightly discount the importance of getting the vaccine ASAP. I just happen to also be aware that sometimes testing doesn't turn up all possible side effects. </p><p>Since my job does not involve routine contact with the public, and can be done from home, I have the privilege to wait a little longer to see if any interesting additional side effects turn up so I can be more prepared. My hope is that the new style of vaccine, the mRNA variety, might truly be safer than the older style. </p><p>Either way, my spouse and I hope to get the vaccine in the next half year or so, state and supplies allowing. Until then, and probably after then, we'll continue to wear masks, wash our hands, disinfect surfaces, and self-isolate. I can't wait for spring and the warmer seasons, though. Staying inside all winter hasn't been good for me, and once it warms up I'll be able to forage for wild food and enjoy nature again. </p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-23142189535674690142021-03-01T09:00:00.068-05:002021-03-01T09:00:03.832-05:00Reading the Research: Positive Personality Changes<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/nuos-eat022521.php">Today's article</a> describes how treating anxiety can change a person's personality positively, making them able to be more warm, friendly, and open to new experiences. Kind of exactly what many autistic people struggle with, at least stereotypically. </span></p><p>In some ways, this is a "no, duh" research study. Kind of like how people say "oh, my child's autism was cured when we started treating their chronic pain!" Did the child actually stop being autistic? Doubtful. Did their ability to empathize, communicate, and express themselves emotionally increase? Absolutely, because now all the energy they were spending on suffering through the chronic pain can be put toward doing those things. </p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In broadest brush strokes, this is more or less what's happened to me over the course of the last six years. I had to look it up, and yeah, <a href="https://realisticautistic.blogspot.com/2015/03/therapy-incoming-102814.html">it's been six years</a>. Prior to therapy (LENS, a form of neurofeedback, as well as talk therapy), I would describe my past self as "focused, pragmatic, non-emotive, and a little cold." Also definitely more depressed. I was always interested in others to some extent, but it wasn't well-expressed. Typically I'd simply observe, rather than interact directly. </span></p><p>Over the six years, I've been able to begin working on my body language more. I have more brainpower and energy to devote to reading others' body language. I've learned (mostly) how to smile on command, which is an important social skill in the US (especially if you appear to be female). And I've been able to use some of my energy to invest in being emotionally supportive and kind to others. Outwardly and inwardly. </p><p>I've also been able to be kinder to myself, which is just as important in some ways. If the inside of your skull is a horrible, toxic, judgmental, negative place, it's going to be harder for you to be kind to others. </p><p>The study suggests a pair of methods to treat anxiety. One is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, which is pretty standard at this point. It gives you tools to identify negative and unhelpful thought processes, change them, and embrace relaxation. The other is new to me, metacognitive therapy, which seems to aim to change your thinking about worry rather than the actual worries. </p><p>These may be promising therapies to look into for any sufferer of anxiety. I'm glad to see work continues to be done to improve the lives of people with mental illness, such as myself and many other autistic people. </p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-66960551339558278332021-02-26T09:00:00.039-05:002021-02-26T11:29:42.989-05:00Grocery Shopping On a Special Diet: Fruits and Veggies<p>Welcome back to my autism-aware shopping trip through the grocery store. Week by week, I'm showing you what the store sells, prune down the selection to what's safe for me (because autistic people can have very sensitive systems) and point out various gotchas the store tries to make you buy stuff you didn't come for. </p><p>As a reminder, I shop with the following conditions in mind:</p><p></p><ul><li>dairy-free</li><li>low sugar</li><li>avoid ultraprocessed junk</li><li>avoid artificial food coloring</li><li>conditional vegetarianism</li><li>avoid high histamine foods</li><li>awareness of gluten-free options and sugar-free options</li></ul><div>Last time we explored the meat and deli section, where basically nothing is humane and snacks are abundant. I also mentioned a pair of humane and sustainable alternative delivery services: <a href="https://www.butcherbox.com/">ButcherBox</a> and <a href="https://www.vitalchoice.com/">VitalChoice</a>. Ideally, you'd buy your meat and eggs locally, from a family farm with standards you can rely on. In practice, it can be hard to find those places, make time to drive to them, or even afford them. So Butcherbox and VitalChoice can give you an alternative.</div><div><br /></div><div>This week we'll tackle the most important part of the grocery store: the fresh produce section. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKmt_Uneqqfwfm1epkfCwhBH7wmJncmX06wqogh00ddamMmfG-Tprc6aAL6B4y5P_nZqz0NCNGiXWJnKDRmGehbYZtT6FCpVQuOWnRr0-vU75tO89hJayOG2zSSOsSQO8wbIIm0x5mALg/s4128/20210223_105222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKmt_Uneqqfwfm1epkfCwhBH7wmJncmX06wqogh00ddamMmfG-Tprc6aAL6B4y5P_nZqz0NCNGiXWJnKDRmGehbYZtT6FCpVQuOWnRr0-vU75tO89hJayOG2zSSOsSQO8wbIIm0x5mALg/w400-h300/20210223_105222.