Lynn Goodwin

Community always costs us something. I can only speak from my perspective when I say that, to date, it cost me my identity, my health, my sense of value and purpose, and my joy. But did it have to cost me everything to remain connected? I was not aware—nor was it taught—that I had a right to choose the cost.

unmet needs don't just disappear. They show up in your behavior, often in ways that feel confusing or out of character. When safety needs aren't met, you might experience chronic anxiety, hypervigilance, or difficulty trusting others, even in situations that are objectively safe. When love and belonging needs go unmet, you might find yourself being excessively clingy in relationships, or alternatively, pushing people away before they can reject you .

Listen, life is hard as a late discovered Autistic adult and Autistic Burnout can sneak up on us if we are not already maintaining consistent routines and working through our late-discovery traumas.