How to improve your health (as an autistic person)

[@AnaMuhlethaler]

“You can’t meditate yourself out of poverty “!!! I am always amazed on how you can always say the right thing! I am so proud of being a part of this ❤️

[@Kimz282]

actually you can 😅

[@billeaton1970]

@@Kimz282 I agree entirely. Poverty mentality is (obviously) a state of mind and can be overcome.

[@belindakent2786]

Was Brilliant watching . Found niece got ADHD yesterday. So WE ARE ALL NEURODIVERGENT. BRILLIANT.

[@belindakent2786]

I couldn’t really afford Party. But was mothers 85th. Yesterday. Am trying to get Mental health too. Will take maybe 2 years Tried since November 2020. Good Luck with others trying .

[@belindakent2786]

@@billeaton1970 how.

[@sofirealmond]

the thumbnail actually made me crack up bc when i was 17 one of my shitty social workers took me to tesco to see what food i buy. at the time, i was so depressed i couldn't eat and so all the things i bought were light, but high-calorie things like snickers bars so i wouldn't have to eat much to get enough energy. i was in survival mode and just doing what i could to survive, so becoming the pinnacle of health wasn't really my top priority. i had already explained this to the shitty social worker, but she gave me a judgemental look for everything i put in my basket and DEMANDED that i buy some apples. i tried to explain that i was probably not going to end up eating them and it was a waste of money (especially with the best before date meaning i would have to keep them in the fridge and thus need to get out of bed to eat them), but she demanded i buy those apples. didn't offer to pay for them herself tho of course. just demanded i waste my own money on something i knew i wasn't gonna eat. surprising absolutely no one, i didn't eat them and my depression wasn't cured by purchasing apples because i was still in an abusive situation that she was supposed to have removed me from. i was like wow lady you really thought you did something there lmao

[@jackiemartin7276]

"Health isn't about purity or achievement, it is about feeling good in your every day life" - That's so fantastic to hear!

[@frozenborderline2109]

Hear, hear!

[@AurorasWindow]

The hardest thing for me as an autistic adhder working mother is to go to bed early but also have time alone to focus on my special interests, relax and regulate my overstimulation. Like right now, I should be sleeping but I’m on KZbin lol

[@buttercxpdraws8101]

Yep. 💯

[@msjodh88]

This is me!! Im a stay at home mom though, but just have kids around both under-overstimulating me all day. I cant quit the screen addiction, i need the alone downtime in my own world too much.

[@nonamelegend_vapor]

I’m a dad but I feel this too, there aren’t enough hours in the day to just be lol

[@chreudinegueur6367]

Exactly

[@martianpudding9522]

I had a really positive experience disclosing my diagnosis to my dentist. They added the accommodations I asked for to my file that they read before appointments so I can trust that they'll remember. Now they know to clearly explain everything they're going to do and when, and I wear sunglasses and noise canceling during the appointment. Just wearing the sunglasses actually helped a surprising amount because the lights are pretty bright.

[@ozok17]

My dentist started (a few years ago) having every patient wear sunglasses, partly also to protect from flying spit. Tangentially, don't spit in your (own) eyes, including to remove makeup or whatever, since I've heard that can be an easy way to accidentally infect them, eg with cold sores.

[@ozok17]

(er, sorry for the unsolicited PSA. oops.)

[@Eljazec]

That is such a good idea

[@samwalsh8248]

I agree!! I did this sort of for my adhd. I was extremely overstimulated going in last time so I wore my loop ear plugs, but they already offer sunglasses as a norm for all patients, and are really good about explaining things.

[@JoULove]

Oh that's a really good point! I struggle going to the dentist anyway because I don't like the forced physical proximity but sunglasses would at least help with some on the sensory stuff.

[@robynfromcanada]

"Give yourself permission to just not." This advice is so useful, because sometimes there isn't an immediate action to be taken to fix the health problem. Sometimes we're stuck on (?) for a while. And it's a self-care kind of thing to just take the weight off your own shoulders. 💜

[@ozok17]

yeah, relatedly, "Let them be wrong." it's so hard, sometimes. as in, "But, someone is Wrong, on the Internet!" sigh.

[@robynfromcanada]

@@ozok17 Yes! 💜

[@shapeofsoup]

This is so brilliantly communicated. I found everything here pretty common sense-and yet, I needed to hear it. Have you considered reaching out to TED to do a talk on some aspect of autism? I know there are a few already, but you’re just such a great communicator, and you convey such intelligent empathy towards the autistic community-I just think you could reach so many people. If you want to, of course. This channel is already a fantastic platform for your voice, so I don’t want to imply that you *should* be doing more.

[@jackiemartin7276]

+

[@MKisFeelinSpicy]

"Can that really be classed as mental illness or is it actually a legitimate mental reaction to a bad situation?" I had to share that with my friend who has been told all his life that he is "just depressed". It's so validating to hear you say this.