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Like the meat and deli sections, the produce section is divided into long islands of products, rather than proper aisles. The back half is more or less vegetables and root vegetables, and the front half is fruit. And there's one long aisle that's the other side of the refrigerated section from a few weeks ago. Also off to the side is a peanuts and tree nuts/snacks section, kind of between the produce and the bakery. It really fits nowhere in particular, so I tossed it in here. </div><div><br /></div><div>While many parts of the grocery store stay more or less the same over time, the produce section does not. About the only constant is what I mentioned above: it goes fruit, then vegetables, then root vegetables. The specifics of what's in season and available varies. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8b-HVsbe3MqYsGoC0GTReCrLp3SpDWeWrOCjgS_l8wdv26NFAQllfJkxm-hZrjvRzEOb5EF7elMnUuh5QKjuznAMV7CqnS0JYU5XXyF1LtS95TxVZBtRtGvU161uXg9Pe9BurGW5OBrf/s4128/20210223_110215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8b-HVsbe3MqYsGoC0GTReCrLp3SpDWeWrOCjgS_l8wdv26NFAQllfJkxm-hZrjvRzEOb5EF7elMnUuh5QKjuznAMV7CqnS0JYU5XXyF1LtS95TxVZBtRtGvU161uXg9Pe9BurGW5OBrf/w400-h300/20210223_110215.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwRkEjybSKYnDs5SJcHAtnGViW_oDLqbbZyovu1uFUwojEm8O4qdNVqZd7UHRQUykPwffToxOkknk8MS9cMzGDyZJChbPnIqOLDRn88PkF9SSE0vJIxNZ09nDVlCvCzy2ZaMVChxl6Py3/s4128/20210223_110254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwRkEjybSKYnDs5SJcHAtnGViW_oDLqbbZyovu1uFUwojEm8O4qdNVqZd7UHRQUykPwffToxOkknk8MS9cMzGDyZJChbPnIqOLDRn88PkF9SSE0vJIxNZ09nDVlCvCzy2ZaMVChxl6Py3/w400-h300/20210223_110254.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>This flexibility is especially true with these square islands, which host the weekly deals. "Let the buyer beware" is always relevant advice when buying produce. Even with modern shipping and refrigeration, it's hard to keep perishables from perishing. Past the islands, you can see the array of self-select apples. There's about 9 kinds of apples. Which sounds like a lot, and it kind of is for what time of year it is. (It is, at this moment, late February, which is late winter.)</div><div><br /></div><div>There are actually hundreds, even thousands, of apple varieties. Some of them don't look like what the consumer expects. Some of them are tiny (but taste amazing). Some of them simply don't ship well. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtK7EVn0coqVMDlodc_gc2TSoGNLMVoj1_uG0Ux0fhuijWsp5MBwOikep3U0jjjLTfHgrSTESeiwQ0yVP9BmVpD7giMflP9g-6qe4975WYpJm0vXisTzpTIMYGMBgJqQRP09mPPe9_xkQ/s4128/20210223_110316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtK7EVn0coqVMDlodc_gc2TSoGNLMVoj1_uG0Ux0fhuijWsp5MBwOikep3U0jjjLTfHgrSTESeiwQ0yVP9BmVpD7giMflP9g-6qe4975WYpJm0vXisTzpTIMYGMBgJqQRP09mPPe9_xkQ/w400-h300/20210223_110316.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The other side of the apple aisle: bagged bulk apples. They're almost entirely 3 pound bags. These bagged apples tend to be on the smaller size compared to their "choose your own" counterparts, and because they're pre-bagged, imperfections may escape your notice. Imperfect fruit is hardly the end of the world, but as an incredibly privileged USian used to nearly perfect fruit all the time, it's something I'd notice. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLpi0VvZvAQszADjN7t4mHtvoK6VCe-PINqGooSsgYbJEUt05Q052-X2tNEq3kZWzcncVoR-rAcEMtm-D-JFgdbPuZkMbFTnkOZOxcqfULzd282T39jmeoAtnQVf0apb2wvYPuBtBhPWa/s4128/20210223_110328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLpi0VvZvAQszADjN7t4mHtvoK6VCe-PINqGooSsgYbJEUt05Q052-X2tNEq3kZWzcncVoR-rAcEMtm-D-JFgdbPuZkMbFTnkOZOxcqfULzd282T39jmeoAtnQVf0apb2wvYPuBtBhPWa/w400-h300/20210223_110328.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Grapes and berries. This aisle was long enough that I had to stand pretty far back to get it all in frame. There's strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and more strawberries. Followed by dessert shells and dessert breads to serve those berries in, because there is no escape from the temptation to buy desserts or snacks. And then several varieties of grapes: green, red, and black. </div><div><br /></div><div>In other seasons there would be at least two kinds of red grapes, and I've also run across a white grape called Carnival in the organic section. It's worth noting that the majority of the grapes for sale here are seedless.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe3rvkydZayF8QrAyrw36dUSsKaJEo3wes9Q0Zu_tc-_5nni7yGImXOaItOcbN-CYue2jmyV4YqxTstcD_kxWot3a8m1DG0ZHgDaXZtP1EShSlbCrE1JxGqHkU5ahcCPDmYmuaRmG5Hei/s4128/20210223_110344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe3rvkydZayF8QrAyrw36dUSsKaJEo3wes9Q0Zu_tc-_5nni7yGImXOaItOcbN-CYue2jmyV4YqxTstcD_kxWot3a8m1DG0ZHgDaXZtP1EShSlbCrE1JxGqHkU5ahcCPDmYmuaRmG5Hei/w400-h300/20210223_110344.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Citrus and melons. Mostly citrus. The bagged tiny citruses near the front are a particularly popular brand of clementine that's almost entirely seedless as well as being extremely sweet. The US has a sweet tooth (by which I mean a sugar addiction) and even the fruit has to accommodate it. </div><div><br /></div><div>There's also bagged lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits. After which there's the "choose your own" for if you really only need one lime for your recipe. Which is me, often. And then the melons, which include watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew. Or it might be honeyrock. There's been some interesting experiments in crossing melons and I haven't kept up with what's most popular. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrVSVV1_hL5ktiCHmVsrDyMPhDjbZ8BgLL5go1dmLxd60YSj_4CrOXQf7zbODPMh6xJLdYhgMLvDrDGOW492wwq-chELzjsG3uANj4693i4SH5C0PKc_9yNs8ku3ASpGQ-7DXq2KVZRBq/s4128/20210223_110406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrVSVV1_hL5ktiCHmVsrDyMPhDjbZ8BgLL5go1dmLxd60YSj_4CrOXQf7zbODPMh6xJLdYhgMLvDrDGOW492wwq-chELzjsG3uANj4693i4SH5C0PKc_9yNs8ku3ASpGQ-7DXq2KVZRBq/w400-h300/20210223_110406.