Dear Natasha! Im new here. I found you after reading Graham Parduns conversation with you. I just ordered your book. I'm not a cryer but I feel the swell and wish I could open the door and let it flood in. After reading this I'm pretty sure I am an undiagnosed autistic. I took an online test a while back, which said I was, but people just sort of snickered. Can you please please pretty please suggest a place to start? I was diagnosed with CPTSD several years ago due to adult-onset anxiety. I have always been high-functioning and intelligent but now I am constantly dealing with my body's response to things. My guess is that I have been masking for so long and trying to function that my nerves have finally shouted, DONE! Thank you so much for your words.
Hello and welcome! I'm glad to hear this resonated with you. As for where to start if you're questioning if you are autistic, that's tough and the path will be different for everyone. I recommend reading about it as much as possible, particularly books written by autistic people themselves, rather than books written about autism by non-autistic people. It can be life-changing to realize you are autistic - once you know you can make changes in your life that can improve things so much. Best of luck as you embark on this journey!
Dear Natasha! I just finished your book and ordered several others referenced in the Bibliography.
I left you a nice Amazon review and hope others find your wonderful book.
Here is the short review.
I am so glad to have discovered Natasha on Substack. I could not put this book down. I have gained so much insight into the gift of the autistic mind. Neurodivergent is a neurogift. Neurodivergent is a gift of perception on the periphery. Where some build walls out on the edge Natasha jumps over to show us what's out there! It is beautiful.
Blake, thank you very much! I'm happy to hear you read Drifts and I am so appreciative of the lovely review. Really, for an author good reviews are like gold. Thank you!
“The hell with the entire literary world. I am writing down the language of this land as I hear it, and what poet can do more?” Davis Cooper in “The Wood Wife” by Terri Windling
Dear Natasha! Im new here. I found you after reading Graham Parduns conversation with you. I just ordered your book. I'm not a cryer but I feel the swell and wish I could open the door and let it flood in. After reading this I'm pretty sure I am an undiagnosed autistic. I took an online test a while back, which said I was, but people just sort of snickered. Can you please please pretty please suggest a place to start? I was diagnosed with CPTSD several years ago due to adult-onset anxiety. I have always been high-functioning and intelligent but now I am constantly dealing with my body's response to things. My guess is that I have been masking for so long and trying to function that my nerves have finally shouted, DONE! Thank you so much for your words.
Hello and welcome! I'm glad to hear this resonated with you. As for where to start if you're questioning if you are autistic, that's tough and the path will be different for everyone. I recommend reading about it as much as possible, particularly books written by autistic people themselves, rather than books written about autism by non-autistic people. It can be life-changing to realize you are autistic - once you know you can make changes in your life that can improve things so much. Best of luck as you embark on this journey!
Dear Natasha! I just finished your book and ordered several others referenced in the Bibliography.
I left you a nice Amazon review and hope others find your wonderful book.
Here is the short review.
I am so glad to have discovered Natasha on Substack. I could not put this book down. I have gained so much insight into the gift of the autistic mind. Neurodivergent is a neurogift. Neurodivergent is a gift of perception on the periphery. Where some build walls out on the edge Natasha jumps over to show us what's out there! It is beautiful.
Also, just to add, the phrase "neurodivergent is a gift of perception on the periphery" is really beautifully put.
Blake, thank you very much! I'm happy to hear you read Drifts and I am so appreciative of the lovely review. Really, for an author good reviews are like gold. Thank you!
“The hell with the entire literary world. I am writing down the language of this land as I hear it, and what poet can do more?” Davis Cooper in “The Wood Wife” by Terri Windling
Thank you for sharing this lovely quote. I'm a fan of Terri Windling's but have somehow not yet read The Wood Wife. Much appreciate this.
Just finished it. Takes place in the Sonoran desert, so there may be some special resonance there for you.
Mashallah, how beautiful, Natasha!
Shukran, Graham!