[@Margate2535]

This was so good, thanks for suggesting to give myself permission to rest 😭 I’m newly diagnosed ASD at age 50, and have been pushing myself for years. Now it’s time to do nothing for a while and explore my brain. Thanks again, your words are wise indeed🙏

[@joemzd]

I learned my "laziness" is not a character flaw, but the symptom of a temporary emotional change (the result of understanding alexithymia). It definitely helped me feel much less guilty about sleeping in or taking naps in the day when I feel I need to.

[@portraitoftheautist]

Sam, your work has allowed me to reassess myself as an autistic person and stop regarding myself as a failing and shameful neurotypical person and I can't thank you enough for that, j

[@elizabethf8078]

I am one of the portion of the spectrum folks who have metabolic difficulty with carbohydrates..they actually make my energy tank and make me feel weepy. Going on the Ketogenic diet did more for me than any other thing I'd tried in 40 years. It reduced a lot of my anxiety and brain fog. It's ironic.. that I crave carbs like an addict craves his drug.

[@martianpudding9522]

For me one of the most eye opening parts of diagnosis is learning that everyone else is NOT autistic, aka that other people do not experience things the same way I do, and don't intuitively understand how I feel. I think maybe that sounds negative but I think because I used to think that people had the same experience as me, I also used to think the effects they had on me was deliberate. For example, if someone was making a lot of noise and triggering my sensory issues, I would assume that everyone else would be equally bothered by it, and that the person doing it would also know that they were bothering everyone that much. Additionally, if something did bother me and I assumed everyone else felt the same way but nothing was done about it, I would assume that nothing could be done or that it wasn't allowed to ask, or someone else would have done so already. It has been incredibly freeing to realize that A) most people are not assholes who deliberately hurt others and B) I can tell people something bothers me and they will likely not have been aware and be willing to help. It definitely applies to healthcare and selfcare too, like situations where before I wouldn't have told a Healthcare provider that something bothered me because I thought it was supposed to, or in self care tasks to realize that the best way to do things for most people doesn't have to be the best way for me. One thing that I do struggle with though is that since I now realize my experience isn't necessarily the same as everyone else's, I find it really hard to tell what is and isn't normal healthwise. I'm pretty scared that some physical sensation I've had for years and thought was totally normal will turn out to actually be some serious illness or something, but I have no idea how to find that out. Like one day a doctor will tell me like "hey you know the way your body has always felt and you thought was the basic human experience? Well it's not supposed to and you're actually dying". It's pretty scary because I can't exactly verify every single sensation I have. I recently talked to my sister who has chronic pain and I was pretty startled to find I couldn't really figure out if I have that too. Like after comparing symptoms I couldn't pinpoint a yes or no and I just always assumed my body felt normal. Like how can someone not tell if they are in constant pain or not 😩

[@robynhenderson9353]

I could have written this! I’m still at the stage where I suspect I have autism, but I feel like I relate a lot to autistic experiences. It’s been a long (ongoing) journey for me, realizing that everyone does not experience what I experience. I’m currently working up the nerve to see a doctor about the chronic muscle pain I’ve been experiencing for about seven years. When it first started, I assumed it was normal. When I casually mentioned to people that I was in pain everyday, they were genuinely concerned, which freaked me out. I’ve actually been scared to hear what a doctor has to say about it, because I’m terrified it’ll mean I have to get a surgery of some kind. I usually think everything is normal until people around me express concern. I’ve gotten better at figuring out my own emotional state, but it can take me at least a month after an argument to separate my emotions from others’ emotions, much less figure out why I felt what I felt. Other people’s concern is easier to read, and often, when other people have been concerned about me, it usually means that things have gotten pretty bad. My general rule of thumb is, if I describe something in my life that I find u comfortable but average, and the person I’m talking to asks me if I’m okay, then I should at least re-evaluate.

[@martianpudding9522]

@@robynhenderson9353 it's really hard too though because people have unknowingly been gasslighting me my entire life too, because they also assumed I experienced things the way they did. So when as a kid I complained about things hurting etc people would say "come on that doesn't actually hurt" and now I feel pretty uncertain about what even qualifies as pain

[@Petlover97]

This is relatable tho, like the pain thing it’s bad, everyday, each second of everyday I can feel and it’s something and it’s irritating because when looking at what is specifically hurting and how exactly is it feeling (ex a nerve or muscle, etc)) it ends up sounding all too good on paper which then makes the doctor toss me back to psych who is still insisting there is something there) (note I now am 25 and it’s only the last what 5 years or so that I have been on/ off an antidepressant/ SSRI medicine but from 15 until 20 consistently trying meds and going back and forth with the general doctors (yes, plural because there too I have been tossed around like a hot potato like lol thx)) But going back to my point of the pain I understood everyone is in some way different and had their own feelings and perceptions but I did notice that I always somehow felt that like alien feeling because I knew that everyone else was able to “do these things/ actions and at times have these emotions but that too like I don’t thing it’s “normal” or within range of that but I insist because other people can not be like this and feel this pressure, pain, whatever and feel this debilitated where it is literally I can’t I am sorry I can’t as I am unable to but now just like stop I can’t and I am going to explode so then it’s like I start disassociating and it gets bad from there lol like I am really far away and distant, blurry I dunno it’s weird also I think because over the years as well as the meds and failed doctors and everything like all of that obviously there’s something yeah but it’s like madness it’s just going in circles but I see it’s like I have little “chapters or versions of me” lol which like hilight the points that it would be highly influenced by if I was on meds/ which one etc it’s kinda weird but this last year my learning and understanding has helped a lot dispute being off meds lol

