#monotropism — Public Fediverse posts

For decades, I chased in-person belonging through choirs, church groups, and community events. I performed the expected roles while drowning in sensory overload, masking, and accessibility barriers. I have finally stopped forcing it. I am accepting that my true home has always been online.

In the mid-90s, it was the early web and BBS systems where I first found disabled peers. Then came IRC, where hours of text chat kept depression and burnout at bay. Facebook followed in 2006, though I only kept it for family. Twitter became a lifeline later on. A group of us who are blind shared our days in real time. When accessibility was dismantled and third-party apps died, I moved here to Mastodon. Finding this autistic and neurodivergent community has been a revelation.

Online spaces give me information, rhythm, and connection without the unbearable cost of physical navigation and social performance. Realising this brings grief for the years I spent striving to fit a mould that was never built for me. It also brings immense relief. This is not a retreat. It is a return to where I fit.

I am curious if anyone else has reached this same acceptance. I would love to hear how you manage the physical realities of a predominantly online life. I am figuring out how to handle exercise alongside managing meals and daily health routines. I am also very interested to hear if anyone uses body doubling to get these physical tasks done.

Please share your experiences and strategies in the replies.

#AuDHD #ActuallyAutistic #Blind #Disability #Neurodivergent #Monotropism #BodyDoubling #Accessibility #LateDiagnosed

For decades, I chased in-person belonging through choirs, church groups, and community events. I performed the expected roles while drowning in sensory overload, masking, and accessibility barriers. I have finally stopped forcing it. I am accepting that my true home has always been online.

In the mid-90s, it was the early web and BBS systems where I first found disabled peers. Then came IRC, where hours of text chat kept depression and burnout at bay. Facebook followed in 2006, though I only kept it for family. Twitter became a lifeline later on. A group of us who are blind shared our days in real time. When accessibility was dismantled and third-party apps died, I moved here to Mastodon. Finding this autistic and neurodivergent community has been a revelation.

Online spaces give me information, rhythm, and connection without the unbearable cost of physical navigation and social performance. Realising this brings grief for the years I spent striving to fit a mould that was never built for me. It also brings immense relief. This is not a retreat. It is a return to where I fit.

I am curious if anyone else has reached this same acceptance. I would love to hear how you manage the physical realities of a predominantly online life. I am figuring out how to handle exercise alongside managing meals and daily health routines. I am also very interested to hear if anyone uses body doubling to get these physical tasks done.

Please share your experiences and strategies in the replies.

#AuDHD #ActuallyAutistic #Blind #Disability #Neurodivergent #Monotropism #BodyDoubling #Accessibility #LateDiagnosed

I have been reflecting deeply on my neurodivergence and how my monotropic brain operates. I am curious to know if others in the neurodivergent community share this experience. Music is my only constant interest. Beyond that, my passions change constantly, sometimes week to week. I cycle rapidly through ancient history, writing, culture, and sociology.

I also dive deeply into aspects of my counselling studies. I spend intense periods completely absorbed in Internal Family Systems coaching, neuroaffirming practices, or positive psychology applications. My brain works like a massive burst of energy. It fires on all cylinders, diving intensely into whatever captures my attention at that moment. As long as the interest is sustained, my focus is absolute.

The moment boredom hits or the interest wanes, my brain stops dead and completely switches off. This intense processing style explains why I struggle in standard groups. Interestingly, I find many Autistic spaces often feel too slow for my processing speed, causing my brain to switch off from understimulation. I need spaces that accommodate my rapid, shifting focus. I prefer online communities as my ideal environment, perhaps with occasional in person events once I build trust.

I am also highly selective about news and politics because chronic exposure hyperactivates the amygdala. This triggers a sustained sympathetic nervous system response, flooding the brain with cortisol and causing cognitive fatigue. Engaging in popular topics is therefore difficult. I am very interested to hear if anyone else relates to this rapid cycling of intense interests or the immediate brain shut down when understimulated. Please share your experiences in the replies.

#Neurodivergent #AuDHD #ActuallyAutistic #Monotropism #MentalHealth #Psychology #Neurodiversity

I have been reflecting deeply on my neurodivergence and how my monotropic brain operates. I am curious to know if others in the neurodivergent community share this experience. Music is my only constant interest. Beyond that, my passions change constantly, sometimes week to week. I cycle rapidly through ancient history, writing, culture, and sociology.

I also dive deeply into aspects of my counselling studies. I spend intense periods completely absorbed in Internal Family Systems coaching, neuroaffirming practices, or positive psychology applications. My brain works like a massive burst of energy. It fires on all cylinders, diving intensely into whatever captures my attention at that moment. As long as the interest is sustained, my focus is absolute.

The moment boredom hits or the interest wanes, my brain stops dead and completely switches off. This intense processing style explains why I struggle in standard groups. Interestingly, I find many Autistic spaces often feel too slow for my processing speed, causing my brain to switch off from understimulation. I need spaces that accommodate my rapid, shifting focus. I prefer online communities as my ideal environment, perhaps with occasional in person events once I build trust.

I am also highly selective about news and politics because chronic exposure hyperactivates the amygdala. This triggers a sustained sympathetic nervous system response, flooding the brain with cortisol and causing cognitive fatigue. Engaging in popular topics is therefore difficult. I am very interested to hear if anyone else relates to this rapid cycling of intense interests or the immediate brain shut down when understimulated. Please share your experiences in the replies.

#Neurodivergent #AuDHD #ActuallyAutistic #Monotropism #MentalHealth #Psychology #Neurodiversity

Twenty-seven years of church attendance has brought me to a point of profound realisation regarding belonging. Sitting in services, bible studies, and fellowship groups gradually revealed how these spaces were not structured for my participation. Access was rarely offered proactively. Printed song lyrics or service sheets were frequently unavailable, and requesting them positioned me as a burden. Accommodations for sensory overload were never suggested by leadership. My presence was simply taken as evidence of coping, which meant actual needs remained unaddressed.

