tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937Wed, 25 Dec 2024 22:17:00 +0000#ActuallyAutistic#AutismAcceptance#LateDiagnosedAutistic#Autism#AutismAwareness##NotLinearMildToSpicy#Anxiety#AutismSpikyProfile#AutisticBurnout#AutisticMasking#AutisticPride#AutisticSensoryOverwhelm#Dyscalculia#Hyperlexia#Activiies#Agnostic#CPTSD#CalgaryModel#CalgaryPhotography#Canada#CommunityParnterInResearch#DEI#Depression#Faith#FishCreekParkPhotography#FunThingsToDo#IAmGoodEnough#MAID#Melanoma#ModelOver50#Neurodiversity#QueerAndAutistic#RomanticGoth#SelfCare#SupportNeeds#WheelOfPrivilegeAndPower#WhitePrivilege#comingout#disability#discrimination#diversity#equity#inclusion#intersectionality#marginalized#minority#modeling#photoshoot#privilege2slgbtqiaamelanoticcancergreyacelatebloomerlaterinlifemalignant molenodularpanromanticqueersapphicÂûDHD. Healing, unmasking and being ENOUGH through connection in community. 🌈🇨🇦∞ https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)Blogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-6262000872260834598Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +00002024-04-29T06:00:00.147-06:00#Canada#DEI#disability#discrimination#diversity#equity#inclusion#intersectionality#marginalized#minority#privilege#WheelOfPrivilegeAndPower#WhitePrivilegeI have referenced and shared the Wheel of Privilege and Power so many times over the past few years with multiple groups.  Minority, marginalized and intersectional groups already get it.  White people my age (50's) and older have to try a little harder to understand this and take it to heart (or a lot, or at all). source: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/documents/pdf/https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/04/privilege-and-entitlement.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)1Alberta, Canada53.9332706 -116.576503525.623036763821155 -151.7327535 82.243504436178853 -81.4202535tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-6280068340796597988Sun, 28 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +00002024-04-28T06:00:00.345-06:00#ActuallyAutistic#Agnostic#CommunityParnterInResearch#Faith#QueerAndAutisticThe views below are personal musings on faith, or my inability to embrace organized religion, while still being in awe of life and nature. I don't speak for all Autistic people or all faiths. Faith is like having a favourite colour, food, or song.  You just 'know' and can tell people what resonates for you but rarely change their mind and that's okay to have different beliefs. I admire and https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/04/curiosity-over-conformity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-7139850294226530713Sat, 27 Apr 2024 14:40:00 +00002024-04-27T08:40:07.696-06:00#Activiies#ActuallyAutistic#Anxiety#Autism#AutisticSensoryOverwhelm#FunThingsToDo My Mega List of Autistic-friendly Activity SuggestionsThis list has grown over time with ideas from friends, colleagues, social groups.  They are activities I would feel comfortable hosting or co-hosting, or attending and I have shared many with local groups already.  Posting it here for easy access because sharing is caring.   Special thanks to LM for the huge starter https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/04/autistic-friendly-activity-suggestions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)0Calgary, AB, Canada51.044733099999988 -114.071883122.734499263821142 -149.22813309999998 79.35496693617884 -78.9156331tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-8109557520917509213Fri, 26 Apr 2024 14:27:00 +00002024-04-26T08:27:37.726-06:00#Anxiety#AutismAcceptance#AutisticBurnout#CPTSD#Depression#SelfCareI have shared this list with close friends, family and colleagues a few times and folks are always so grateful.  I'm sharing here today in the hopes that it will help someone out there. Maybe you'll find something helpful to help you with depression, anxiety, burnout and just general self care.I didn't know I was Autistic when I started the list.  I have been collecting these strategieshttps://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/04/my-self-care-emergency-toolkit-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)0Calgary, AB, Canada51.044733099999988 -114.071883122.734499263821142 -149.22813309999998 79.35496693617884 -78.9156331tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-508960479254500347Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:35:00 +00002024-04-25T11:35:39.231-06:00##NotLinearMildToSpicy#ActuallyAutistic#AutismAcceptance#AutismAwareness#AutismSpikyProfile#Dyscalculia#Hyperlexia#LateDiagnosedAutistic#SupportNeeds When you think of a spectrum, do you visualize a linear gradient from 0-10, or from white to black, or from low to high ‘functioning?’ People are not generally brilliant at everything or nothing, and that’s especially true for Autistic people. It seems like people are expected to be at least 'average' at 'most things,' especially in school. I felt bad about struggling in math and physicalhttps://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-autistic-spectrum-its-spiky-not.