[@loganskiwyse7823]

I find it interesting how much we put stock in the "right amount" of sleep. Or having a fixed sleep schedule. Those of us with non-typical brains do not all respond the same to the same old methods for "fixing" our sleep. Yes, sometimes physical aids help. But sometimes just letting your body tell you when it needs rest and listening regardless of what time of day or night it is works better. This applies to eating, sleeping, or any other activity. Ignoring your needs to fit in with the expected practices may compound an issue that is easily solved by just doing what you need to do when your body tells you to do so. For me this means sleeping when my brain or my body says it needs rest regardless of any other concerns. That can mean being up for a day and half with no sleep. Or sleeping most of a given 24 hour period. And it's not about "catching up" on sleep either. I function best in spurts and when the energy for that spurt wears off if I don't rest because of time of day it leads me to other health problems. If I just do what seems to come natural it results in better moods and being more productive in the times I am best able to be productive.

[@WhoAmI2YouNow]

Most neurodivergents don't 'feel' the need to sleep, eat, drink. I also could go two days without getting thirsty, but that's not healthy.. my kidneys got in trouble because of this. So yeah, sometimes we do need to listen to medical advice😅

[@loganskiwyse7823]

@@WhoAmI2YouNow I don't disagree when it comes to eating or other needs, we can ignore all too easy. I was trying to say we need to mentally check in with our bodies and do what it is telling us. sleep, eat, drink, etc. All too often we easily get caught up in what we are doing and ignore those messages.

[@geenskeen]

How do you deal with functioning in "normal" society during business hours etc?

[@loganskiwyse7823]

@@geenskeen I don't, at least I try to set things up in times I am more likely to be functional. However, some of the time I just have to do my best to adapt to them

[@garethbaus5471]

And as often as not I feel the need to sleep while at work. That would definitely be the ideal scenario, but I don't really have the luxury of schedule flexibility.

[@carlottak4496]

Worthy content as usual :) With adhd adding up to autism I find physical exercise to be good therapy. I tend to forget I have a physical body and often rely too much on my brain. But you know how problematic can be to follow the usual path to fitness. I don’t like to workout in group, I need to proceed slowly and possibly in a calm and quiet environment. Home would be the perfect place if only I could keep it tidy… strangely enough, I recently found out I prefer to go to the gym, even if it has its downsides. Looks like my autism cherishes the tidiness of a gym, lifting weights in a controlled and robotically precise way, to track the progressive overload and how the different phases of my cycle affects my performance. The burn makes me feel I am made of flesh and bones, not randomly arranged but beautifully built in a very functional way. I dived into nutrition science and got excited understanding there’s order and logic in food, timing and macros. Fat loss, which honestly has always played a main role in my life since eating was my main anxiety response, isn’t my focus anymore - while giving my body what it needs to function better is my new happy interest. Sadly, there’s people in the gym. Noisy too. But almost everybody listen privately to their music, this means you can tune-out with earplugs or over-ear noise canceling devices. I personally do not use those because I am hypervigilant. But everyone there seems to wish to be alone, which helps a lot to lower social anxiety. My main problem remains others’ grunting and puffing, male gymgoers especially seem to have a need for drama. For now, I am still able to tune them out and e enter my private bubble. Maybe one day I’ll be able to relax enough to wear earpods. Anyway being physically tired works wonders in calming the incessant internal monologue, I kind of sleep better too, which always helps. The sweat problem! Big one. It helped to wear quick-dry sport clothes. I got the cheapest one just to try since I am fussy and I discovered a new world. I still get cranky if I am sweating but not having wet fabric sticking to your skin for long is wonderful. Small improvements… The hardest part was to enter the building the first time and talk to buy membership. I masked with all my power to get through that part, and then kind of forced myself to leave the house and reach at least the locker room… telling myself I would be allowed to go back home anytime if the discomfort would have been too high. Looks like proceeding step by step helped me, and now that place is so familiar I feel like I kind of belong there. Still, I feel like trauma therapy and the auDHD diagnosis are the pillars of this recent change. It’s like a deep cloud of fog has vanished from my brain and I am slightly more in control. Still a mess! But slightly happier :) Ps. I am sorry for the bots I keep seeing in the comments, annoying like mosquitoes. Don’t stress :)

[@ellie_5276]

This was really interesting actually. I’ve always struggled with exercise as I find it so uncomfortable and get none of those happy endorphins many neurotypical people claim to experience.