Participating in traditional fellowship presents insurmountable barriers when you cannot see or hear the room. Missing the subtle visual cues or auditory tone of an approaching person means conversations start without you. By the time processing catches up to the exchange, the moment has usually passed. Combining these sensory realities with an AuDHD brain running fast and making unexpected connections creates a profound disconnect. Every post-service gathering turned into an exercise in standing alone alongside others forming groups effortlessly. Paid support was always required to physically arrange interactions for me, meaning nobody was actively choosing to seek me out independently.

Theology has shifted significantly over this period. Hell is framed now as separation and distance from the Source, instead of a place of punishment. Heaven represents being drawn into unity with creation. God moves through wind, trees, water, and breath, flowing through what exists whenever I stop blocking it. Viewing the Trinity as a manifestation of the divine across different modes offers clarity. This framework survived the dismantling of earlier beliefs and provides a much more robust foundation for faith.

Christian contemplation is where my spirituality actually lives today. Writers like Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton, and Julian of Norwich have given me the language for a faith rooted in presence over performance. Rohr’s teachings on the True Self resonate deeply, stripping away the ego-driven compliance I maintained for decades. Lectio divina, centring prayer, and sitting in silence ask nothing of me except to be there. Mindfulness and slow living naturally accompany this path, offering a way to exist without the constant pressure of social demands or displaying correct reactions.

Operating monotropically means attention goes deeply into whatever subject is currently active instead of spreading across many fixed categories. Books, classical music, or self-inquiry capture my entire focus when they are open. Choosing to limit the information I consume aligns with this cognitive style. News, politics, and history are engaged with only upon necessity, not as ongoing commitments. Slow living becomes a practical requirement for staying intact, not merely an aesthetic preference.

Deciding to go to an online church has been a logical response to these compounding exclusions. An internet-based community structured around contemplative practice removes the need to stand in a noisy hall hoping someone walks over. Participation is built into the format itself, circumventing the barriers of sight, hearing, and reading a room. Structured liturgy provides stability, the welcome is genuine, and the gathering focuses on practice over inaccessible socialising.

Isolation remains a stark reality in my daily routine. Most of my in-person interaction is limited to a support worker and a therapist. Spaces designed around disability rarely align with my other interests, and general groups do not suit my pacing. Acknowledging this loneliness takes effort. Yet, putting down unsuitable expectations has brought an unexpected freedom. Accepting the actual shape of my life is allowing me, very slowly, to finally become myself.

#FaithDeconstruction #ChristianMysticism #ContemplativePrayer #ChurchAccess #DisabilityAndFaith #Accessibility #LectioDivina #CentringPrayer #Monotropism #Burnout #AuDHD #OnlineChurch #NewSeason #RichardRohr

Twenty-seven years of church attendance has brought me to a point of profound realisation regarding belonging. Sitting in services, bible studies, and fellowship groups gradually revealed how these spaces were not structured for my participation. Access was rarely offered proactively. Printed song lyrics or service sheets were frequently unavailable, and requesting them positioned me as a burden. Accommodations for sensory overload were never suggested by leadership. My presence was simply taken as evidence of coping, which meant actual needs remained unaddressed.

Participating in traditional fellowship presents insurmountable barriers when you cannot see or hear the room. Missing the subtle visual cues or auditory tone of an approaching person means conversations start without you. By the time processing catches up to the exchange, the moment has usually passed. Combining these sensory realities with an AuDHD brain running fast and making unexpected connections creates a profound disconnect. Every post-service gathering turned into an exercise in standing alone alongside others forming groups effortlessly. Paid support was always required to physically arrange interactions for me, meaning nobody was actively choosing to seek me out independently.

Theology has shifted significantly over this period. Hell is framed now as separation and distance from the Source, instead of a place of punishment. Heaven represents being drawn into unity with creation. God moves through wind, trees, water, and breath, flowing through what exists whenever I stop blocking it. Viewing the Trinity as a manifestation of the divine across different modes offers clarity. This framework survived the dismantling of earlier beliefs and provides a much more robust foundation for faith.

Christian contemplation is where my spirituality actually lives today. Writers like Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton, and Julian of Norwich have given me the language for a faith rooted in presence over performance. Rohr’s teachings on the True Self resonate deeply, stripping away the ego-driven compliance I maintained for decades. Lectio divina, centring prayer, and sitting in silence ask nothing of me except to be there. Mindfulness and slow living naturally accompany this path, offering a way to exist without the constant pressure of social demands or displaying correct reactions.

Operating monotropically means attention goes deeply into whatever subject is currently active instead of spreading across many fixed categories. Books, classical music, or self-inquiry capture my entire focus when they are open. Choosing to limit the information I consume aligns with this cognitive style. News, politics, and history are engaged with only upon necessity, not as ongoing commitments. Slow living becomes a practical requirement for staying intact, not merely an aesthetic preference.

Deciding to go to an online church has been a logical response to these compounding exclusions. An internet-based community structured around contemplative practice removes the need to stand in a noisy hall hoping someone walks over. Participation is built into the format itself, circumventing the barriers of sight, hearing, and reading a room. Structured liturgy provides stability, the welcome is genuine, and the gathering focuses on practice over inaccessible socialising.

Isolation remains a stark reality in my daily routine. Most of my in-person interaction is limited to a support worker and a therapist. Spaces designed around disability rarely align with my other interests, and general groups do not suit my pacing. Acknowledging this loneliness takes effort. Yet, putting down unsuitable expectations has brought an unexpected freedom. Accepting the actual shape of my life is allowing me, very slowly, to finally become myself.

#FaithDeconstruction #ChristianMysticism #ContemplativePrayer #ChurchAccess #DisabilityAndFaith #Accessibility #LectioDivina #CentringPrayer #Monotropism #Burnout #AuDHD #OnlineChurch #NewSeason #RichardRohr

Twenty-seven years of church attendance has brought me to a point of profound realisation regarding belonging. Sitting in services, bible studies, and fellowship groups gradually revealed how these spaces were not structured for my participation. Access was rarely offered proactively. Printed song lyrics or service sheets were frequently unavailable, and requesting them positioned me as a burden. Accommodations for sensory overload were never suggested by leadership. My presence was simply taken as evidence of coping, which meant actual needs remained unaddressed.

