autism Archives - A Way Illuminated

Feeling in Full Colour: The Bright Side of Autistic Empathy

Jun 26, 2025

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For years, I believed the myth about autistic empathy. Now I know the truth is often the opposite. This is my story of hyper-empathy and learning to embrace it.

My Autism Diagnosis Journey: How I Found Out I Was Autistic as an Adult in the UK

Jun 15, 2025

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Mark

in My Evolving Path

If you’re here, you might be asking yourself a question that, until recently, was a constant in my own mind: “Am I autistic?” It’s a profound question, and figuring out the answer can feel like navigating a maze without a map. I wanted to share my autism diagnosis journey with you, in the hope that…

Green Companions: Plants- My Autistic Special Interest

Jun 10, 2025

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Mark

in Mind, Growth & Wonder

Discover how a lifelong love for plants blossomed into a cherished autistic special interest.

The Uncharted Territory: Navigating Friendships with Late-Diagnosed Autism

Jun 6, 2025

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Mark

in My Evolving Path

Right, let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind a lot lately – something a bit tender, if I’m honest, and a path I’m still very much figuring out. Friendships. For many, they seem to blossom with a natural, almost effortless grace. But for me, and perhaps for other late-diagnosed autistic adults, the landscape…

My Autistic Fear of Being Late: A Journey with Time

Jun 2, 2025

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Mark

in My Evolving Path

For many autistic individuals, the concept of time can be a significant source of anxiety. This post explores a personal journey with a pathological fear of being late, the elaborate coping mechanisms developed (like being aggressively early), and how a late autism diagnosis brought understanding and self-compassion to this lifelong “quirk.”

My Autistic Ears: Navigating the Noise

May 29, 2025

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by

Mark

in My Evolving Path

Finding Calm with Sound Sensitivity Let’s discuss a significant topic for many on the autistic spectrum, and certainly for myself: sound. More specifically, autism sound sensitivity. It’s an experience that, until one truly understands or lives it, can remain somewhat elusive to others. For me, it has been a lifelong companion, though its intensity has…