[@jacqulinestille183]

Same I struggle with that too. I don’t like being sweaty, it makes my skin itch. Exercise is just leads to me feeling stiff or slightly in pain even if it’s only a small amount. And I at best just feel tired after exercise if it didn’t end up making me depressed

[@mrsjuhasz480]

‘The dr that acts as the gatekeeper’ damnnnnnn yes👏🏻👏🏻

[@hannahjoinson1177]

Thank you. Especially the point about thinking you're lazy. I spent my whole childhood and well into my 30s believing I was lazy. I look back now, and I did so much! I took on everything and didn't know when to stop and then wondered why I couldn't finish things or get them right. I realised this was wrong before I realised I was autistic, but my self diagnosis explains a lot. Oh, and ignore the critics and keep doing things your way. I've noticed this a lot on youtube- content creators get criticised for everything! You can't please everyone so just please yourself.

[@LaCafedora]

Sam! I enjoyed this video greatly, but when I reached the segement "Give yourself permission" I almost melted into tears because it makes me feel so seen. Everything you say is so recognizable in me and my life has truly been a struggle. These last few months, as I have discovered my own autism and begun to reassess my life in a new frame, have shown me that I am not the broken, useless, failure that I've always thought I was. I am now trying to accept myself on different terms, on my own terms rather than the ones that have been impose on me by people that have no idea what my experience is like. And you have been an important part of that process. Thank you so very much!

[@CatGold5047]

Accepting that I have different needs REALLY helps with work and health. I need so many breaks from work, but I also work a lot longer than most people, so I still get the same amount done (or more). I have the same attitude toward food - smaller snacks more frequently. And especially accepting that my ideal sleep schedule is 2am-10am (or at this point with kids, 12pm-8am because damn if they won't wake me up at that point). Honestly, I think that neurotypical people have a similar issue with just accepting that what society says you are supposed to do. I haven't met very many normal people in my life. There's always SOMETHING that isn't the best for them - like coffee dependence for example. They need to start their workday later, or earlier, or just have a break in between. Yoga, walking or gym aren't motivating for exercise. And on and on it goes. Thankfully, society is becoming more based on the needs of each individual rather than the overarching You Must Do This. But it's slow.

[@Questionablexfun]

Have both adhd and autism🎉Keto worked to HELP toward “reseting” my health (and weight).. i was tired all the time (still struggle with this) and my joints hurt from being a bit overweight. Doctors actually thought I had myalgic encephalomyelitis (the tired all the time “disease”). This actually worsened the symptoms of my adhd and autism believe it or not. The frustration of being trapped in your own body where you’re out of shape and struggling with all the OTHER things (housework, basic chores and things I needed to get done as a mom, my mental health etc) .. I only did keto strictly for a year while adding in a 30-60 min walk daily.. what a life changer! I inadvertently lost 60lbs which took strain off my joints and helped me not to be huffing and puffing up any stairs.. nothings a cure all but it helped ..now I’m back to a regular diet but that year of keto helped me learn moderation and what foods actually weren’t making me feel good etc. Now I can still have moderation of comfort foods I like (that aren’t good for me lol.. Mac and cheeeese yummm).. while also remembering to drink water all day long and walking to balance out the mac and cheese comfort habit lol😂 so that I don’t gain 60+ lbs from comforting my anxieties. Anyways. Yea! So that was my personal experience with keto and having adhd/autism

[@Rooster_Rachel]

I was just diagnosed with autism and adhd. I've been watching your videos for a few months and appreciate them. I really relate to you a lot, and it's amazing to hear someone who shares a similar experience and helps explain my perspective. It's nice, I don't know how else to explain it.

[@aaronrose641]

I have AuDHD and hEDS and my doctors have told me that I actually do need to drink 100 oz of water a day and 4000mg of added sodium via hydration supplements like Liquid IV. Apparently those of us bendy people are often chronically dehydrated and do need extra fluid and salt to avoid issues from autonomic dysfunction that is commonly comorbid (ex: POTS, Orthostatic Hypotension).

[@Amazon_213]

I like neurospicy- I’m slowly figuring out what my flavor is. It’s a blend of several traumas, behaviors, and neuro pathways

[@garethbaus5471]

I tend to eat the same food for long periods of time. The solution I have found was to pick a food that is reasonably close to being nutritionally complete it is generally enough to prevent deficiency.

[@MamaEvaUSA]

Another thing my family has to deal with regarding nutrition and food is allergies and intolerances. Two of us cannot eat wheat or dairy. One of us cannot eat an entire list of things including potato, tomato, apple, wheat, dairy, eggs......put that with food sensitivity issues and basically they are eating only rice. Thank you for this video! I concur with all you have said :)

[@szatanica1]

„Gyms are noisy and always have terrible music”….gods…can someone out there who runs gym can FINALLY GET THIS?????

[@sambbbb]

I would actually love to see a video on your personal nutritional practices and beliefs :) I find it fascinating to see how different people live and what works best for them.

[@Jaytee1765]

🤯🤯🤯 I am also autistic with PCOS. I removed fiber from my diet and my LIFE IS BACK. Ketovore is a good way to categorize how I eat. I would LOVE an info dump video on the subject. Especially if you could touch on eating that way while pregnant.