Participating in traditional fellowship presents insurmountable barriers when you cannot see or hear the room. Missing the subtle visual cues or auditory tone of an approaching person means conversations start without you. By the time processing catches up to the exchange, the moment has usually passed. Combining these sensory realities with an AuDHD brain running fast and making unexpected connections creates a profound disconnect. Every post-service gathering turned into an exercise in standing alone alongside others forming groups effortlessly. Paid support was always required to physically arrange interactions for me, meaning nobody was actively choosing to seek me out independently.

Theology has shifted significantly over this period. Hell is framed now as separation and distance from the Source, instead of a place of punishment. Heaven represents being drawn into unity with creation. God moves through wind, trees, water, and breath, flowing through what exists whenever I stop blocking it. Viewing the Trinity as a manifestation of the divine across different modes offers clarity. This framework survived the dismantling of earlier beliefs and provides a much more robust foundation for faith.

Christian contemplation is where my spirituality actually lives today. Writers like Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton, and Julian of Norwich have given me the language for a faith rooted in presence over performance. Rohr’s teachings on the True Self resonate deeply, stripping away the ego-driven compliance I maintained for decades. Lectio divina, centring prayer, and sitting in silence ask nothing of me except to be there. Mindfulness and slow living naturally accompany this path, offering a way to exist without the constant pressure of social demands or displaying correct reactions.

Operating monotropically means attention goes deeply into whatever subject is currently active instead of spreading across many fixed categories. Books, classical music, or self-inquiry capture my entire focus when they are open. Choosing to limit the information I consume aligns with this cognitive style. News, politics, and history are engaged with only upon necessity, not as ongoing commitments. Slow living becomes a practical requirement for staying intact, not merely an aesthetic preference.

Deciding to go to an online church has been a logical response to these compounding exclusions. An internet-based community structured around contemplative practice removes the need to stand in a noisy hall hoping someone walks over. Participation is built into the format itself, circumventing the barriers of sight, hearing, and reading a room. Structured liturgy provides stability, the welcome is genuine, and the gathering focuses on practice over inaccessible socialising.

Isolation remains a stark reality in my daily routine. Most of my in-person interaction is limited to a support worker and a therapist. Spaces designed around disability rarely align with my other interests, and general groups do not suit my pacing. Acknowledging this loneliness takes effort. Yet, putting down unsuitable expectations has brought an unexpected freedom. Accepting the actual shape of my life is allowing me, very slowly, to become myself finally.

#FaithDeconstruction #ChristianMysticism #ContemplativePrayer #ChurchAccess #DisabilityAndFaith #Accessibility #LectioDivina #CentringPrayer #Monotropism #Burnout #AuDHD #OnlineChurch #NewSeason #RichardRohr

Twenty-seven years of church attendance has brought me to a point of profound realisation regarding belonging. Sitting in services, bible studies, and fellowship groups gradually revealed how these spaces were not structured for my participation. Access was rarely offered proactively. Printed song lyrics or service sheets were frequently unavailable, and requesting them positioned me as a burden. Accommodations for sensory overload were never suggested by leadership. My presence was simply taken as evidence of coping, which meant actual needs remained unaddressed.

Participating in traditional fellowship presents insurmountable barriers when you cannot see or hear the room. Missing the subtle visual cues or auditory tone of an approaching person means conversations start without you. By the time processing catches up to the exchange, the moment has usually passed. Combining these sensory realities with an AuDHD brain running fast and making unexpected connections creates a profound disconnect. Every post-service gathering turned into an exercise in standing alone alongside others forming groups effortlessly. Paid support was always required to physically arrange interactions for me, meaning nobody was actively choosing to seek me out independently.

Theology has shifted significantly over this period. Hell is framed now as separation and distance from the Source, instead of a place of punishment. Heaven represents being drawn into unity with creation. God moves through wind, trees, water, and breath, flowing through what exists whenever I stop blocking it. Viewing the Trinity as a manifestation of the divine across different modes offers clarity. This framework survived the dismantling of earlier beliefs and provides a much more robust foundation for faith.

Christian contemplation is where my spirituality actually lives today. Writers like Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton, and Julian of Norwich have given me the language for a faith rooted in presence over performance. Rohr’s teachings on the True Self resonate deeply, stripping away the ego-driven compliance I maintained for decades. Lectio divina, centring prayer, and sitting in silence ask nothing of me except to be there. Mindfulness and slow living naturally accompany this path, offering a way to exist without the constant pressure of social demands or displaying correct reactions.

Operating monotropically means attention goes deeply into whatever subject is currently active instead of spreading across many fixed categories. Books, classical music, or self-inquiry capture my entire focus when they are open. Choosing to limit the information I consume aligns with this cognitive style. News, politics, and history are engaged with only upon necessity, not as ongoing commitments. Slow living becomes a practical requirement for staying intact, not merely an aesthetic preference.

Deciding to go to an online church has been a logical response to these compounding exclusions. An internet-based community structured around contemplative practice removes the need to stand in a noisy hall hoping someone walks over. Participation is built into the format itself, circumventing the barriers of sight, hearing, and reading a room. Structured liturgy provides stability, the welcome is genuine, and the gathering focuses on practice over inaccessible socialising.

Isolation remains a stark reality in my daily routine. Most of my in-person interaction is limited to a support worker and a therapist. Spaces designed around disability rarely align with my other interests, and general groups do not suit my pacing. Acknowledging this loneliness takes effort. Yet, putting down unsuitable expectations has brought an unexpected freedom. Accepting the actual shape of my life is allowing me, very slowly, to become myself finally.

#FaithDeconstruction #ChristianMysticism #ContemplativePrayer #ChurchAccess #DisabilityAndFaith #Accessibility #LectioDivina #CentringPrayer #Monotropism #Burnout #AuDHD #OnlineChurch #NewSeason #RichardRohr

Still struggling a LOT with #monotropism in terms of tasks/obligations.