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We now move onto the pears and assorted other fruit. You can count four kinds of pears (Bartlett, D'Anjou, Bosc, and Red), as well as mangoes, pineapples, dragonfruit, kiwis, peaches, plums, coconuts, and nectarines. </div><div><br /></div><div>Something I should point out, and which you'll notice next photo if you know anything about bananas... This great and mighty variety of fruit is available for purchase, but don't think for a moment it's at its very best or tastes anything like a fresh-picked version. To survive being transported long distances, most fruit is picked long before it's ripe, shipped specially to keep it from ripening, and then ripened once it's arrived. </div><div><br /></div><div>This results in a significantly stunted flavor and texture. I've had fresh mango in a place that grows it. The mangos you can buy here are definitely mangos, but the flavor is deeply disappointing by comparison. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8-K6Jxch7oYgeUm_oQigpWE80kMc_oHfehwIver17G_MBtLuqrxR-5ZgLkOA2akC7WE3UNP0zTuVVuo3FVmuGPx4RKbt0-3LHdp-3A8KDyZq9O4Ud85I-ZgX7jTpi9YACd0hEH5qHcGs/s4128/20210223_110420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8-K6Jxch7oYgeUm_oQigpWE80kMc_oHfehwIver17G_MBtLuqrxR-5ZgLkOA2akC7WE3UNP0zTuVVuo3FVmuGPx4RKbt0-3LHdp-3A8KDyZq9O4Ud85I-ZgX7jTpi9YACd0hEH5qHcGs/w400-h300/20210223_110420.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>As promised, the bananas. I'm not sure why, but the US really loves these. Note that most of them are green, rather than bright yellow the way the organic ones at the end are. That's not just because people mainly opt to buy the ripe ones. It's because the bananas are brought it very very underripe, and ripen as they sit. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another interesting fact about these is that they're Cavendish bananas. They taste significantly different than the variety that was exported prior to the 1950s, the Gros Michel. The Gros Michel variety fell prey to a fungal disease and was nearly wiped out. If you've ever wondered why artificial banana flavor tastes nothing like bananas, it's because it's based on the flavor of the Gros Michel, not the Cavendish. Also, at some point, the Cavendish will likely fall prey to a similar disease, and we'll all start consuming some other variety of banana instead. <a href="https://realisticautistic.blogspot.com/2015/01/manzano-bananas-where-am-i-eating-8914.html">Perhaps Manzanos</a>? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq95OOkC7V9Wzg8ygzpwB-RbIuLYJImxPPwrimxFf0H0vB710E2iAYTWblqBXXhgUfFPZvxVnd7C-hll8Fh15YXHjpmmTDOI3o0ZLfGyWTMzgsirQOL7G95beUzpVGRYjqsIXwb56HsLCk/s4128/20210223_110448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq95OOkC7V9Wzg8ygzpwB-RbIuLYJImxPPwrimxFf0H0vB710E2iAYTWblqBXXhgUfFPZvxVnd7C-hll8Fh15YXHjpmmTDOI3o0ZLfGyWTMzgsirQOL7G95beUzpVGRYjqsIXwb56HsLCk/w400-h300/20210223_110448.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ2KsmnT9fKIbbyHJQNnAGZT9br_7osyykfn4fdbQ4YEco8ukbIPONEwOFgrajs72a7fXysSkc8F_Hu6x9puTefDI6zXbQay2R5i6qWwZY0HnCq4NgFgkfPqAiH9najxuvfFxJdtJIQk0/s4128/20210223_110436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ2KsmnT9fKIbbyHJQNnAGZT9br_7osyykfn4fdbQ4YEco8ukbIPONEwOFgrajs72a7fXysSkc8F_Hu6x9puTefDI6zXbQay2R5i6qWwZY0HnCq4NgFgkfPqAiH9najxuvfFxJdtJIQk0/w400-h300/20210223_110436.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Before we leave the fruit section, we stop by the organic section. Like the weekly deals, these sections rotate their contents frequently. You can never be sure what they'll have available, though because it was grown without pesticides and herbicides, you can expect it to be more expensive than the general offerings. <div><br /></div><div>In some cases this is a very important section to be aware of. Pesticides and herbicides can get stuck in the crevices of the fruit, and then be consumed with the fruit. As a result, autistic and other sensitive folks' systems can get slowly poisoned. Strawberries are a prime example of this. All those little nubbly seeds make it impossible to get the chemical residue off without damaging or destroying the fruit. As such, it's better to buy strawberries organic. For more information about the Dirty Dozen (buy these organic) and the Clean 15 (no need), <a href="https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php">follow this link</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLn7ogcTkvo89tijbkxteyMX2PS5TbyWjH9dkC1fU5XhXl_7xwjto2-O_hwItpV4sxwaCS9pRNIGVHvOFzTbPcOeUvWQjBa6T3MRtpB7B4-Ccs__YmK_oqkZi0h-HY7_v_b3QzNHKHVER/s4128/20210223_110656.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLn7ogcTkvo89tijbkxteyMX2PS5TbyWjH9dkC1fU5XhXl_7xwjto2-O_hwItpV4sxwaCS9pRNIGVHvOFzTbPcOeUvWQjBa6T3MRtpB7B4-Ccs__YmK_oqkZi0h-HY7_v_b3QzNHKHVER/w400-h300/20210223_110656.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Oh, and for a huge markup, you can buy pre-cut fruit. Let's look at a less extreme example. Kind of near the end of the middle, there's pineapple cores. They're basically cylinders of pineapple, with the very center bored out, likely put through a machine designed to generate that shape, and heedless of the exact size of the pineapple. They cost $5. Looking back over the photo with the whole pineapples, you could buy one for $2.70. So for a bit less than twice the price, you don't have to deal with the pineapple skin and greens and center. </div><div><br /></div><div>We'll get a bit more absurd now. There are also chopped strawberries for sale. $6 for a half pound. We could buy those. Ooor we could buy 2 pounds of strawberries with the greens attached, for $4.70. </div><div><br /></div><div>Convenience is stunningly expensive. It also comes with non-recyclable plastic. