The Thrive With Aspergers Podcast

I still remember hanging out with Brazilian kids after being away in the United States the previous year. I’d forgotten a lot of the Portuguese I’d learned, and I found myself smiling, nodding my head, and trying to put phrases together. It was uncomfortable, to say the least! But I wanted to fit in with […]

Anger Management and Molding Clay All my life I’ve had an explosive temper with a hair trigger. Can anyone suggest a way – any way to keep it under wraps and on a tight leash? Anonymous, Wrong Planet I love the picture in this article. I picked it because I think of learning to manage […]

Dealing with anger.  It’s not something I used to do very well. I most often denied I was even angry. Then when my anger came out: watch out!  Unfortunately, those around me would pay the price for my verbal rants and rage. In today’s episode, I share accounts of Aspergians and Autistics who experience anger […]

Communication skills are vital to a healthy and satisfying relationship. Here’s why according to research quotes at Every Day Life Communication researcher Jonathan Pettigrew reported in a study published in 2009 in the journal “Marriage and Family Review” that couples who sent each other text messages experienced increased feelings of connecteness. Researchers unanimously agree that […]

Online learning never sleeps. It’s always there for you. You don’t need to travel, you don’t need to get dressed up.  All you need is a computer and some spare time. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 7 Online Learning Links to help you increase your life skills. Perhaps you’re new to the autism community, whether […]

Abuse – it’s a big word that’s hard to talk about.  Aspergian and autistic women can find themselves particularly vulnerable to it. Awareness is the greatest way to reduce your likelihood of becoming a victim. In this episode, Dr. Liane Holliday Wiley shares her own hard-earned experiences and lessons with us. Today’s Guest Dr. Liane […]

I want you to imagine something with me. Imagine that you are told that you need to learn to drive a car. You’re taught how to brake, how to use your mirrors, and how to stay on the road. But pretend with me that your instructor never taught you about the rules of the road. […]

What is regulation and why is it so important for kids, teens, and adults both on and off the spectrum? Key Takeaways Regarding This Zones of Regulation Podcast Episode: Neurological differences in the autism brain can impact the ability to control impulses and emotions  The Zones of Regulation Curriculum was researched and developed by Ms. Leah […]

How many spoons do you have in your drawer?   Musings of an Aspie writer, Cynthia Kim, illustrated the spoon theory of disability by talking about a silverware drawer.   Each spoon in the drawer represents your energy.   As an Aspie, you may have limited capacity relating to social communication, using language, physical activity, […]

Relationship Advice For 3 Most Frequent Marriage Challenges Eva Mendes, LMHC, NCC is a skilled and experienced couples’ counselor working with couples where one or both partners have Asperger Syndrome, and are on the Autism Spectrum (diagnosed or undiagnosed). She works with adults with Asperger Syndrome (an Autism Spectrum Disorder), High-functioning Autism, ADHD, Non-verbal Learning Disability, PDD NOS, Social […]

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” ~ Jim Rohn Blink, blink, blink. That’s you and me, staring at the wall, wondering why we have no motivation to change our lives. Are things happening to you, or […]

Have you ever had well-meaning advice from friends , family, or even professionals that didn’t seem to work? Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson,  founder of the UCLA PEERS social skills program, says that is just the problem with many social skills resources. Over the course of many years she has conducted research on what works for making […]

Have you ever wanted to kill sheep instead of counting them? I mean, people tell me to imagine sheep going by in my head, and that will help me sleep. But one night on a vacation in lower Michigan, I was so frustrated I felt I could kill those imaginary sheep! Don’t worry, I’m not […]

Sometimes we don’t know how valuable something is until we pay a big enough price. Check out the following story someone who learned how valuable sleep is. About five years ago, I fainted from exhaustion. I hit my head on my desk. I broke my cheekbone and got four stitches on my right eye. It […]

“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” –Nelson Mandela There are those among us who avoid doctors because we hate clinics.  Or those of us who would rather get sick than deal with getting injections.  Or maybe you have an upcoming surgery you’ve put off […]

Do you fear hospitals, doctors, and/or medical procedures? Here’s what one of our Thrive with Autism/Aspergers community members said one day: “Hi guys. I have to get surgery Tuesday for my foot (running injury) and I’m anxious. Any tips? I hate blood draws and IVs. Mostly I just don’t know how surgery really works, like […]

I recently wrote about the importance of suicide prevention for autistics and Aspergians. In addition to being at risk for suicidal thinking, many autistics and Aspergians deal with anxiety and depression. That’s why I recently interviewed Dr. Lee Wilkinson, author of Overcoming Anxiety and Depression On The Autism Spectrum: A Self-Help Guide Using CBT. Dr. Wilkinson […]

I am completely unable to navigate small talk.  I am great at introductions, public speaking, etc.  I just can’t seem to have a conversation that works.  Worse, I am often totally misunderstood.  Walter, Self Employed, Watchmaker (excerpted from Aspergers on the Job, by Rudy Simone). Have you ever seen ants on a wooded path?  They […]

“Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes” This proverb is traced back to the Cherokees.  It defines empathy, which can be understood as understood as the ability of a person to understand others or to “see where they are coming from.” We non-autistics need to understand what living with […]

Imagine trying to build a rocket by watching YouTube videos, talking on snapchat, or watching TV. That would be hard!  And can you imagine what that rocket would look like once you were done? In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Rachel Loftin, PhD, who’s an expert in discussing autism and sex. She joined the […]