It's very very very difficult to do anything else if something on my future to do list is very daunting for me.

It may take days or weeks (or months) to finally tackle said daunting task and meanwhile I'm wildly unlikely to be able to get much done apart from small, well spaced out chores.

It's somewhat helpful to reframe by rescheduling the task to some later date and then assuring myself it's ok to breathe between now and then—that can open up some space *sometimes*....

But even so. Daunting tasks aside, I have such a hard time with reorganizing what I need to do if I've already 'set' a task and then that task is being avoided or gets delayed... If I don't set a task then I just feel bombarded by a slew of obligations and I freeze up.

Trying to work my mind around this feels very much like trying to push my body through a solid wall. And yet the idea of setting the task down for awhile or reorganizing priorities *sounds* so simple. I'm then left with my face pressed up against that wall wondering why the fuck I can't just take a step back.

#ActuallyAutistic

Very, VERY helpful conversation!

Explaining Autistic experience: Monotropism: Fergus & Tanya educate Aucademy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEtLOGcTA0A

#FergusMurray #DrDinahMurray #autism #ASD #autistic #ActuallyAutistic #education #neurodiversity #TanyaAdkin #Monotropism #Aucademy

Very, VERY helpful conversation!

Explaining Autistic experience: Monotropism: Fergus & Tanya educate Aucademy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEtLOGcTA0A

#FergusMurray #DrDinahMurray #autism #ASD #autistic #ActuallyAutistic #education #neurodiversity #TanyaAdkin #Monotropism #Aucademy

I'm quite #monotropic. Maybe you are too?

https://dlcincluded.github.io/MQ/

#monotropism

I'm quite #monotropic. Maybe you are too?

https://dlcincluded.github.io/MQ/

#monotropism

I also talked about monotropism; the distinctive depth and narrowness of autistic attention.

The tendency to go very deep, to struggle with switching, to get overwhelmed by competing demands - and to experience the world with such a particular intensity.

Again: not just ‘life is hard’, but a very specific way of processing and experiencing.

#Monotropism #Autism #AutismResearch

I also talked about monotropism; the distinctive depth and narrowness of autistic attention.

The tendency to go very deep, to struggle with switching, to get overwhelmed by competing demands - and to experience the world with such a particular intensity.

Again: not just ‘life is hard’, but a very specific way of processing and experiencing.

#Monotropism #Autism #AutismResearch

#TIL about #monotropism

"One of the positive aspects of being monotropic is the capacity to enter a ‘flow state’ – a term used to describe deep immersion in an activity, heightened focus, creativity and satisfaction.

For Autistic individuals, engaging in activities aligned with their special interests and passions can lead to such flow states, contributing to wellbeing and a sense of fulfilment."

https://www.autism.org.uk/learn/knowledge-hub/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism

(1/3)

@autistics

#TIL about #monotropism

"One of the positive aspects of being monotropic is the capacity to enter a ‘flow state’ – a term used to describe deep immersion in an activity, heightened focus, creativity and satisfaction.

For Autistic individuals, engaging in activities aligned with their special interests and passions can lead to such flow states, contributing to wellbeing and a sense of fulfilment."

https://www.autism.org.uk/learn/knowledge-hub/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism

(1/3)

@autistics

klebriger Fokus

Und wieder sitze ich meiner Therapeutin gegenüber und esse. Es ist 12 Uhr, wir wollen arbeiten, mein Treibstofftank ist leer.
Ich habs gewusst, ich hatte einen Timer und ein safe food dabei und hab’s trotzdem nicht gemacht. Mein Fokus hat noch an einer Aufgabe geklebt, die ich unterbrechen musste, um zu ihrer Praxis zu laufen. Der Timer ist an mir vorbeigeflogen.

https://einblogvonvielen.org/klebriger-fokus/

#Blog #Autismus #kPTBS #Monotropism #Behinderung

klebriger Fokus

Und wieder sitze ich meiner Therapeutin gegenüber und esse. Es ist 12 Uhr, wir wollen arbeiten, mein Treibstofftank ist leer.
Ich habs gewusst, ich hatte einen Timer und ein safe food dabei und hab’s trotzdem nicht gemacht. Mein Fokus hat noch an einer Aufgabe geklebt, die ich unterbrechen musste, um zu ihrer Praxis zu laufen. Der Timer ist an mir vorbeigeflogen.

https://einblogvonvielen.org/klebriger-fokus/

#Blog #Autismus #kPTBS #Monotropism #Behinderung

In my latest article, I explore how monotropism creates a vertical temporality. This concept bridges quantum physics and Jung's Spirit of the Depths. It represents a form of existence that functions elsewhere, far from the logic of the clock.
Read the full piece here: https://medium.com/@christian.gajewski/when-time-flows-elsewhere-autistic-life-between-quantum-and-hyperfocus-b66e7c8f946e

#AuDHD #Neurodiversity #Monotropism #Autism #actuallyautistic #Psychology #psychoanalysis

In my latest article, I explore how monotropism creates a vertical temporality. This concept bridges quantum physics and Jung's Spirit of the Depths. It represents a form of existence that functions elsewhere, far from the logic of the clock.
Read the full piece here: https://medium.com/@christian.gajewski/when-time-flows-elsewhere-autistic-life-between-quantum-and-hyperfocus-b66e7c8f946e

#AuDHD #Neurodiversity #Monotropism #Autism #actuallyautistic #Psychology #psychoanalysis

Ah, #ADHD and Monotropism—a riveting tale of endless explanations and updates, delivered in every language imaginable except the one that explains why this article even exists. 🥱🔍 Spoiler alert: If you were hoping for practical advice, you'll find more #clarity in a bowl of alphabet soup. 🍜📚
https://monotropism.org/adhd/ #Monotropism #AlphabetSoup #PracticalAdvice #HackerNews #ngated

