Useful Items (For Neurodivergency)
For those who don't know, I'm an autistic individual. It's not all bad, but this can present issues in various ways. Perhaps most of them would go unnoticed by the vast majority of people in my life, and especially those online. It can impact me in ways that might seem small, or in ways that otherwise would not be an issue to the large majority.
I'd like to speak to those of you who find difficulty in small things today, and recommend products that have made my life infinitely easier from their additions into my routine. I like to go very in depth in my reasonings, but I have included a final Review section at the end if you'd rather just learn the why's!
1. hismile Flavored Toothpaste
This product is the sole reason for making this list, to be honest with you. It was spoken about in a discord server I'm in, and out of curiosity, I decided to purchase one of their toothpastes! I decided on banana because it felt like a rather "neutral" flavour for a first time attempt; plus, pistachio and iced latte (the two other flavours I was thinking about), both seemed too sweet for a first thing in the morning experience. And I can confidently say that this toothpaste had changed my life.
I've never been the best at keeping up with my oral hygiene, due to a mix of various factors (I promise this ties into neurodivergent reasons!). It was never something I was disciplined to do as a child, and the taste and texture of toothpaste has always put me off. It's something I did my best to avoid, even as a child.
Review: However, the recent banana hismile tootphase I purchased has changed my life! I was a little worried, because it kinda smelled like mint as soon as I opened it, and even still it kinda smells like mint... But it doesn't taste like mint, which is the most important thing! And once it's in your mouth, I promise that it no longer smells like mint either! It also comes out in pumps, which makes it a lot easier for my brain to understand portion sizing (I like to do three pumps!). The toothpaste also does not burn my mouth like how mint toothpastes often do, and it doesn't leave the weird aftertaste you usually get from mint toothpaste! More niche, if you're a smoker like me, the flavoured toothpaste allows me to smoke immediately after brushing my teeth without it tasting/feeling weird too!
Ultimately, I cannot recommend this product enough. It's encouraged me to brush my teeth twice a day purely because it's not an awful experience anymore, and I want to taste the banana every morning and night LOL...
2. Black Out Blinds
I obviously cannot attach a link here because you can buy them from many different places, and I've had mine for years, so I don't remember exactly where I got them from... But you can easily google and find a brand suitable for yourself!
Due to being autistic, I often find that I have difficulty surrounding light. This can include natural and artificial light, but I personally mostly struggle with natural light. You know the bloom effect in games? That's what it can feel like for me when I have my curtains open, and the natural light shines through. This does sometimes happen with artificial lighting, and sometimes my computer screen, but this section is regarding blinds!
Review: Buy yourself a good set of black out blinds and they'll completely block out all light from your windows! This is perfect for if you have a headache/migraine, and for if you prefer sleeping in total darkness like me! As a bonus, I like to use fairy/string lights around my room for just a little bit of lighting when using my black out blinds. I genuinely could not function if I didn't have the option to be surrounded by darkness haha...
3. Vanderfields Ear Defenders
It's no surprise that autism can affect all of the senses, but it just so happens that noise is my biggest downfall. I get really overwhelmed, really fast, in regards to noise levels. And if I'm not careful, this can quickly lead to me feeling overwhelmed and stressed, promptly causing a meltdown. As such, this product is perhaps the most important to me!
Unfortunately, I also do not like the feeling of anything being inside of my ears, so earplugs and earphones are a no go for me. This is why I adore the product listed above! I think that they're technically used as ear/noise safety and protection for work, like construction, wood working, grass cutting, etc... But they work perfectly for me due to how big they are and how they go over my ears instead of inside! They're also very comfortable and offer a nice pressure to my ears that is enjoyable.
Review: These are perfect for if you can't handle anything going inside of your ears, but need some sort of protection or noise canelling for whatever reason! I can still hear people talking to me when I'm wearing them; it's just that the noise level is muted. It's softer and quieter and more easily manageable! I always wear these to sleep too, because even the slightest noise can wake me up during the night, that's how comfortable they are!
Some other smaller recommendations I'd like to make are...
- An eye mask, to pair well with the black out blinds! Complete and utter darkness is so nice when you're trying to sleep...!
- I don't like a lot of "fidget toys" that are on offer, but buying a cheap little slinky has helped a lot! It's the only toy I have and keep.
- Notion, the app, has helped me a lot in keeping track of things. It might not work for you, so I'd recommend experimenting with lots of different apps. I like the customization Notion offers me.
There are certainly many more products and things and thoughts and people that can and will help make life easier for you, and for me. But this short list is just what I find myself using on the daily to help me get through, and maybe some of it might help you too!