Floating Through Emotional Storms

 1. Funky Fidgets Shop ( link ) This shop was initially created on social media during lockdown and now they have a website and a physical shop. They add new fidgets on their website every Tuesday and have the best selection of fidgets I have seen in any shop. 2. Ali's Sensory Boxes ( link ) This is a family shop created in memory of their daughter/sister, Ali. They have a range of individual items but what I like the most is they have sensory boxes varying in price where you say what your likes and dislikes are and they will create a box for you. It's nice to get a surprise in the post.

 Starting with an easy post, just sharing this video. Many people don't seem to think an autism diagnosis is important, that people can be happy with a self diagnosis and because there is no treatment for autism it's not going to change anything. I'm all for other people self diagnosing but I personally want to have a clear answer because I might be wrong. I have been told in the past that I don't have autism and when I have been referred for an assessment I have been so upset that I might have been trying to fit into a box that I don't actually fit into that I have decided not to take up a space on the waiting list. More people now are agreeing that I could have autism but unfortunately there are so many assessment referrals coming in that the GPs in my area aren't processing them. I found this video and wanted to share it because it explains a lot about why a formal diagnosis can be important. Link

 I am a 38 year old female living in Scotland. I have struggled with my mental health pretty much all of my life that I can remember and have been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder/Borderline Personality Disorder Disorder, potentially Primary Psychotic Disorder NOS and also potentially Autism. I'm going to refer to myself as having autism throughout the blog just because it is easier than saying potential autism and means I don't have to change the wording if I am ever diagnosed. I'm not entirely sure how this blog is going to turn out. The ideas I have at the moment are to share coping mechanisms, insights into how my illnesses personally affect me vs how professional opinions differ, book reviews, and a jumble of other things. I might run out of things to post about but I hope the posts are beneficial to at least one person. Where to start?