Ah, #ADHD and Monotropism—a riveting tale of endless explanations and updates, delivered in every language imaginable except the one that explains why this article even exists. 🥱🔍 Spoiler alert: If you were hoping for practical advice, you'll find more #clarity in a bowl of alphabet soup. 🍜📚
https://monotropism.org/adhd/ #Monotropism #AlphabetSoup #PracticalAdvice #HackerNews #ngated

ADHD and Monotropism (2023)

https://monotropism.org/adhd/

#HackerNews #ADHD #Monotropism #Neurodiversity #MentalHealth #2023

ADHD and Monotropism (2023)

https://monotropism.org/adhd/

#HackerNews #ADHD #Monotropism #Neurodiversity #MentalHealth #2023

Let me Hyperfixate That For You: Fergus Murray, Monotropism, And “Weird Pride”

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://thinkingautismguide.com/2025/10/let-me-hyperfixate-that-for-you-fergus-murray-monotropism-and-weird-pride.html

✨ What Are Glimmers? ✨
Glimmers are small, powerful moments of Autistic joy that emerge when we’re deeply immersed in what matters to us. 🌱 Discover how monotropism & flow create space for joy in an overwhelming world. 💫 #AutisticJoy #monotropism #Glimmers #ADHD #AuDHD

https://autisticrealms.com/glimmers-autistic-joy-and-monotropism/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

✨ What Are Glimmers? ✨
Glimmers are small, powerful moments of Autistic joy that emerge when we’re deeply immersed in what matters to us. 🌱 Discover how monotropism & flow create space for joy in an overwhelming world. 💫 #AutisticJoy #monotropism #Glimmers #ADHD #AuDHD

https://autisticrealms.com/glimmers-autistic-joy-and-monotropism/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Pulled my first screenprint last night

Woke up at 7 am THINKING ABOUT PAINT

#Monotropism

Starre unterscheiden

Es gibt an meinem autistischen und komplex traumatisiertem Er.Leben etwas, das im Konfliktfall oft falsch verstanden oder eingeordnet wird: Meine autistische Trägheit. Und meine traumabedingte (Angst)Starre.

Was beide gemeinsam haben, ist die relative Starre.

https://einblogvonvielen.org/starre-unterscheiden/

#Blog #Autismus #Trauma #kPTBS #Monotropism

Map of Monotropic Experiences

Monotropism seeks to explain autism in terms of attention distribution and interests. 

OSF Preprints | Development and Validation of a Novel Self-Report Measure of Monotropism in Autistic and Non-Autistic People: The Monotropism Questionnaire

This map highlights 20 common aspects of monotropic experience.

How many do you experience?

Created by Helen Edgar of Autistic Realms in collaboration with Stimpunks.

Inspired by the fabulous Map of Procrastination by Gemma Correll, I have created a map of monotropic experiences that reflects the main issues that impact my own life.

Curious to know what you would add or take away from this if you are Autistic/ADHD/AuDHD and resonate with this theory.

–Helen Edgar

License: “Map of Monotropic Experiences” by Helen Edgar is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Table of Contents

• Areas of the Map
• Learn More in Our Glossary
• What is Monotropism?

Areas of the Map

1. Attention Tunnels
2. Penguin Pebbling Cove of Friendship
3. Tendril Theory (@EisforErin)
4. Mountains of Ruminating Thoughts
5. Cyclones of Unmet Needs
6. Rabbit Holes of Research
7. Infodump Canyon
8. Rhizomatic Communities
9. River of Monotropic Flow States
10. Campsite of Cavendish Spaces
11. Meerkat Mounds (Gray-Hammond & Adkin)
12. Riverbanks of Monotropic Time
13. Shark Infested Waters of Neuronormativity, Behaviourism & Double Empathy Problems (Milton, 2012)
14. Beach of Body Doubling
15. Burnout Whirlpools
16. Panic Hills of Low-Object Permanence
17. Forest of Joy Awe and Wonder
18. Lake of Limerence
19. Tides of the Sensory Sea
20. Sudden Storms of Unexpected Events

