What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic: Unpuzzling a Life on the Autism Spectrum

For the autist:So relaxing to see who I am in print.For the rest of the world:This is what we are like. These are the things we (usually) need from you. This is what we are more likely to be thinking (although it may not show on the outside).

This felt like sitting down with her and just listening to her tell her story. Her tone throughout is warm and kind, she makes everything easy to understand and is never condescending.This would be a good one I think to give someone who wants to understand their loved ones who don't understand and also for those seeking to learn more from other autistic people.I saw and recognized alot of myself in this one... some chapters more especially.We don't have all the same experiences but there's much in common and to think about.Autistic people don't all have the same experience and nothing wrong with that. We're all beautiful Chaos in our own way :).It makes you feel less alone when you discover there's a community out there that you can tap into for questions, friendship, and support.Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I'd been diagnosed young... would I have turned out any different?Would I change anything to have known sooner?Maybe as an adult, I would have loved to know so I could put everything into words and understand myself better .I don't think my school would have handled autistic kids very well.I would recommend giving this one a try and keep an open mind:).Side note: I want to get a tattoo with the phrases he mentioned "NeuroBeautiful" it's a wonderful way to look at things.Don't be ashamed of your uniqueness, embrace it and be your most awesome self <3.

I missed out of so much of my youth (I'm 38 now) and for many years I have been trying to figure out what is "wrong" with me. Only in the last few years did I suspect Autism and thanks to Annie's efforts, I was able to put the puzzle together and seek an official diagnosis.I was able to relate to the author's painful experiences so much so that it was difficult to finish the book.One thing that would have made the book better would be a discussion about the possible causes of Autism (though controversial) in children and the potential link to exposure to certain environmental toxins...Thank you Annie!

Another interesting look inside someone else's head. This was an easy read and the author is likeable and relatable. I enjoyed it .

Whether you think you know autistic people or feel you have autistic traits, this is an informative, engaging read. An autistic friend shared the link for the book, and I read it to understand her better - I'm glad I did.The writing style is informative, with a hint of a desperate plea underneath to be understood:'It’s as if every form of input has a volume knob, and ours are all the way up by default—so we turn some down to compensate, but can’t control which ones. And here’s what creates the variety: Different people filter out different kinds of information. Then, what we don’t filter out becomes our focus. It’s comforting, and often necessary, to drown out the noise by turning all of our attention to one thing at a time, which has been called “Monotropism.”With such intense focus, we often miss clues about what will happen next in our environment and interactions. Thus, a lot of autistic distress comes from living in a state of constant surprise. This is one application of “Predictive Coding Theory,” also known as “Predictive Processing Theory.” 'Well written, I appreciate this from the psychological perspective as well as helping me understand others.

A must read for anyone wanting to understand either their own neurodiversity or their loved ones. Beautifully candid and informative.

Annie writes in a way that draws you in and makes you feel like you’re right there with her, experiencing everything she is experiencing.And what she is experiencing is autism, a diagnosis I would have never given myself in a million years, but have recently realized is 100% me.Her view of the world from inside out is exactly what I needed to read and I love how she covered autism from so many angles (education, relationships, family, misunderstandings, quirks, and especially its beauty).Thank you Annie for writing in a way that actively included me and made me not only more aware of why I act the way I do, but more proud to admit it!

I learned more about my own internals. I strongly recommend to parents or teachers of those living on thr spectrum.

Powerful, affirming, clear! It felt like reading about myself with the fog cleared away. Recommend for everyone who wants to know how beautiful their unique brain is.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book. It describes so accurately but in a very heartwarming way what us autistic women have to deal with every single day, with our social interactions, our schedules/habits, our emotions, our "neurodivergent quirks" and so on. I related to a lot of what the author said and have started to follow some of the advice she gives in regards to how she copes with different aspects of her autism. As a woman who was recently diagnosed now in my adulthood I don't feel so lonely or weird now. Now I know there's a lot of us, and there's nothing wrong with being autistic. ❤️ I recommend this book to anyone who's starting their journey with autism or wants to know more about it. Thank you so much, Annie, for this beautiful book. Again, I loved it.

"What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic: Unpuzzling a Life on the Autism Spectrum" by Annie Kotowicz is a memoir that delves into the author's personal experience with autism. In this book, Kotowicz provides a unique perspective on what it means to be autistic and explores the challenges and triumphs that come with being on the autism spectrum.Through her deeply personal and introspective narrative, the author invites readers into her world, offering insights into the inner workings of an autistic mind. Kotowicz candidly discusses the difficulties she faces in social interactions, sensory experiences, and daily life, while also celebrating the strengths and gifts that autism brings.The book also addresses common misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding autism, debunking myths and shedding light on the diverse and complex nature of the autistic community. Kotowicz advocates for understanding, acceptance, and support for individuals on the autism spectrum, urging readers to look beyond labels and embrace neurodiversity.The book serves as both a personal story and as an informative resource for those seeking to gain a deeper understanding of autism. It is a valuable read for individuals with autism, their families, educators, and anyone interested in learning more about this often misunderstood condition.

This book is so helpful in the journey of understanding one's autistic self or an autistic loved one. So many moments of 'yes!' and 'that's exactly it!'. The author very skilfully puts confusing feelings and sensations into words.

You can tell that it's written by someone who really understands autism from the inside, and has a passion for making the knowledge easily accessible. I recommend it for absolutely everyone, and hope to see it translated to many languages soon!