hautemesstom popped this up into my feed, so I'm a new subscriber! Ive been struggling a lot lately to find balance between what my job is asking of me and what my brain needs to continue doing the things my job is asking of me. It's really hard to not take out my frustrations on myself and bully myself instead of advocating for my needs. This video came as welcome inspiration and I look forward to following along in your next chapter!
Tom sharing this was so incredibly nice and I’m so happy you’re here!! ♥️ It’s so easy to blame ourselves and I have to remind myself constantly to advocate and build those boundaries (it’s hard!) I’m so happy this reached you and hopefully we can help each other♥️♥️♥️
I’m so so proud of you! As an autism mom you don’t know what it means to have amazing people like you help spread advocacy and context into this complex world! And yay for living authentically as YOU and getting answers! ❤😊 and yes to a Q and A or even “sensory friendly product” videos!
This means the absolute world to me in ways o can even begin to describe 🥹💙 thank you for always being there to help me navigate this and helping me feel like I’m not alone!!💙💙💙
Thank you for sharing your story. Your voiceover read like a beautiful poem. You are inspiring to me and make me feel validated on my own self advocacy journey. As a 24 year old woman with many health issues and thinking I may fall somewhere on the autism spectrum, this video was so assuring and comforting for me. You are such a gem and I love watching your videos. I am so grateful that you are willing to get personal with us in this way. Thank you, Rachel 🩷
This means so so much to me♥️♥️ thank you for sharing your experience! All I could ask for is giving comfort, hope or some support and know that I’m taking those same things from your comment ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you for your vulnerability. Though there have been great strides in awareness of neurodivergence in my lifetime (I'm 33), we need so much more advocacy. People need to understand the nuances; how no two cases of any mental health issue will present the same way. People need to understand how "high functioning" individuals may seem "normal" when they're actually struggling to navigate a system built with little accomodation for those of us with mental health concerns. It's exhausting to keep up with daily life when you're struggling with inner demons. So I truly appreciate you sharing your experience and providing an example for the world to see. That may sound strange. But you can only learn so much about a disease or disorder from textbooks. The issue becomes more tangible when explained from an actual person. I could go on for days on this soapbox. Thank you.
This comment is so very important and I thank for sharing and hope others will take this into consideration. It means a lot to me and I couldn’t agree with your points more. Hearing others experiences has been monumental for me is so many ways from giving me better language to access help, understanding my diagnosis and giving me a sense of community in a situation that otherwise would have been more scary in a world on unknowns. I appreciate you so much! ♥️♥️♥️
What a first video to step into. Tom’s post sent me here. Feels like it was meant to be. I am a late in life diagnosed person with ADHD (also I’m a therapist who missed my own diagnosis for decades). I have a kiddo with ADHD and potentially ASD as well. We are learning so much so quickly about the neurodiverse because we are finally listening to the experiences of autistic folks. Took us (when I say us I mean as a person in the mental health provider community) way too long. Thank you for sharing your journey.
What a first video indeed! 😅♥️ it was so kind for Tom to share and as expected everyone coming from their post has been so sweet and supportive 🥰 It really feels like a pivotal moment for neurodiversity and I can attest that hearing other’s experiences was monumental for me to felt understood, find the language I needed to express myself and support my diagnosis. Progress over perfection and I’m so happy we’re moving in the right direction♥️♥️♥️ thank you for sharing yours as well and know that reading through comments like yours has really been validating and comforting 🥰♥️
Hi this is my first video of yours that I've seen (sent this way via hautmess tom) and I was not expecting to watch this and having a mirror held up to my own life. I got diagnosed with autism last year after dealing with what I now know was an intense bout of autistic burnout that I'm still recovering from. I'm in my early 30s and diagnosis has been illuminating and painful and freeing and scary. Anyway, thank you for sharing your story and advocating for yourself while giving yourself time to rest. I'm so happy to have found you and when I'm done crying I'm gonna go explore your other videos. Looking forward to whatever else you decide to share, autism related or otherwise.
Ahh so happy to have you here on my channel! What a first video 🥰😅 Your words could’ve been taken from my own mouth!! I’m so happy to share with someone going through such a similar experience. 🥰 it’s meant the world to me to read your comment and know that I’m not alone either ♥️♥️♥️
hi rachel..thank you so much for your advocacy. i was self diagnosed in my late 20s and 5+ years later im still in the process of restructuring my life but i would be in such a dark place if i was still masking to be "normal"..so again im so grateful for your channel and im looking forward to all your future projects💗
♥️🥰♥️ thank you for this comment! I’m only just beginning and already can see that this will be a lengthy journey and there’s still so much for me to learn. The masking part is one of the more challenging aspects for me as well but agree the drive to do it is strong because I only have so much energy and I don’t want to allocate it there anymore. Hopefully we can help each other along the way and I’m always open to tips for myself as well ♥️🥰♥️ thank you for sharing and for being here♥️♥️
You brought me to tears. I have a beautifully minded child with autism. Your sharing of your story helps to break the stigma. You only speak for yourself, but it helps the entire community. Thank you so much. Happy Holidays, Rachel. Sending you so much love. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Awe I hope happy ones 🥰♥️ this comment means more to me than you could know or I could possibly say. This is an outcome I could only dream of 🥹 happy holidays to you too!! and thank you for always being so kind and a major part of this little corner of the internet ♥️♥️♥️
You are an inspiration Rachel. Love watching your videos. I have learned so much from watching your skincare and makeup tutorials. You are a lovely person and said everything very eloquently ❤
I read all the comments and was not surprised at all by the beautiful and kind community you’ve created. Like I’ve said before, I’m here for you. Unconditionally. Always. 🌸🐝
Thank you for your courage to share your story. As an individual with OCD, anxiety, depression, and a panic disorder, I’ve felt similar pain so many times, albeit not the same as we all have different battles. Your story and your time are important. Happy to be a new subscriber ❤
Awe, thank you for being here!!! ♥️ everyone’s story is different but there’s so much to be said for people who have shared similar experiences and I’m so glad you’re here 🥰 hopefully this little corner of the internet can be as much as a refuge for you as it has been me♥️♥️♥️
Hi Rachel, thanks for sharing your story. I can personally relate to wanting to self advocate and living your own authentic self. Hoping for growth together in the new year ❤ let’s lift each other up in this community!
Oh wow, I came to this channel for the Phytosurgence swatches, and now I'm crying because this video is just so lovely. The vast majority of people I love are autistic, or in some way neurodivergent, so clearly I've found the right space!! Also, in support of your journey, my partner is autistic and found Unmasking Autism by Devon Price to be incredibly validating and enlightening, if you're looking for a book to read or listen to. (Sorry, I'm a librarian, my love language is recommending books!) I happily subscribed, and can't wait to watch even more of your videos. ❤
Awe I need you to know this comment made my absolute day! Unmasking Autism is such a great resource! I’ve also found the embrace autism website super informative and helpful!! (I actually just started a book channel bc books are my love language too!! 😂) I’m so happy we’ve come across each others paths ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you so much for sharing! Questions: was there anything in particular that kept you pushing for answers? What changes has the diagnosis brought? I myself may or may not have autism, it’s been recommended to me by a psychologist that i be tested, for context.
♥️♥️♥️ there have been many things to keep me pushing for answers, mainly how difficult day to day things became but there was a catapult event that I’d love to cover in a another video! My psychologist recommended it to me and the most helpful thing was hearing other autistic experiences. Know self diagnosis is valid in this space and I’m sending all the love and hugs your way! ♥️♥️