Learn More in Our Glossary

• Attention Tunnels – Entering flow states – or attention tunnels – is a necessary coping strategy for many of us. Flow states are the pinnacle of intrinsic motivation. (Murray)
• Penguin Pebbling – “Penguin pebbling” is a little exchange between two people to show that they care and want to build a meaningful connection. (Edgar)
• Tendril Theory – When I’m focused on something, my mind sends out a million tendrils of thought, expands into all of the thoughts & feelings. When I need to switch tasks, I must retract all of the tendrils of my mind. This takes some time. (@EisforErin)
• Rumination – When your thoughts are all swirly and you just keep chewing on the same thought over and over and you can’t stop thinking about it and it’s distracting you and sometimes even putting you in a really bad mood or making you irritable. (Chipura)
• Unmet Needs – Mismatch between the areas we actually receive support, compared to the areas we would ideally like support. (Cassidy, et al)
• Rabbit Hole – “Down the rabbit hole” is an English-language idiom or trope which refers to getting deep into something, or ending up somewhere strange. (Wikipedia)
• Infodumping – Talking a lot about a topic in great detail.
• Autistic Rhizome – A growing and evolving network of Autistic communities with no hierarchy or dependence on anothers existence. (Edgar)
• Flow States – Entering flow states – or attention tunnels – is a necessary coping strategy for many of us. Flow states are the pinnacle of intrinsic motivation. (Murray)
• Cavendish Space – Psychologically and sensory safe spaces suited to zone work, flow states, intermittent collaboration, and collaborative niche construction. (Boren)
• Meerkat Mode – Heightened state of vigilance and arousal that involves constantly looking for danger and threat. It is more than hyper-arousal, it is an overwhelmed monotropic person desperately looking for a hook into a monotropic flow-state. (Adkin)
• Monotropic Time – When absorbed in our special interests or passions it can feel like entering a portal. Normal time can feel like it is dissolving, the outside world may feel like it is melting away. This can be really rejuvenating for the sensory system and help to recharge the bodymind. (Edgar)
• Neuronormativity – Neurormativity is a set of norms, standards, expectations and ideals that centre a particular way of functioning as the right way to function. It is the assumption that there is a correct way to exist in this world; a correct way to think, feel, communicate, play, behave and more. (Wise)
• Behaviourism – Behaviorism is a dehumanizing mechanism of learning that reduces human beings to simple inputs and outputs. There is an ever-growing body of research suggesting that behaviorism is not only harmful to how we learn, but is also oppressive, ableist, and racist. (McNutt)
• Double Empathy Problem – The ‘double empathy problem’ refers to the mutual incomprehension that occurs between people of different dispositional outlooks and personal conceptual understandings when attempts are made to communicate meaning. (Milton)
• Body Doubling – A “body double” is a person or even pet who is present with us while we work. This provides a gentle form of accountability — their presence serves as a reminder of what we’re supposed to be doing so we’re less likely to get distracted. (McCabe)
• Burnout – Autistic burnout is a state of physical and mental fatigue, heightened stress, and diminished capacity to manage life skills, sensory input, and/or social interactions, which comes from years of being severely overtaxed by the strain of trying to live up to demands that are out of sync with our needs. (Raymaker)
• Object Permanence – Autistic children have difficulties with their understanding of: what’s here, what’s now, what is permanent, and so on. (Lawson)
• Autistic Joy – Autistic joy is one of our favorite things about being autistic. It can be intense as a meltdown, but filled with overwhelming happiness and excitement. When we experience joy, we feel the excited vibrations throughout our bodies. To release the energy, we do a “happy stim.” We will jump up and down, excitedly flap our hands, sometimes even dance. (Blackwater)
• Limerence – Limerence is a state of involuntary obsession with another person. The experience of limerence is different from love or lust in that it is based on the uncertainty that the person you desire also desires you. (Psychology Today)
• Sensory Experiences – Neurodivergent people are hypersensitive to mindset and environment due to a greater number of neuronal connections. They have both a higher risk for trauma and a large capacity for sensing safety. (Elisabeth)
• Unexpected Events – If an autistic person is pulled out of monotropic flow too quickly, it causes our sensory systems to dysregulate. This in turn triggers us into emotional dysregulation, and we quickly find ourselves in a state ranging from uncomfortable, to grumpy, to angry, or even triggered into a meltdown or a shutdown. (Rose)

What is Monotropism?

Monotropism is a theory of autism developed by autistic people, initially by Dinah Murray and Wenn Lawson.

Read about explanations and applications of the theory, its history, and what’s happening now.

Monotropic minds tend to have their attention pulled more strongly towards a smaller number of interests at any given time, leaving fewer resources for other processes. We argue that this can explain nearly all of the features commonly associated with autism, directly or indirectly. However, you do not need to accept it as a general theory of autism in order for it to be a useful description of common autistic experiences and how to work with them.

If we are right, then monotropism is one of the key ideas required for making sense of autism, along with the double empathy problem and neurodiversity. Monotropism makes sense of many autistic experiences at the individual level. The double empathy problem explains the misunderstandings that occur between people who process the world differently, often mistaken for a lack of empathy on the autistic side. Neurodiversity describes the place of autistic people and other ‘neurominorities’ in society.

Monotropism – the mind as an interest system

#attentionTunnels #behaviorism #bodyDoubling #burnout #cavendishSpace #flow #infodump #limerence #monotropicTime #monotropism #neuronormativity #penguinPebbling #rabbitholing #rumination #sensoryProcessing #tendrilTheory #unmetNeeds

Map of Monotropic Experiences

Monotropism seeks to explain autism in terms of attention distribution and interests. 

OSF Preprints | Development and Validation of a Novel Self-Report Measure of Monotropism in Autistic and Non-Autistic People: The Monotropism Questionnaire

This map highlights 20 common aspects of monotropic experience.

How many do you experience?

Created by Helen Edgar of Autistic Realms in collaboration with Stimpunks.

Inspired by the fabulous Map of Procrastination by Gemma Correll, I have created a map of monotropic experiences that reflects the main issues that impact my own life.

Curious to know what you would add or take away from this if you are Autistic/ADHD/AuDHD and resonate with this theory.

–Helen Edgar

License: “Map of Monotropic Experiences” by Helen Edgar is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Sticker and Poster

The map is available as a sticker and a poster in our merch store.

The map is available as a digital download in our virtual store if you’d like to print it for yourself. A training presentation to accompany the map is also available. Payment is optional but appreciated.

Table of Contents

• Areas of the Map
• Vocabulary of the Map
• Difficulties of Neuronormative Domination
• Flow States
• Stuck States
• Socializing and the Importance of Environment
• Using the Map
• What is Monotropism?
• Training

Areas of the Map

1. Attention Tunnels
2. Penguin Pebbling Cove of Friendship
3. Tendril Theory (@EisforErin)
4. Mountains of Ruminating Thoughts
5. Cyclones of Unmet Needs
6. Rabbit Holes of Research
7. Infodump Canyon
8. Rhizomatic Communities
9. River of Monotropic Flow States
10. Campsite of Cavendish Spaces
11. Meerkat Mounds (Gray-Hammond & Adkin)
12. Riverbanks of Monotropic Time
13. Shark Infested Waters of Neuronormativity, Behaviourism & Double Empathy Problems (Milton, 2012)
14. Beach of Body Doubling
15. Burnout Whirlpools
16. Panic Hills of Low-Object Permanence
17. Forest of Joy Awe and Wonder
18. Lake of Limerence
19. Tides of the Sensory Sea
20. Sudden Storms of Unexpected Events