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXKIF2sZprgpxcETs4hPR8BxKdFmfHpwRlEpD7-_lEkGe41RaieV2Xf0sSali1Bm-mNpH3qUUoy9fTmIKPcebWcxi2VUjwo-0hiSLo6UQSvtV8L_eXCfH0YgpnLoSI9G-yCD5atfm9jLm/s4128/20210223_110527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXKIF2sZprgpxcETs4hPR8BxKdFmfHpwRlEpD7-_lEkGe41RaieV2Xf0sSali1Bm-mNpH3qUUoy9fTmIKPcebWcxi2VUjwo-0hiSLo6UQSvtV8L_eXCfH0YgpnLoSI9G-yCD5atfm9jLm/w400-h300/20210223_110527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's time for the long aisle! Starting at the back, we have the mushrooms (bella, shitake, enoki, portobella and several dried varieties. We also have the salad dressings, which is a category I flat out ignore. Salad dressings can hide sugar bombs and can contain so many calories that they singlehanded make your salad into junk food. I typically don't season my leaves, but if I do, it's with olive oil, salt, and pepper. It's cheap and easy and tastes good. What more could you ask?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbwdOcMmHfhnVWvRXilT6AQdmScyO9TzYagLkHjoy_zlJmuIycVH8imfUBoNqCBzZCpBEzhipHVFn9nRttpawzhF1wB2CwkPfolY52LNRH5udiAv9PEVMyWcBUjU4pRWIg5utP2en_ab8/s4128/20210223_110536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbwdOcMmHfhnVWvRXilT6AQdmScyO9TzYagLkHjoy_zlJmuIycVH8imfUBoNqCBzZCpBEzhipHVFn9nRttpawzhF1wB2CwkPfolY52LNRH5udiAv9PEVMyWcBUjU4pRWIg5utP2en_ab8/w400-h300/20210223_110536.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Premade salads. Some versions come with greens, some are "mix this with the greens and it's a more complete meal!" boxes. Either way it's a lot of extraneous plastic. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixly76dd0A3rCEQHkvJA52PHNF2rh6VwHKm122io8NvdfG2MkOou6zpU_bhZNkzeWskC5WyWr0laWgG4rPwMcBNVXmviTBD2Sr-D4pFQeH9VuyYWCtDZ9B74j-KUDxnH3zu-S53uwE6B3h/s4128/20210223_110554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixly76dd0A3rCEQHkvJA52PHNF2rh6VwHKm122io8NvdfG2MkOou6zpU_bhZNkzeWskC5WyWr0laWgG4rPwMcBNVXmviTBD2Sr-D4pFQeH9VuyYWCtDZ9B74j-KUDxnH3zu-S53uwE6B3h/w400-h300/20210223_110554.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Pre-processed greens. There's actually bagged varieties just to the left, but there was a stocker working there and I didn't want to ask her to move just so I could take my picture. Anyway, you mainly have spinach and lettuce varieties, but you also have your choice of kale and arugula. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI9GO06SFpzcI2F2iAbUmAfZhJ90TpvSJ95f-dFGmSZfxEga2jZP8QXk3lQd9jynzFgsgRQYzjyuzHhmLuroMpYwxVWns57VOt3rULpkq9FRqyq7sdp9ye0LNdTfq1zhLdug8RB_B1ak-/s4128/20210223_110605.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI9GO06SFpzcI2F2iAbUmAfZhJ90TpvSJ95f-dFGmSZfxEga2jZP8QXk3lQd9jynzFgsgRQYzjyuzHhmLuroMpYwxVWns57VOt3rULpkq9FRqyq7sdp9ye0LNdTfq1zhLdug8RB_B1ak-/w400-h300/20210223_110605.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A brief pause for herbs and flavorful roots, like ginger. In less interesting times there would be more fresh/live herb options, but in lieu of those you could make do with those tubes of herb paste. I've never bought one, but it probably works fine as long as you're not using the herbs for appearances.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8l_tVnwPauUVWQb0P530w2QzzigHiCKUNDaOVtLs20rBqAM58l3Zq6q47it_c6asLKlnJL518qA7K3qILLPjC1FapNfcwcNNi1IZTuH_fRao6H39f4qJwZlKoAqsraNBFkCT9S7vFHEO/s4128/20210223_110609.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8l_tVnwPauUVWQb0P530w2QzzigHiCKUNDaOVtLs20rBqAM58l3Zq6q47it_c6asLKlnJL518qA7K3qILLPjC1FapNfcwcNNi1IZTuH_fRao6H39f4qJwZlKoAqsraNBFkCT9S7vFHEO/w400-h300/20210223_110609.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The "select your own" vegetable section. I won't list every single thing available here, but suffice it to say there's a lot. I mostly only stop by this section for lettuce, sugar snap peas, or snow peas. But if you need just one of something (or a small amount of something), this is where you can go. The bagged versions will be coming up shortly.<div><br /></div><div>Part of why I rarely use this section is that it's routinely sprayed with water. This is ostensibly to keep the produce fresher, but it also makes it wet to touch and accelerates the rot process once you get it home. I'm really not a fan. <div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgmCj3e1KKbtpQmLPz1T23OQxcxioqVWJbHYk6p2bAlGWToR751KbuaHX6JF90SdQ6PAlg-PaFTA9SzUwWwRojpKBZyBOjfBRt6PiKEVR-YEme3eFi3uPOjIIPP-zJM9fLgiyExJXy977/s4128/20210216_164142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgmCj3e1KKbtpQmLPz1T23OQxcxioqVWJbHYk6p2bAlGWToR751KbuaHX6JF90SdQ6PAlg-PaFTA9SzUwWwRojpKBZyBOjfBRt6PiKEVR-YEme3eFi3uPOjIIPP-zJM9fLgiyExJXy977/w400-h300/20210216_164142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Onward to the main vegetable section. The tomatoes, peppers, and for some reason, asparagus. There's a few options for tomatoes, though mainly of the medium and large varieties. Cherry and grape tomatoes are available, they're just behind the human I was trying to cut out of the picture. Bell peppers in four colors: yellow, red, orange, and green. There's actually even a stripey orange and yellow variety that shows up from time to time. Green peppers are almost always the cheapest. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoXyw02pd51UXtw_dg9DSZalYyywXFhtMKzp9LReMrR4XUSpbOg_LJrFmtHLy-9wySRdszigm26OmndmlIMIRvOOGGKiIKj3WgInbXtU1q-3OH2UxXZL1IOPanNjZVzvcEHwoCK5NJTkb/s4128/20210216_164216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoXyw02pd51UXtw_dg9DSZalYyywXFhtMKzp9LReMrR4XUSpbOg_LJrFmtHLy-9wySRdszigm26OmndmlIMIRvOOGGKiIKj3WgInbXtU1q-3OH2UxXZL1IOPanNjZVzvcEHwoCK5NJTkb/w400-h300/20210216_164216.