[@renatatuinenburg9942]

Your comments on communication with the GP is spot on! They are really gate keepers here in the Netherlands, and that makes me furious. When my daughter was finally sent to a pediatrician, the doctor blamed her (and my cooking) for her overweight, ignoring everything I told him about her and her neurodivergence. I could spend hours ranting about it.

[@empowerment.artist]

I was so sceptical to the CoPilot part, I even suspected this whole video was made to sponsor them, but I am happy I still checked it out, and as a gym phobiac this working out from home really works and I look forward to my short excercises. It is actually the first time I do strength and core outside of school and yoga! Only the matching didnt pan out at first, I had to do the quiz twice to find the right coach fir me. Thank you yo samdy sam for sharing this💕

[@jassyjass0003]

I love this! But I'd like to point out that taking melatonin can sometimes make depression symptoms worse for some people. So definitely look into it before taking it.

[@linden5165]

I've come a long, long way improving my physical health. But it's been slow, sometimes frustratingly slow at times, ups and downs, and tackling one thing at a time. Applying autistic problem-solving skills has helped a lot and learning to listen to my body and figure out what works, what doesn't and why. I've realised a lot of my exercise preferences are based in vestibular sensitivity as well as other sensory things. The window of what works may be narrower, but it is there. Small actions can make a big difference.

[@StaringCompetition]

I wish my probably neurodivergent mum would stop calling herself “lazy”. I think she’s a genius.

[@Peacefuldharma]

You are the big sister I always needed lol. Thankyou for all these videos, I’ve just been diagnosed at 37 and wow what an eye opener. Your videos have helped me accept myself and feel so at peace, finally!! You’re a legend! ❤ with love from the UK

[@leahtheanimationfan40]

Nutrition is the one I struggle with the most. Because of sensory issues, there's not a lot that I can eat. I hate meat, and I don't eat very many fruits and vegetables. I mostly eat grains, carbs, sugar, and dairy (I also love cheese). I mostly eat cereal, sandwhiches, cheese pizza, and macaroni and cheese. Pizza is actually one of the foods that makes my body feel the most strong and energetic, despite society viewing it as junk food. I've often struggled with being underweight due to not getting enough calories. I take iron and vitamin D everyday as a supplement overall, my diet seems to work for me. The problem usually comes when I'm at a social event and people judge me. My capacity for physical excercise, as well as my sleep, have both improved greatly in the last few years due to my job as an evening custodian. When I was age 9 and 10, I had leukemia and went through chemo, and throughout the years following I still couldn't do a lot of physical excercise. I slowly built up more strength and stamina overtime, but being a custodian, and having that regular excercise, and sometimes pushing myself a little bit, I'm much stronger and able to walk for long periods of time, except when I get too hot. Sleep - I'm a night owl, so having to get up at 6:30 for school everyday as a teenager was really hard. Even taking a melatonin almost every night, I could never fall asleep until after 12am. Now, going to bed at a natural time that fits my circadian rythm and not having to worry about getting up at a certain time, I get a full 8 hours of restful sleep. I still have difficulty if I've got something on my mind that I can't stop thinking about. But usually after working hard and then going to bed when I get home, I fall asleep within an hour. Mental health - I'm doing much better, and still working on it Thank you so much for this video. It was exactly what I've needed to hear for a long time ❤

[@alexba1ley]

Love this! Personally, stimulants have changed my life and I am grieving the life I could've had if I'd had access to them years ago. They have drastically improved my insomnia, anxiety, depression, executive function, and frequency of PDA injury. I still have to structure my life around my needs, but I have much more control and feel like myself for the first time in decades. Thanks for this video, and enjoy your break!!

[@MarrisaStrong]

Honestly, I'm trying to get my life together with health and my marriage and I have pmdd really bad and I feel so lost. I'm not sure how that fits into this video, but really want this video seemed to calm some of the anxiety I was feeling about.... Life. So thank you! I didn't realize I missed this video when you posted it, but I'm happy I found it now.

[@theoldaccountthatiusedtous6767]

So much of this resonates! Through therapy, I learned that my experience is real and matters, and I was able to reprocess a lot of my experiences where I thought I had to do things alone or I thought I had to work so so hard just to be allowed to participate in the world. I love how much some of the stories you and others share, resonate.