Vocabulary of the Map

• Attention Tunnels – Entering flow states – or attention tunnels – is a necessary coping strategy for many of us. Flow states are the pinnacle of intrinsic motivation. (Murray)
• Penguin Pebbling – “Penguin pebbling” is a little exchange between two people to show that they care and want to build a meaningful connection. (Edgar)
• Tendril Theory – When I’m focused on something, my mind sends out a million tendrils of thought, expands into all of the thoughts & feelings. When I need to switch tasks, I must retract all of the tendrils of my mind. This takes some time. (@EisforErin)
• Rumination – When your thoughts are all swirly and you just keep chewing on the same thought over and over and you can’t stop thinking about it and it’s distracting you and sometimes even putting you in a really bad mood or making you irritable. (Chipura)
• Unmet Needs – Mismatch between the areas we actually receive support, compared to the areas we would ideally like support. (Cassidy, et al)
• Rabbit Hole – “Down the rabbit hole” is an English-language idiom or trope which refers to getting deep into something, or ending up somewhere strange. (Wikipedia)
• Infodumping – Talking a lot about a topic in great detail.
• Autistic Rhizome – A growing and evolving network of Autistic communities with no hierarchy or dependence on anothers existence. (Edgar)
• Flow States – Entering flow states – or attention tunnels – is a necessary coping strategy for many of us. Flow states are the pinnacle of intrinsic motivation. (Murray)
• Cavendish Space – Psychologically and sensory safe spaces suited to zone work, flow states, intermittent collaboration, and collaborative niche construction. (Boren)
• Meerkat Mode – Heightened state of vigilance and arousal that involves constantly looking for danger and threat. It is more than hyper-arousal, it is an overwhelmed monotropic person desperately looking for a hook into a monotropic flow-state. (Adkin)
• Monotropic Time – When absorbed in our special interests or passions it can feel like entering a portal. Normal time can feel like it is dissolving, the outside world may feel like it is melting away. This can be really rejuvenating for the sensory system and help to recharge the bodymind. (Edgar)
• Neuronormativity – Neurormativity is a set of norms, standards, expectations and ideals that centre a particular way of functioning as the right way to function. It is the assumption that there is a correct way to exist in this world; a correct way to think, feel, communicate, play, behave and more. (Wise)
• Behaviourism – Behaviorism is a dehumanizing mechanism of learning that reduces human beings to simple inputs and outputs. There is an ever-growing body of research suggesting that behaviorism is not only harmful to how we learn, but is also oppressive, ableist, and racist. (McNutt)
• Double Empathy Problem – The ‘double empathy problem’ refers to the mutual incomprehension that occurs between people of different dispositional outlooks and personal conceptual understandings when attempts are made to communicate meaning. (Milton)
• Body Doubling – A “body double” is a person or even pet who is present with us while we work. This provides a gentle form of accountability — their presence serves as a reminder of what we’re supposed to be doing so we’re less likely to get distracted. (McCabe)
• Burnout – Autistic burnout is a state of physical and mental fatigue, heightened stress, and diminished capacity to manage life skills, sensory input, and/or social interactions, which comes from years of being severely overtaxed by the strain of trying to live up to demands that are out of sync with our needs. (Raymaker)
• Object Permanence – Autistic children have difficulties with their understanding of: what’s here, what’s now, what is permanent, and so on. (Lawson)
• Autistic Joy – Autistic joy is one of our favorite things about being autistic. It can be intense as a meltdown, but filled with overwhelming happiness and excitement. When we experience joy, we feel the excited vibrations throughout our bodies. To release the energy, we do a “happy stim.” We will jump up and down, excitedly flap our hands, sometimes even dance. (Blackwater)
• Limerence – Limerence is a state of involuntary obsession with another person. The experience of limerence is different from love or lust in that it is based on the uncertainty that the person you desire also desires you. (Psychology Today)
• Sensory Experiences – Neurodivergent people are hypersensitive to mindset and environment due to a greater number of neuronal connections. They have both a higher risk for trauma and a large capacity for sensing safety. (Elisabeth)
• Unexpected Events – If an autistic person is pulled out of monotropic flow too quickly, it causes our sensory systems to dysregulate. This in turn triggers us into emotional dysregulation, and we quickly find ourselves in a state ranging from uncomfortable, to grumpy, to angry, or even triggered into a meltdown or a shutdown. (Rose)

Difficulties of Neuronormative Domination

There are many things that impact your ability to succeed in life and that affect your well-being if you are Autistic. This is due to the fact that the world is predominantly set up for the neuromajority of people, not the minority of Autistic/ADHD or other neurodivergent, disabled or marginalised groups. Historically, this has led to Autism research mostly being carried out by non-Autistic people with the aim of trying to fix Autistic people, to make them fit into neurotypical ways of being and to appear more ‘normal’ in society. As Ryan Boren said during a recent Stimpunks discussion, “Neuronormative domination is a public health crisis’, (Boren, 2025). We need to reframe our thinking and practice to ensure we are neurodiversity-affirming so that everyone can succeed and so that no one is left behind or stuck at the edges of society without support.

Outdated and inaccurate research influenced by non-Autistic perspectives has had harmful consequences for Autistic people. Viewing Autism through a deficit lens has led to a denial of autonomy and human rights, as Autistic individuals are perceived as abnormal and in need of correction. This has been reflected by the Shark-Infested Waters of Neuronormativity on the map. This water permeates all of society and seeps through the cracks, so people may not even notice its harm; yet it seeps through and affects families, relationships, work, education, health and social care settings.

We need to move away from deficit-based views of Autism and instead embrace neuro-affirming theories led by Autistic people such as the theory of Monotropism. By embracing neurodiversity and validating the lived experiences of Autistic people and listening to stories shared in community spaces, we can create an ecology of care and equity that supports everyone so we all have a chance to thrive.

Flow States

Monotropism is a neuro-affirming theory of Autism. Everyone benefits from flow states, but for Autistic people, flow is even more important. Everyone has a certain amount of energy and capacity to get through their days. For monotropic people (Autistic/ ADHD), their energy and attention resources are more focused on fewer things at any one time and flow states are essential to help you get through the day and balance your mind and body. Being engaged in a flow state if you are monotropic can feel like your energy is being restored.

We need to embrace flow states and our authentic Autistic identity. This will enable the river of monotropism to run through society, so Autistic people can thrive and not feel like they are constantly trying to swim upstream against the tide.