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)0Calgary, AB, Canada51.044733099999988 -114.071883122.734499263821142 -149.22813309999998 79.35496693617884 -78.9156331tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-2094438900946536114Wed, 24 Apr 2024 22:35:00 +00002024-04-24T16:46:58.703-06:00#ActuallyAutistic#Autism#AutismAcceptance#AutismAwareness#AutisticMasking#AutisticPride#LateDiagnosedAutisticAs I have found, obtaining an adult autism diagnosis can be elusive for a variety of reasons including: Out of date stereotypes about what autism looks like. Stigma and deficit-based terminology in diagnostic manuals.A lack of knowledge and confidence in diagnosticians. Autism traditionally not being recognized in women, trans and non-binary folks.Camouflaging/masking to fit in andhttps://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/04/autism-barriers-to-late-diagnosis-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)0Calgary, AB, Canada51.044733099999988 -114.071883122.734499263821142 -149.22813309999998 79.35496693617884 -78.9156331tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-5901506075951849063Tue, 23 Apr 2024 21:46:00 +00002024-04-24T16:48:33.619-06:00##NotLinearMildToSpicy#ActuallyAutistic#AutismAcceptance#AutismAwareness#AutismSpikyProfile#AutisticPride#Dyscalculia#Hyperlexia#IAmGoodEnough#LateDiagnosedAutistic#NeurodiversityAt age 53, I was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, so I’m ‘AuDHD.’ That last part of my identity was the key to understanding, self compassion, healing, self-confidence and leaning in to my strengths.I’m a middle-aged-ish white woman, descendent of Irish, English and Norwegian settlers on Turtle Island. I was born and raised in Mohkinstis (also known as Calgary) near the Tsuut'ina Nation on https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/04/embracing-my-identity-as-autistic-woman.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)0Calgary, AB, Canada51.044733099999988 -114.071883122.734499263821142 -149.22813309999998 79.35496693617884 -78.9156331tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-9038982779617610914Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:59:00 +00002024-04-22T18:59:22.512-06:00#ActuallyAutistic#Autism#AutisticBurnout#AutisticMasking#AutisticSensoryOverwhelm#LateDiagnosedAutistic ​​Autistic Burnout - What Helped MeI’d like to share about my experience with autistic burnout. It’s different than depression. Some depression can be alleviated by doing something different, like exercising or socializing. Autistic burnout often requires doing the opposite; that is, doing nothing and isolating in a quiet place all alone, in order to recover. I experience autistic burnout https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/04/autistic-burnout-what-helped-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-258787088370420846Tue, 16 Apr 2024 04:53:00 +00002024-04-15T22:53:34.761-06:00#MAIDChoosing Medical Assistance in Dying Content warning: death, dying, medical assistance in dyingToday, the full film “In My Own Time” was released. I have wanted to attend an in-person screening but never made it to one.  This film “follows the emotional stories of people across Canada who chose to end their suffering through medical assistance in dying (MAID). Navigating this decision leads https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/04/maid-medical-assistance-in-dying.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-5615869527269523484Sat, 23 Mar 2024 21:07:00 +00002024-03-23T15:07:27.744-06:00#CalgaryModel#CalgaryPhotography#FishCreekParkPhotography#modeling#ModelOver50#photoshoot#RomanticGothSuch is life in Canada when you have a best buddy who is a photographer.   Recently we experimented with black and white film double-exposures at Keith's request. I wanted a Romantic Goth themed image for social media and suggested it to him to see if he might be interested in collaborating.  model: Michelle Christoffersen, photographer: Keith CartmellMy ask:  “I have a https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/03/romantic-goth-photoshoot-canadian.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-3134208004456035133Wed, 28 Feb 2024 04:46:00 +00002024-03-15T14:42:50.860-06:00#Melanomaamelanoticcancermalignant molenodularMalignant Melanoma. It’s just a mole. Just a mole, they said, nodding their heads. Photo by Keith CartmellThis one was different. It didn’t fit the ABCDE criteria for suspicious moles. My body is covered in hundreds or thousands of moles thanks to my Irish genetics, fair skin that burns before it tans, green eyes and blonde hair.  This mole wasn’t dark and flat like in the ABCDE postershttps://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2024/02/malignant-melanoma-more-that-just-mole.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)1Alberta, Canada53.9332706 -116.576503533.9407027377889 -151.7327535 73.9258384622111 -81.4202535tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-6317494977077065337Sat, 07 Oct 2023 03:28:00 +00002024-03-02T12:50:55.383-07:00greyacepanromanticsapphicThis article was written for Ace Week for Alberta Aces and Aros who are featuring stories about our experience living as an ace-spec in an allo world from our community members. I wasn't able to stick to the 200 word limit so I put it all together here so it can be linked to and shared. I’m Michelle (she/they), a bilingual (English and French), ÂûDHD, melanin-deficient woman queer (greysexual https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2023/10/on-being-ace.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127093456584563937.post-2115277108665581758Tue, 12 Oct 2021 18:28:00 +00002024-03-02T12:52:00.457-07:00#comingout2slgbtqialatebloomerlaterinlifequeerYesterday was National Coming Out Day and here's what I shared with family, friends, and colleagues:Today is National Coming Out Day. (Well, at least it is in the US and so we will just have to appropriate it here in Canada until we catch up).I was an Ally previously as I stood in support of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and as a safe person to come out to. You are brave, you are inspiring and you https://trimalkin.blogspot.com/2021/10/coming-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michelle Christoffersen)1