Toren_Wolf

Decision paralysis has been a huge problem for me my entire life, though I have gotten better about it. 💜💜💜 My parents would actually remove choices for me for many years, and only offer me one choice, and this was the most helpful for me. I knew they were doing it, and I actually really appreciated it. Because too many choices can be completely overwhelming for people like me.🤷🏻💜 Do you experience this?🤔❤️ #autism #adhd

Girls were rarely diagnosed with autism or ADHD in the 80's and 90's. 😓 So many were overlooked.❤️ Can you relate?💜💜💜 #autism #adhd #genx

Mama Wolf here: Can you be labeled gifted- and still have learning disabilities? I was. I was put in gifted classes, and when I struggled intensely with math, the teacher said I just wasn't trying hard enough, and I got in trouble. 😞 Anyone else? #autism #adhd #gifted #learningdisabilities

I will try a peach again! 😊💜💜💜 This is very good because fruits and vegetables are very difficult for me. A lovely gentleman at the farmers market gave it to me. Do you like peaches? ❤️ #autism #adhd #peach #arfidawareness

This went on for quite a while at the river yesterday.😁💜 Can you hear it over the sound of the river? Auditory stimming is a self soothing behavior. It can be repetitive vocalizations, or engaging with certain sounds repeatedly. It can be very calming for people with autism or ADHD. 😊❤️ Even listening to the same song over and over can be considered auditory stimming! Do you do this?💜💜💜 #adhd #autism #stimming #waterbottle

Mama Wolf here: I am a full time eBay seller. Toren's dad is a mail carrier. We are far from rich, but we get by.🥰 Employment has been extremely difficult for me throughout my life, and I always thought I was an absolutely terrible person because of it. I'm now learning that there were reasons for my social difficulties, and trying to forgive myself for years of struggle. Has employment been difficult for you? I'd love to hear your stories! #adhd #autism #employment #job

I was pretty skeptical of this peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but it surprised me! 😁💜 I am happy to add it to my repertoire of safe foods. I feel like I am really making progress! What do you think? ❤️ #peanutbutter #jelly #pbandj #autistic #adhd

Will Toren be able to live on his own? #autism #adhd

My dad suggested I try ghost pepper, hot sauce, because he said it was pretty mild for him. Needless to say, I did not have the same experience.😅🤷🏻💜 Do you like hot sauce, or spicy stuff? #autism #adhd #hotsauce

The struggle is real...🤦🏻‍♀️ #autism #adhd #echolalia #jet2holidays

Mama wolf here: Toren has made great strides in the last year and a half. Here, I discuss his journey with ARFID. 💕 #autistic #adhd #arfidawareness

😅🤷🏻💜 #jet2holidays #autistic #adhd

Answering questions: what is a meltdown? How would you describe it? 💜💜💜 #autism #adhd #meltdown

When Toren was around 5, I met another mom whose autistic son was 16. She saw me struggling with Toren's behaviors, & showed me videos of her son at the same age. Her son and Toren had almost identical traits, the same massive, violent meltdowns, the same type of bathroom difficulties and messes, the same speech and language troubles, etc. She gave me advice and told me to prepare for a lifetime of struggle. She told me her 16-year-old was still basically the same, with the same struggles he'd had at age 5. I remember how worried I was, as I tried to be strong and prepare myself for the future. But Toren changed. Not quickly, not all at once, and not completely. His traits have become less severe. He's begun learning to regulate meltdowns. He's beginning to learn life skills we used to think he would never have. And the woman I met? Her beautiful son is in his late 20's now, and still has the same extreme behaviors and needs. So why is this? I wish I could tell you. People are always asking what methods we used, (we tried so many things) or what diet he was on. (we tried them all.) As time has passed, we've seen others with similar situations. Some autistic people change a great deal, some change a little, while some do not. Some also regress. I don't know why. What do you think? #autism #adhd #change