Really getting to know young monotropic people’s passions and centring their learning around their interests can be hugely beneficial. It enables greater academic progress and supports their bodymind, communication skills and sensory system. 

A happy monotropic bodymind = a happy flow state!

Sharing joy about your interests as a monotropic person is more than just sharing your hobby with someone; it can create deeper connections, which also allows your sensory system to become more regulated. A happy mind in a flow state generally means a happier body, and vice versa! Interest-led groups have been shown to be really beneficial for many Autistic people (Wood, 2018)

Stuck States

Being a monotropic person in a world that is designed for the benefit of the majority of polytropic people is exhausting. If you can’t access safe spaces, engage in your interests and feel connected, then you are more likely to enter a stuck state. 

If you are in a stuck state, it will affect your well-being. A stuck state affects everything, from how you experience and are able to understand and interpret your sensory needs (including interoception) to how well you can function and live the life you want. Stuck states are states of inertia, unable to start or may be unable to stop. You may feel trapped in a constant loop of ruminating thoughts.

Socializing and the Importance of Environment

By making changes to the environment in schools, workplaces, and other settings and providing opportunities that honour authentic ways Autistic people communicate and adaptations that may need to be in place to meet sensory needs it will benefit everyone. 

Embracing neurodiversity means embracing and validating the lived experience of everyone, including Autistic/ ADHD and other marginalised people. Enabling flow states and providing an environment where everyone’s well-being is supported will help whole communities to thrive. We need to listen to Autistic/ ADHD people and create a sense of pride around monotropic experiences.

Using the Map

• Where are you on the map?
• Where do you want to be?
• How can you get there?
• What support will you need?
• What is your biggest hurdle ?

What is Monotropism?

Monotropism is a theory of autism developed by autistic people, initially by Dinah Murray and Wenn Lawson.

Read about explanations and applications of the theory, its history, and what’s happening now.

Monotropic minds tend to have their attention pulled more strongly towards a smaller number of interests at any given time, leaving fewer resources for other processes. We argue that this can explain nearly all of the features commonly associated with autism, directly or indirectly. However, you do not need to accept it as a general theory of autism in order for it to be a useful description of common autistic experiences and how to work with them.

If we are right, then monotropism is one of the key ideas required for making sense of autism, along with the double empathy problem and neurodiversity. Monotropism makes sense of many autistic experiences at the individual level. The double empathy problem explains the misunderstandings that occur between people who process the world differently, often mistaken for a lack of empathy on the autistic side. Neurodiversity describes the place of autistic people and other ‘neurominorities’ in society.

Monotropism – the mind as an interest system

https://youtu.be/qUFDAevkd3E?si=ngjxiXDFn2E-v92J

Training

Our training builds on the Map of Monotropic Experiences to help reframe how we understand ourselves and Autistic people, not through the deficit-focused lens of traditional autism research, but through lived experience and Autistic voices.

Our open source training offers a radical, affirming reframe of Autism, grounded in the theory of monotropism — a way of understanding the deep, focused attention patterns common among Autistic and ADHD individuals.

Rather than seeing Autistic traits as deficits, monotropism recognises our monotropic “interest-based nervous system” as a natural and meaningful way of engaging with the world.

At the heart of our work is the importance of embracing authentic Autistic identity, not as something broken or needing correction, but as a valuable and vibrant way of being. Building strong community connections and validating lived experiences are central to this journey.

You’ll Learn To:

✅ Understand the theory of monotropism and the importance of flow
✅ Recognise how environments can create “stuck states”
✅ Explore the detrimental impact of neuronormative domination on Autistic well-being
✅ Create flow-supportive environments where ALL minds can thrive
✅ Understand intersectionality and the Double Empathy Problem for deeper inclusion
✅ Celebrate authentic Autistic identity and the strength of community storytelling and shared experiences

Perfect for: schools, healthcare settings, workplaces, and community networks.
A creative tool for reflection, connection, and meaningful change.

Timing and Preparation: The training content is approximately 4,000 words, designed to cover around 45 minutes of presentation time. Delivered live as a workshop with space for discussion and Q&A, it typically runs for 1-2 hours and can be expanded into a full-day session if preferred.

#attentionTunnels #behaviorism #bodyDoubling #burnout #cavendishSpace #flow #infodump #limerence #monotropicTime #monotropism #neuronormativity #penguinPebbling #rabbitholing #rumination #sensoryProcessing #tendrilTheory #unmetNeeds

🌟 Monotropism, ADHD & continence 🌟

Many #neurodivergent people find it hard to initiate the act of going to the loo, esp if in a nice flow state concentrating on something else.

The prospect of, and then the actual boredom of being on the loo can be difficult for some.

These barriers, separately or combined can sometimes result in incontinence.

I'd be interested to hear any strategies you use to help tackle these issues, if/when they become a problem.
_
#AskingAutistics #ADHD #Monotropism #AskingADHD #OccupationalTherapy #Continence

@[email protected] oh... I forgot that it's probably a good idea to stack #introductions with hashtags!

So I'm #ActuallyAutistic, a proponent of #monotropism, a lover of #linguistics and the science of #perception, as well as #physics and #chemistry (which I teach for a living). I'm very interested in #ForestSchool and #selfDirectedEducation, and just #education in general.

My politics are probably best described as #ecosocialist (I'm a @ScottishGreens member, but I worry sometimes about some of the things associated with the wider Green movement).

I also love #tea and #veganFood, and may or may not post about these from time to time. I certainly used to.

@[email protected] oh... I forgot that it's probably a good idea to stack #introductions with hashtags!

So I'm #ActuallyAutistic, a proponent of #monotropism, a lover of #linguistics and the science of #perception, as well as #physics and #chemistry (which I teach for a living). I'm very interested in #ForestSchool and #selfDirectedEducation, and just #education in general.

My politics are probably best described as #ecosocialist (I'm a @ScottishGreens member, but I worry sometimes about some of the things associated with the wider Green movement).

I also love #tea and #veganFood, and may or may not post about these from time to time. I certainly used to.