[@MerryMoss]

Thank you for making this video 💚 It took a lot to accept the fact that I was different and things were more difficult than it was for other people. I felt ashamed of the fact I was different, and embarrassed of who I was.. It took me a long time, but I've gotten closer and closer to accepting myself, exactly the way I am. And really, videos like these help a lot in making me realise there's not really so much wrong with me, but the world I live in doesn't match the way I am / we are. It's comforting. Dankjewel 😘

[@ellenglyndleyful]

🍒🎀🦄 Absolutely Brilliant! Thank You Sam. I learn easily when someone points-out stuff to look at that I had not considered. I have a huge problem with processing, it can take years for 'the penny to drop' so this video (as all the videos you do) helps me immensely.🏆🧩 You work very hard to produce these...BRAVO!🧿🪄❇ Have a great summer ❇✴⚜

[@kariannefimland1475]

Sleep is so important. And also focusing on one change at a time. :)

[@laurabaker81]

This is a great video!! I'm autistic and adhd and I also have hypermobile EDS, Binge Eating Disorder and anxiety and depression. You could have read my mind with a lot of what you said and it's so validating! Nutrition is one of my special interests too. Thank you!x

[@prf76]

Great tip about having a great relationship with your GP. I finally plucked up the courage to speak to someone at my GP surgery about my suspicions and the GP I was allocated has been amazing. Not only does she think I could have ASD, I could also have ADHD too. She’s already said this awful feeling I have that’s something’s wrong, or will go wrong, is anxiety. Feeling a lot happier already.

[@ReyOfLight]

Holy crap! This video made so many things make sense! Sleep struggles has been my whole life, I’d be awake late even as a kid (like 2am at age 2 during summer) and so called healthy foods makes me feel bad, my stomach can’t handle too much fiber so have to be very careful with whole grain and such. I also had B12 deficiency at age 24 despite eating well and taking supplements. Always had struggles with certain tastes and textures, along with what my IBS can handle and not. What I eat is usually pretty balanced but not what people would consider outright healthy (quite the opposite at times) For me it can for example be good to just go have fast food because it means I eat more vegetables with that meal, and I also need the extra salt because my Ehlers-Danlos brought with it issues with POTS. I also struggle with low appetite a lot of the time so often only eat once or twice in a day out of which one time is hopefully a cooked meal (but sometimes I settle with a bowl of cereals because I just don’t want to eat). Since figuring out a month ago that I’m autistic, I’ve thankfully managed to get a bit better sleep schedule and try to have more routines especially in the evenings, not because I have to be up at a certain time in the morning but because it’s just not really good to go to sleep when others around you wake up, and then wake up sometime in the afternoon. Swedish summer isn’t really helping me now though because it’s just not dark for very long at night, and I have sensory issues with wearing a sleep mask a lot of the time so yay me… Can’t really get blackout curtains because of how difficult they’d be to fit :/ I take a prescription medicine for my sleep, it’s really some kind of antihistamine I think, but it’s mostly used for insomnia and anxiety and it makes me stay asleep better. I have a couple of different weighted blankets as well that I use as needed, at the moment I’m using my 9kg blanket most of the time

[@nomokis5992]

For exercice with hypermobility I used Jeanne Di Bon zebra club 2 years to begin, now I could use Jessica Vaillant pilates beginner videos. Those are wonderful ressources to exercice safely and gently.

[@SolveigPolvei]

I just looove your videos. Your sense of humor, your sharp mind. Thank you so much for sharing! You’re helping me to know myself better, and being more kind to myself.

[@NyxKitsuneSan]

The food rant was lovely to hear, ty 💖

[@sarahdriedger4386]

This video is what I needed. Thank you. I can relate to many things you said. Would you consider doing a video specifically on nutrition? (I also have a special interest in nutrition) Also, would you consider doing a video specifically on women's health? I would personally find this very helpful. Again, Thanks for the video. Keep up the awesome videos!

[@rosea570]

I've just been diagnosed with autism this week. Sam, your videos have been enormously helpful and comforting over the last few months while I have been grappling with what autism means to me. Thanks for another great video. Have a restful summer! I'll be looking forward to your next post.

[@ahhhlindsanityyy]

Great advice! I especially liked points 6 and 7. Although if we're accepting anecdotal evidence, the more fibre I get, the better I feel. I seriously ♥️ fibre!

[@smileyface702]

Yeah I'm a fibre fan myself. Just goes to show we're all different and we have to listen to our own bodies. I'd guess Sam is not in the majority with her experience of fibre although I don't have the stats.

[@januarygirl4279]

Life is a journey and knowing that peace comes from mind body and environmental balance helps so much. The poverty piece is so tough. I've struggled a ton as an adult, especially married to someone who made my life unbalanced and chaotic. I've only had a chance to thrive after getting myself away from the toxic company and finding my own way in the world. Working on myself has been the very best way to a longer, happier life. I'm quirky and brainy in a nerdy way. But now I fly my adhd freak flag!! Let the right man find me instead of running in circles making myself into the perfect women (that doesn't exist). Peace is more important than acquaintances opinions of me. I'll just be me, since everyone else is taken. Be you. ✌

[@darbydelane4588]

Excellent writing; excellent speaking. You are a brilliant person, Sam!

[@wendyspiesman992]

Thank you for your videos and this one I'm particular. I too can't stand a weighted blanket, but my four cats cuddled and purring on me is very relaxing.

[@DontAssume123]

Your frankness feeds my heart. Apparently I'm blunt even when I am trying not to be.