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took this to give you a better idea of the variety available here. Again, there is literally snow on the ground and temperatures are at or below freezing, so these have been shipped from a significant distance away. It's honestly a very small sample of all the types of peppers that exist, but the fact that it's just flatly available 100% out of local growing season speaks to how absurdly well people in the US live. Kings and emperors in centuries past didn't have this kind of selection. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM833U1awalzkzJNN4bNXpiSW_JhC-7IUdLlQHS4oM4TY_vhzE-01yBZChu_MtJNEXFEZSf68LgBf31kxHUFPfl7wJDZ4BgD7bW4aeq-4aZKx7LRNIMaqbbcdkWw4ulUvJs9ay7S82-0mz/s4128/20210216_164020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM833U1awalzkzJNN4bNXpiSW_JhC-7IUdLlQHS4oM4TY_vhzE-01yBZChu_MtJNEXFEZSf68LgBf31kxHUFPfl7wJDZ4BgD7bW4aeq-4aZKx7LRNIMaqbbcdkWw4ulUvJs9ay7S82-0mz/w400-h300/20210216_164020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a weighing and labeling machine. Produce doesn't always come in convenient plastic packages. Sometimes you choose and bag your own using the bags there on the left. This machine will weigh your produce. It will also print you a custom bar code so that the bag can be scanned quickly at checkout. I'm old enough to remember when non-electronic scales were a common thing in grocery stores, but those days seem very long ago when I look at this machine...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwbbU_WnoCt7jSmyIRPgHlFmQyYs_-a0_XZbx7Qq7NO910OKu_9qOsRM9JX0ASW8InLQxuJ8JilHtPM-Ep3B37BQGBxVutGp8H-YjMtUPZviGcoQyNWtdix3M3iTVHRejR4GY36QTNsuv/s4128/20210216_163956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwbbU_WnoCt7jSmyIRPgHlFmQyYs_-a0_XZbx7Qq7NO910OKu_9qOsRM9JX0ASW8InLQxuJ8JilHtPM-Ep3B37BQGBxVutGp8H-YjMtUPZviGcoQyNWtdix3M3iTVHRejR4GY36QTNsuv/w400-h300/20210216_163956.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Avocados. Yep. This is an endcap that's just entirely avocados. Apparently my generation popularized consumption of them, in part due to their healthiness. In my memory of decades past, this would have been a small segment of the broader vegetable section, not an entire endcap (plus the weekly sale island at the start). </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWPeRovly2QtWYucTRIJEQGmnFpWGZgcIOZfaX1blJyADdG78IhKWY-aYBDY5CTdRiqcmzuOiFGvAAfm5ZFLuqgu9Wb6ly4DM59RL4DjctAVwAM517z2L5qhysHQs4BvAz5xQXf4VqMml/s4128/20210216_163933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWPeRovly2QtWYucTRIJEQGmnFpWGZgcIOZfaX1blJyADdG78IhKWY-aYBDY5CTdRiqcmzuOiFGvAAfm5ZFLuqgu9Wb6ly4DM59RL4DjctAVwAM517z2L5qhysHQs4BvAz5xQXf4VqMml/w400-h300/20210216_163933.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Plastic-wrapped broccoli, bulk bags of lettuce heads, bagged baby carrots, and bagged celery. With salad fixings perched on top of the displays, because God forbid you simply eat salad without extra carbs. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WAt10zcuZ2Tf4a1XvXXV2WPkhHoT40YeAldt3SgLhwg8jfqXKDpZM1tbPcilAOWlEbXIrgMMA-FYHmFi0PYyHleF9v0XBp7X-_FgtJLmVx7CxD-pz0iEZKs5Yw7G1PniWQUqizQlEHrH/s4128/20210216_163926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WAt10zcuZ2Tf4a1XvXXV2WPkhHoT40YeAldt3SgLhwg8jfqXKDpZM1tbPcilAOWlEbXIrgMMA-FYHmFi0PYyHleF9v0XBp7X-_FgtJLmVx7CxD-pz0iEZKs5Yw7G1PniWQUqizQlEHrH/w400-h300/20210216_163926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Organic options of the previous aisle, in an endcap. Organic does not always mean "better for the environment" unfortunately, but as mentioned in the organic fruit section, it can be your best bet health-wise. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx-VXkBUCm9T8XqCQY9j_UddFGgc1NgvH8lhiCDlkFlQEzp1_vXjsH9Zf2ZdhZIJH8PrJ8jq1GcuDCEHc68pLg7WFbWR-m3IBHI8XeHuxVWxQNFqYSoQJcYCnd1NMoseofw-Xp6OFXgNg/s4128/20210216_163910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx-VXkBUCm9T8XqCQY9j_UddFGgc1NgvH8lhiCDlkFlQEzp1_vXjsH9Zf2ZdhZIJH8PrJ8jq1GcuDCEHc68pLg7WFbWR-m3IBHI8XeHuxVWxQNFqYSoQJcYCnd1NMoseofw-Xp6OFXgNg/w400-h300/20210216_163910.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The other side of the previous long island. Plastic wrapped cabbage heads, large carrots, broccoli crowns (smaller than the other broccoli option, and with less stem), and cauliflower. Absolutely everything you see here is sealed in plastic. It helps preserve the freshness, but the plastic just ends up in a landfill. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcW7kauM_DUXKyoCKvk71FJy3z2SCne7RLErnP89Ehdpu7DyJAF3zHBagVLVyu5mWZcCASVO08g7Wwr4WLyHK2IRKWp2BzzF1Lg9Y7_x3igLzOuTNruxmnK_WOTIIRCxn9mhxdwIxSkkl/s4128/20210216_163904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcW7kauM_DUXKyoCKvk71FJy3z2SCne7RLErnP89Ehdpu7DyJAF3zHBagVLVyu5mWZcCASVO08g7Wwr4WLyHK2IRKWp2BzzF1Lg9Y7_x3igLzOuTNruxmnK_WOTIIRCxn9mhxdwIxSkkl/w400-h300/20210216_163904.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The other endcap on this island-aisle. I'm honestly not sure why, precisely, this is here, but it is. These are non-meat, non-dairy options. Seitan, tofu, pseudocheese, and veganaise. Please note that even here, there is no escape from the barrage of snacks. See the dumplings? <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUluyHaqA-dZd84ncMiL-nCQOhSarKar8NCuP33V8gC9IURKaM_UrpGJLK7_-IxKwhKQDeFqCJKj2__ZkFodirK5JUbnEYPyOLRQ4b5Wk3gWzw-f5FAofyTHCwgK50ZOM_gWMjDlWdWHH/s4128/20210216_163850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUluyHaqA-dZd84ncMiL-nCQOhSarKar8NCuP33V8gC9IURKaM_UrpGJLK7_-IxKwhKQDeFqCJKj2__ZkFodirK5JUbnEYPyOLRQ4b5Wk3gWzw-f5FAofyTHCwgK50ZOM_gWMjDlWdWHH/w400-h300/20210216_163850.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a standalone island on the back edge of the area. It's basically salad fixings. This side has even more tomatoes, in the smaller varieties. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2WmGWe81ybgUN-FUuYVKYoCEZcJbNElGP1yt9MSC-oqziGWskpQJE2CtrGusxfZyzet9Qqp_Fp1yToAn2x_u2sblYaBngU4n27fR2EXWU-GQ8UxWuxgAD-I1Jw348AW-jk9WQoPZua65/s4128/20210216_163839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2WmGWe81ybgUN-FUuYVKYoCEZcJbNElGP1yt9MSC-oqziGWskpQJE2CtrGusxfZyzet9Qqp_Fp1yToAn2x_u2sblYaBngU4n27fR2EXWU-GQ8UxWuxgAD-I1Jw348AW-jk9WQoPZua65/w400-h300/20210216_163839.