I am autistic

If you read my last blog post, you will have heard about my experience so far at university. Transitioning to university can be challenging for everybody, especially for autistic students. It is often a time of a lot of change, which while worrying is also super exciting! 

Here are some of my top tips for autistic students:

1. Home comforts = University is often people’s first experience of moving out and it can be quite nerve-wracking. Bringing home comforts with you, whether that be photos, a blanket, some toys or even your favourite plate, can help tackle some of the nerves and homesickness. The more special interest related things the better!
2. Leave your past experiences behind = A lot of autistic young people I talk to have struggled at school, and I know first-hand how hard this is. Whilst I do believe that all of your experiences shape you, I also think it is important to remember that they do not define you. I endured a lot of trauma before starting university, but that has not dictated how my experience has been. University is different from school in all the best ways. Use the fresh start as a chance to shape your life how you want it. 
3. Spend time with people = For autistic people, socialising can be draining. It often seems like the easiest thing to do is to avoid people, but that is not good for your mental health. I have found that my best days are when I am spending time with my friends. Although it can sometimes be hard pushing myself, I always feel better afterwards.
4. Spend time alone = That said, remember that socialising can be draining. It is important to take time for yourself, especially if you are masking a lot. I love to have a self-care night; with my favourite TV show, some nice food and crafts to relax with. For me, this is the best way to unwind after a full-on day with people. Find out what works for you!
5. Accept that there will be hard times = As I mentioned above, university is a challenging time. A lot of the time it can be my expectations that trip me up, so I find it useful to remember that it will not be smooth sailing. Thought this might seem negative, it helps me to keep calm when things go wrong and to not catastrophise. There will be ups and downs – that is life!
6. Do it your way = Finally, do university the way you want to. In my opinion, the most important tip. If you spend your time comparing yourself to your non-autistic peers, it will only bring you down. There are plenty of things I do differently than all my friends. My parents come and visit more often; I go and see my autism mentor; I avoid situations which will only stress me out. In particular, you do not need to be going out and getting drunk. When I started university I felt a lot of pressure to go out to pubs and clubs, but you do not need to – especially if it makes you feel uncomfortable. It would do me no good if I spent my whole time thinking about whether this is the right or wrong way to do things. The bottom line is that it works for me and that is what’s important. 

Taking that last tip into account, please remember that all this advice is from my own experiences. All autistic people are different and so there may be different things that work for you.