[@jliller]

I'm thankful that, other than frequent vivid dreams and some difficulty mentally winding down, my sleep is actually pretty good. My main struggles are diet and exercise. I dislike cooking and I'm a very picky eater. I find most exercise to be very boring; there is always something else I would rather be doing that is more interesting. Yours is the second ND channel I've seen recommend CoPilot. The concept sounds great for a lot of people, but personally unappealing. Sooner or later I probably just need to break down and find either a personal trainer or an in-person workout buddy (even if it's just walking on a regular basis).

[@Valentine-xr3ic]

Self-diagnosis is completely valid.

[@ferninthehouse]

i have autism and i had no idea there was a link between that and needing methylated B vitamins. i take them and i found everything felt so much better once i started taking them

[@mickeylev6494]

this thumbnail brings me such joy

[@fenixje2000]

I am so grateful and happy that I've found your channel. I've only recently been diagnosed with autism at 29 and I've been struggling with it a lot. You're so gentle and mindful in your expressions, and just... thank you. You're making a grand positive impact on my life.

[@annam6742]

I like to think of managing my health like a management sim video game. I have to keep an eye on all the categories and make sure none are dropping to low. Thinking about it like that has made it less stressful for me

[@helenabobena]

I have to admit - I kept avoiding watching this video because I’m so used to the exact opposite information and advice thrown at me from EVERYONE else. It’s just so triggering and depressing and so so misinformed and bias! I have many many health issues related to genetics that I cannot control the progression of… I was SO freaking pleased once I clicked on this and I absolutely love your suggestions and perspective. THANK YOU. This actually motivates me to try caring about some of this again, I’ve been extra burnt out, extra crispy about health stuff. Thank you x infinity ♾️

[@Kimz282]

Oh I've just learned that sleep is crucial for good health and that autistic kids already have 50% less REMsleep than other kids :o We are already off to a bad start from the beginning..

[@MlDNlTEOWL]

You're giving me all this wonderful information, but all I can focus on is the colorful band you're wearing on your wrist. I need one!

[@Alice_Walker]

I really like the idea of copilot. I've always had much more success with exercise where someone is telling me what to do (like yoga or running with a coaching app) I've been interested in doing strength training for a while but the whole learning the exercises/counting them as I do it/focusing on the form uses a ridiculous amount of brain power for me that it puts me off.

[@melweismann]

PREACH - there is only so much we can do within systems that aren't designed for us.

[@boursitocard]

walking, cutting sugars and reducing carbs, quitting alcool and coffee did wonders to me. For me, this one is cleaving for those who havent tried it or dont know about it, but semen retention does wonders to your mental health. Best habit a man could have

[@FreshAlacrity]

Thank you! This video had to much I need to hear and it helps a lot to feel less alone as another AuDHD person with hypermobility and celiac 🎉

[@geenskeen]

The part about food almost made me cry. Very important to hear

[@ZechariahTienter-nd6dz]

Hi Sam I'm zechariah tienter I live in Texas we chatted one time briefly your live stream I am autistic I still love your videos still I'm huge fan I been listen watching for several years big fan of you love you Sam your awesome thank you dear for all these amazing videos on autism you taght me so much more on autism so thank you it means lot to me thanks Sam love your utube shows I'll keep watching by for now

[@limegreen1989]

The neverending quest of self-improvement is too real!

[@realswobby]

I'm so glad I found this channel, I'm around your age, I feel like you already inspire me a lot ❤ and your way of thinking about certain topics really fits to mine quite well

[@ferninthehouse]

i love this video. the dieting stuff doesnt just apply to autistic people too, theres so many ppl wanting to lose weight bc of diet culture and thinking they arent thin enough

[@rlee7077]

@YoSamdySam PLEASE do an info dump on PCOS & Autism & how to take fiber from your diet & thrive!!! I've been dealing with this for years 😖

[@doggingrun]

I think water intake can be more of an issue for autistic people; I know it is with me. I got kidney stones twice within the past year or so because I didn't drink enough water. I now use a smart water bottle that tells me when to drink. Issues with interoception (your body not telling you when you need to drink), or executive functioning are issues that neurodivergent people are likely to have. And I guess we'd be more likely to overdrink too.

[@neulasia]

me too. i literally reached for the water bottle after reading your comment, because it's past noon and i had not yet drank anything today. thanks for the reminder!

[@Im_Hugh_Jass]

I might be autistic

[@TheHalfmanofOz]

Thanks. Useful information presented with great insight, efficiency and humour.

[@MartKart8]

I've been vegetarian most of my life, before social media trends. Video games every day, I'm also still trying to make a game, the character I built is a cat made of wool.

[@HPNEEK]

A cat made of wool, i love the sound of that

[@MartKart8]

@@HPNEEK thanks

[@videocliplover]

Overfunctioning is me speaking to people and not being able to stop, even when I want to, unless an external for stops me. After some very desperately needed isolation over 2020 & 2021, it’s been slowly getting easier.

[@Wiz.37083]

Thank you for your videos, Samdy...I was watching one from 3 years ago (recovering)... It brought tears....

[@annaw2812]

I would love to hear all of your nutrition rants and info dumping on the topic of nutrition so please feel free to make another video on that!