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And the other side, even more peppers and cucumbers great and small for all your salad needs. I've found the tiny cucumbers nice for personal salads. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQncMPEuMtwNvhNLZvgepNEHq9wAD6w2aoc_H82iQ3pMu9FhN1hYiSFC993q5IXdfbenKJBm7zsGztPGhb18bXbWptecxfX3lac8eqkN_fdsHNuVNLOEpsSpG-EHOhjksFnWLCQDIcEfrt/s4128/20210216_163804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQncMPEuMtwNvhNLZvgepNEHq9wAD6w2aoc_H82iQ3pMu9FhN1hYiSFC993q5IXdfbenKJBm7zsGztPGhb18bXbWptecxfX3lac8eqkN_fdsHNuVNLOEpsSpG-EHOhjksFnWLCQDIcEfrt/w400-h300/20210216_163804.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This longer island is the last one in the line. It's mainly onions and potatoes, though there's yams and some squash for good measure as well. The endcap has bags of teensy tiny potatoes in up to three colors for a really staggering markup. Then there are three colors of onions (red, white, and yellow), in both bulk bags and "select your own." </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST1d445GMAB99R1h38quTlUx90_Ei1pMD6FKxVcjDvi63ECu_uP1xVkZ_ZDMieD9cBR0fheCJ7LLP7TFs44haX4rb924yc4teFKmMMA_QvVZE9sH0kB4Q47wjGR5lIyJY0UMHFb4sj-0t/s4128/20210216_163739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST1d445GMAB99R1h38quTlUx90_Ei1pMD6FKxVcjDvi63ECu_uP1xVkZ_ZDMieD9cBR0fheCJ7LLP7TFs44haX4rb924yc4teFKmMMA_QvVZE9sH0kB4Q47wjGR5lIyJY0UMHFb4sj-0t/w400-h300/20210216_163739.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The other side of the onions/potatoes island-aisle. Organic varieties of both on the end cap, and bulk bags of russet, yellow, and redskin potatoes. Potatoes are a very solid food choice when they're not heavily processed or soaked in as much grease as they'll hold. The problem, of course, is that most potato products fall into at least one of those categories... </div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on to the last part of the produce section, which is oddly not fresh at all...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8Y2QYKHUzqyxAkz_aR1LIAD8yq1ahD4AJuwpzSXpr01yqbElKJ865qhunvaCrx_w7OleumvBVg3Bp3rjdwPTfOurrYNcdt26hxmL1mZMpveT7idFefmsbQ3MMi_htjzqZSSnFhf3oVKG/s4128/20210112_101254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8Y2QYKHUzqyxAkz_aR1LIAD8yq1ahD4AJuwpzSXpr01yqbElKJ865qhunvaCrx_w7OleumvBVg3Bp3rjdwPTfOurrYNcdt26hxmL1mZMpveT7idFefmsbQ3MMi_htjzqZSSnFhf3oVKG/w400-h300/20210112_101254.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I couldn't get a decent shot of this due to the stocking cart on the right hand side there, but this is basically just a bunch of plastic bags of dried fruit. The variety here includes cherries, apricots, mango, and prunes. Dried fruit is great in theory, but in practicality it's typically just more like candy with fiber. It's usually laced with sugar to make the fruit extra appealing. Read your nutrition facts and ingredients carefully. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8BKExSLUENVCyXsesZU3VbM2an6bo7Tcz4L3M8HkFcnp5z6hjhL8eAsgGmOSuPU7qlCdqq2JHw2JTPDo_ulWnPKz5qQDW2GmEJAIi0DgvOECyuiZX2T_DpNmv8mdIGw9fXhL_YNcGb59/s4128/20210112_101306.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8BKExSLUENVCyXsesZU3VbM2an6bo7Tcz4L3M8HkFcnp5z6hjhL8eAsgGmOSuPU7qlCdqq2JHw2JTPDo_ulWnPKz5qQDW2GmEJAIi0DgvOECyuiZX2T_DpNmv8mdIGw9fXhL_YNcGb59/w400-h300/20210112_101306.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the other side of that display, and it includes seeds and vegetable snacks as well as raisins and dates. I don't really know what one does to a pea pod to make it into a crispy salted snack, but I'm a little afraid to find out. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIeh6fiajEcfKFxkbCJAATLp3tghHKBHpLnq6w2TQSU65WiU30keoZMCahJHdF3t4btx3KcxYfNwysEbTCFK5-Fo1LDAZ5QNnIRLQs2pGRd6u8f4mOrvJoyD4gafQi2U2ugBB6Ly9yltq/s4128/20210112_101312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIeh6fiajEcfKFxkbCJAATLp3tghHKBHpLnq6w2TQSU65WiU30keoZMCahJHdF3t4btx3KcxYfNwysEbTCFK5-Fo1LDAZ5QNnIRLQs2pGRd6u8f4mOrvJoyD4gafQi2U2ugBB6Ly9yltq/w400-h300/20210112_101312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on, we arrive at the bagged dried nuts. This, like everything else in the store, is a demonstration in absurd variety. We don't simply have peanuts. We have blanched peanuts, red skin peanuts, Spanish peanuts, kettle cooked peanuts, raw Spanish peanuts (roast it yourself, I guess?), and mixed nuts with peanuts. There's also pecans, and a bit further in, there'll be even more types of tree nuts. As a reminder, this is the second section of snack nuts, the first being around the candy aisle. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmomizbb8AAN_EnKdybCuocI2vd75nGQxz4zD1gGx35UkuirsIOSQzTaCu4ZIfVK4vdq67Bu9o37ttoWYyNRMPjDR8bUdB764k9rtTVgS6xDoZ7vo9Co-kqjUIMMsPzm8Cr96DnJScVQ2/s4128/20210112_101322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmomizbb8AAN_EnKdybCuocI2vd75nGQxz4zD1gGx35UkuirsIOSQzTaCu4ZIfVK4vdq67Bu9o37ttoWYyNRMPjDR8bUdB764k9rtTVgS6xDoZ7vo9Co-kqjUIMMsPzm8Cr96DnJScVQ2/w400-h300/20210112_101322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One end of the previous display. These aren't cooking ingredients, they're snacks. They're specifically packaged to go in a bowl or be eaten right out of the bag. Mixed nuts and trail mix (with dried fruit) varieties. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6FusPNJc1SQeCdwYaSXA9FZM9C-u3o8I43Sy550J1cYPwELx_FDdNytZA1lC3FRgNCPT1bifocM48Xr3M27cSBNCfY_mXqIJCFbBWixEQoIzlVMZqBCQy2FLslOGagqc5Suqx4Zg3kMo/s4128/20210112_101332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6FusPNJc1SQeCdwYaSXA9FZM9C-u3o8I43Sy550J1cYPwELx_FDdNytZA1lC3FRgNCPT1bifocM48Xr3M27cSBNCfY_mXqIJCFbBWixEQoIzlVMZqBCQy2FLslOGagqc5Suqx4Zg3kMo/w400-h300/20210112_101332.