Autism, Anxiety and Me: A Diary in Even Numbers

Bridge, a 24-year-old woman with Asperger's syndrome and severe social anxiety, offers this diary illustrating her daily experience with these conditions. Forty-two entries are numbered from 2 to 84, with the second one reflecting on her rigid use of even numbers. Topics she reflects upon include sensory hypersensitivities, need for rigid routines and adherence to rules, literal interpretations and difficulty with theory of mind, confusion over conversational conventions, over-honesty, stereotyping and misconceptions about autism, fear of strangers, panic attacks, being home alone, public speaking, scripting to use the phone, decisional paralysis, feedback through praise vs criticism, bedtime routines with stuffed animals, the stress of moving, reluctance to get rid of belongings, gifts and ownership, navigating the holidays, experience of advertisements, creative fantasies of her idealized world, professional and personal relationships, puberty, illness and medical treatment, and meltdowns. At the end of each diary entry, the diarist's mother offers commentary on the autistic traits demonstrated, ways they have found to cope with issues it causes, and a list of key points for non-autistic readers to take away in terms of interacting with an autistic person. Annotation ©2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)