[@rachelreadingart]

Thanks for everything, enjoy your Summer and break from creating too 🌸

[@NinjaCoto]

Thank you for existing

[@Bmaessg]

Yay for a video on real health free of toxic wellness culture! Thank you!

[@Lillyluvsanime]

Gender neutral for "missy/mister" that I like for others and myself: Friendo. Listen up, Friendo, you gotta get yourself together.

[@ironynoble]

THANK YOU for the comment about fiber. I have MCAS and any sort of fiber-heavy food is going to mess my stomach up. Fresh produce especially. I basically treat fresh fruits and veggies the way most ppl talk about fast food (I eat it despite knowing that I will probably regret the side effects). It makes me feel a little insane hearing fiber recommended as the cure-all across the board when I KNOW I react so poorly to it

[@angelaresendez3735]

I wish we had private dance studios for just one person so I could dance in front of the mirror 🪞 for hours. I don’t have enough space at home :/

[@nwingatechi]

Thank you for your videos. I fit hadn't been for your content I would have been able to name my experience.

[@OperationDarkside]

Disclaimer: This is just a list what helped me and might be harmful to you. I don't have an official diagnosis of ASD, only a suggestion from my therapist. The med, that helped me the most, is an ADHD stimulant. But unintuitively it helps me sleep or at least to fall asleep. I have much more control over my thoughts now, which hurt me most in idle or falling asleep situations. I had problems with violent thoughts in bed for decades, despite being (mostly) pacifistic. Actively training my brains default mode network and taking that stimulant made my days so much more pleasant. And I even take the lowest dose. More doesn't help more in this case. Weighted blanket: Best investment in decades. You might not feel it at first, but only 5min in and I can feel the stress just going away. Important part to regain control of my life. Driving: I like it... BUT only at night and nobody on the street with me. Within the last 10+ years traffic seems to have become much worse. Especially driver behavior. I live in a basically land-locked valley village. If you don't like to walk/bike steep mountains or participate with cars/trucks/tractors in traffic, you can stay at home. And despite living 10m away from nature, I still have to walk several 100 meters over 70km/h streets without a sidewalk. Elementary school children are forced to walk there... Diet: I just found out, that I'm probably allergic to gluten and a few weeks back, that I seem to lack an enzyme or something to process animal fat. I was raised on a pasta and meat rich diet. So what does this all mean? Pasta gives me the diarrea. I can't even finish the meal before I need to visit the porcelain throne. And over decades that means my a** is f*cked. Now I eat only rice and oats. And meat? In short, my bodily fluids smell bad. I found out, when I tried eating an egg a day (I thought I might lack sulfur in my diet). Even my saliva smelled bad. Even hours after the egg consumption. I cut out red meat previously and switched to fish, but now It's almost vegan. The smell is almost gone! Sound: I hung up sound absorbing matts around the house, except the kitchen and bath of course. The reduced echo is much more pleasant on the ears. Light: Milky plastic foils for windows distribute the light much more evenly in the room, which is very pleasant on the eyes. Little annoyences: Mosquito nets on all windows. Climate change removed all the frost winter used to bring here and gave us all year round insect coverage. I hate them. I used to spend hours a day hunting them down, only for my SO to open the windows for "fresh air".

[@juliadesiree2021]

I would love you to rant about nutrition!! 😀

[@Laura-yf7kc]

Amazing content as always, thank you. I definitely didn’t start crying with laughter when you told the rooster to shut up

[@ladyamalthea85]

In addition to autism, I have chronic pain and CFS/ME, which is getting worse. I live below the poverty line.

[@TheChlozie]

Same. How you holding up, friend? 💜

[@waterfall6042]

All noisy game play at school as a child... Nash! But calm walks in nature, for hours and days, meditating over sights rather than rushing by to the nearest tourist cabin to chat and drink with new friends... Bag!

[@Hi_Im_Akward]

I know that medication is the first line of treatment for mental illness and depression. But it's not the only treatment out there. I am drug resistant to medication for depression and they pushed meds on me for YEARS and the therapy that could actually help me didn't come until later when I was in such a bad place I was having suicidal thoughts. I know its not the same everywhere but I didn't get the support I needed, didn't have professionals listen to me when I told them the medication was making me worse. The system is broken, especially in the U.S.

[@tanjacristina7913]

AHA knew it was the fiber!. Always have issues when I have more than a small amount. People keep telling me its not possible and it never sat right with what I experience.

[@alexac5001]

In 3 words: spot on! Thanks!

[@butterflynerd0078]

I just had to pause several times throughout this to like internalize and absorb this. You are just so... Wise!!!

[@BRAINLEAKAGECHEMICALPLANT]

sam!!! your videos have been incredibly helpful to me,,i started suspecting i may be autistic in february and your channel has been very helpful in my research. its really helped me solidify the fact that i am (probably) autistic, thank you ^_^

[@darkangelprincess101]

I have a workout app to recommend, i bring it up every time the topic of exercise comes up, its called fiton and i absolutely love it

[@brunoboaz7656]

This was a great video, Sam ! I needed to hear this today. Glad to see that you are doing well!