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The other broad side of the display, where we can mainly find almonds and cashews. You can have them roasted or raw, pre-sliced, salted or not, and blanched. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQH2qI__HMMTninzYPdxRH0sf7hctJrco_xJRhI2gWxQfIIVvM7OeM_3UVCyBRxrTHAYe0meSWa-TT1Z6SfFLAbYD9d2WhdUwo_GNqDOBrp6DsRt4_29WptrYp-RrjVCw5uDSy8Us8_ne/s4128/20210112_101342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQH2qI__HMMTninzYPdxRH0sf7hctJrco_xJRhI2gWxQfIIVvM7OeM_3UVCyBRxrTHAYe0meSWa-TT1Z6SfFLAbYD9d2WhdUwo_GNqDOBrp6DsRt4_29WptrYp-RrjVCw5uDSy8Us8_ne/w400-h300/20210112_101342.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last but not least, the other end of the display, which is entirely pistachios. All from a single company, but you can get sweet chili, salt and pepper, honey-roasted, and basic pre-shelled varieties. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that finishes the produce section! It's been a surprisingly long trip through the grocery store. I started this series in early September and never expected it to take a half year to finish, even with doing posts every two weeks. It's been very educational for me, and I hope, for you as well. It turned up some interesting (and horrifying) information about grocery store practices. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the course of this project, I went from shopping almost entirely at this grocery store (Meijer) to starting at Target (where the employees seem happier and more like people, anyway) and then only buying what I couldn't find there. The sheer amount of manipulative marketing in terms of alcoholism and snacks in every corner of Meijer is more than I can morally tolerate. I hope to transition to not shopping at this store at all in the coming year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll do a bonus post in a couple weeks to show you the checkout aisles, because they've changed somewhat in the last few years and I think it's worth knowing why. Beyond that, thank you for joining me on this adventure!</div></div></div></div>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-32146637832207201872021-02-22T09:00:00.001-05:002021-02-22T09:00:06.193-05:00Reading the Research: Predicting Personalized Brain Stimulation<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects, then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and observations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210201113604.htm">Today's article</a> strikes me as overly optimistic, but presents interesting possibilities for depression and anxiety neurofeedback, TMS, and other brain stimulation treatments of the future. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Brain stimulation seems like a fairly promising technology for things like traumatic brain injury, mental illness, and sleep issues. These are pretty new ideas, especially to the public eye, which means there hasn't been a ton by way of large scale testing. This is also due to the fact that the medical industry <a href="https://realisticautistic.blogspot.com/2020/11/reading-research-throw-pills-at-it-and.html">tends to throw pills at things first</a> and shrug helplessly if that doesn't work. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Because we don't have that large scale testing, and because peoples' brains differ so much, brain stimulation is a "we'll try this and maybe it'll help!" situation. Which, <a href="https://realisticautistic.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-switched-on.html">it can and has</a>. But we don't really know why something helps or doesn't, for the most part. And like any therapy, doing it incorrectly can hurt as well as heal. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">When I began receiving LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System) from my doctor, she was very careful and methodical about it. We had no map, but she's an experienced practitioner. We tried various types of signal styles, and varying numbers of modifications. In the end, we settled on a particular style, and 1-2 modifications every two weeks. We also skip over the spots that would modify my motor strip, because the last time we tried that it put me into road rage. Fortunately, the modifications can be countered via the same process they're induced. </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Even with my doctor's expertise, it was still a process to find what worked. These researchers, it seems, are aiming to remove the guesswork from brain stimulation. They've developed the keys to making a computer able to predict what changes will occur in the brain when a particular type of stimulation is applied. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Basically, they're trying to make it so a doctor could scan a patient's brain, then take that scan, give it to the computer, and have the computer virtually simulate what would happen if various brain stimulation techniques were applied. The doctor can then return to the patient and administer the one that's most likely to work best. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">At present, it looks like they're focused on only one kind of brain stimulation, rather than the broad spectrum that includes TMS, LENS, and active neurofeedback. Still, it's a step in the right direction. Someday, I hope to live in a world where the medication roulette game is only played when other, better options have failed. If more of this kind of research is funded and published, that day may not be that far in the future. </span></span></p><p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realautistic">visit my Twitter</a><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: black;">, which has links and brief comments on studies that were interesting, but didn't get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)</span></p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114692964971274325.post-23339683619244304592021-02-19T09:00:00.003-05:002021-02-19T23:21:05.549-05:00Book Review: The Charisma Myth<p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11910905-the-charisma-myth">The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism</a>, by Olivia Fox Cabane, is a self-help style book on increasing your personal charisma. This isn't a typical autism-related book, but since charisma factors into communication skills, I thought it might be an interesting read. I wondered if there were tips that might help parents advocate for their children more effectively, and ideas that might help autistic people make ourselves heard and be truly listened to. </p><p>As it turns out, this book does contain some things like that. There is, in fact, a whole section just on body language. Including a trick called mirroring, where you match your body language to the other person's, and then gradually shift towards more positive, open body language. I'm less than fond of this particular trick, as it feels coercive. But this wouldn't be the first place I've heard of it working. </p><p>The book also helped explain some things about me, personally, though. Like why I went through most of my childhood without much by way of friends or peer inclusion, but still received some kind of begrudging respect, even sometimes admiration and very thoroughly unwanted attention from some of the boys. </p><p>There are, according to this book, three major pieces of charisma. They are presence (which includes actively listening to and focusing on the conversation/person at hand), power (how wealthy, influential, intelligent, or socially important you seem), and warmth (how much goodwill and caring you seem to project). </p><p>Now, most of my life has not gifted me with a whole lot of power. Nor was I a terribly warm person when I was younger. But presence? I learned how to listen relatively young, from my mother. A skilled listener herself, she counseled me that good listening included a genuine interest in the other person and what they had to say. You don't merely wait until it's your turn to talk, but focus your attention entirely on the conversation and the other person. And, as this book also mentioned, that people absolutely adore talking about themselves. </p><p>It helps, I suspect, that I'm not really very good at managing two streams of words at once. When words are being spoken near me, that's where my brain is stuck. So while most people might be able to listen halfheartedly to someone talk about sports, and still be thinking about this new video game they're wanting to try, I'm pretty much just stuck hearing about sports. </p><p>My personal oddness aside, much of this book involves a significant amount of mental reframing. That is, changing how you view a situation, a person, or even yourself, using imagery or other techniques. You do this so that your body language unconsciously changes to be more present, warm, and powerful. </p><p>Maybe it's a bit cynical of me, but the emphasis on using your imagination to wave goodbye to your cares and feelings of responsibility so you can be your warmest, most present self... kind of worries me. Really, any form of actively setting aside your view of reality so you can choose a magical dream world where people are grateful to you for being late to an important meeting (an actual example from the book) weirds me the heck out. </p><p>The author works with a significant number of CEOs on this subject of charisma, as well as other upper management types, and in all honesty, I feel like those kinds of people need more reality, not less. The author might say that such people should be getting the viewpoints of others by doing the listening portion of things... but in all honesty, this book is pretty much geared towards an egocentric viewpoint. "Do this so you can be better, more successful, etc."</p><p>Maybe it's because I'm kind of leftist, but the constant "me me me" focus kind of wore on me over time. I'm aware that everyone, myself included, thinks they're the most important human in the world most, if not all, of the time. But I also have concerns for those around me, and most of this book only engages with other humans as obstacles or people to be influenced and wowed (because you're so awesome). There's no particular acknowledgment of other people as... well, other living humans, with dimensions and value beyond the superficial "what they can do for me." The self-centered focus of the book just kind of left a bad taste in my mouth over time.</p><p>The book also has only mild concern for the ethics of using charisma to get your way. There's a short section near the end, and that's about it. It's framed more as "here's some pitfalls that might make your life harder, so keep this in mind," rather than, I don't know, doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do? So I wasn't much impressed with that either.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Read This Book If</h3><p>You want a guidebook to the subject of charisma, or have an interest in increasing your effectiveness as a communicator. Fellow autistic people, parents, professionals, random others, pretty much anyone could potentially benefit from this book. The writing is approachable and fairly clear and to the point. I found some of the mental techniques suggested rather ethically questionable, and the book itself was stunningly egocentric. But the information is overall good, and can give you a starting point to increasing your communication success rate after you've gotten past the basics of conversation.</p>Sarah Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12732616256064826243noreply@blogger.com0