I have bouts where I am semi-verbal. I've seen lots of people talk about how when you become semi/non-verbal, it's painful to talk. I don't experience pain with it though.
When I become less verbal, my lips feel like they're glued together. It's not in a scary way either. It's either in a heavy way, where it feels like it takes a great amount of force to open my mouth and say something, or it's in a peaceful/natural way, where I simply don't feel the need to talk anymore.
Usually, I also become less emotive too. I am usually super expressive, but it becomes like my entire face has been drained of the energy it needs to move as much. Most of the time, I can answer very basic responses such as one word answers, or small phrases that don't require thought (i.e. I don't know)
Sometimes I become semi-verbal when I become too overwhelmed. Other times, I become semi-verbal because I've been alone too long, I'm recharging, I'm deep inside my own head, or I've been hyperfocused on something.
What does it feel like for other people who become semi/non-verbal?
today’s thoughts : is escapism or just a hyperfixation
also this point is a bit unrelated, but I find it funny that I keep rats when I’m a snake. whenever I play with them all I can of think is the phrase “playing with your food”. despite the fact that they are technically my prey, I have no urges towards them. again, I see them more as children than anything else.
I don’t know if it has to do with the neurodivergence or the nonhumanity but my relationship with pets is a bit odd. they are more siblings or children than anything else. we are both creatures which is something humans often fail to recognize/respect.
the rats I take care of are my friends. not mine through ownership, but mine through relationship.
I doubt this view is really all that uncommon in the nonhuman community, but I have yet to see much talk about it.
It's so sad that there are very few places anyone can go that provide that perfect secret little hideaway somewhere in th woods. Everything is someones property, public parks that are just grass, or housing developments now. I just want to be able to take a short walk from my house to some (not even that deep) woods and find a cool tree and make it my hang out spot and to walk along the naturally forming paths from other people and animals taking time to actually enjoy nature.
hfjsgdjshkfks idk what worse-
having lots of hyperfixations at once or not having any hyperfixations
when i have lots of them i get rly overwhelmed cus i just,, wanna do all of them at once and its like a constant need to be doing something related to all of my hyperfixations but u just CANT watch five shows at once or listen to music, watch a video, research, and do crafts all at the same time i just physically cant do that
but when i dont have any hyperfixations i feel so empty. my thoughts get kinda mixed up cus i dont know what to think about or focus on and im just constantly understimulated because of boredom and thats just miserable
“you touched my arm and now i have to cut it off”
“i blinked wrong. i have to do it again. again. again. again. again. okay that’s better.”
“sorry i didn’t quite catch that. sorry could you just- yeah. what? huh? no i didn’t get that- could you just write it down?”
directions just go in one ear and out the other
and god forbid i have to talk to anyone with an accent
“i didn’t listen to that song right. i have to do it again. again. again. again. again. okay, better.”
the r a g e when your plan/routine gets disrupted
“oh that leaf brushed my left hand? okay cool now i gotta brush it against my right hand in exactly the same way or else i’ll Die”
“this has to be symmetrical or i will gouge my eyes out because it feels BAD”
the exhaustion that sometimes follows talking about a special interest
getting overwhelmed talking about/interacting with your special interest
“what emotion is this?”
“this is the only song i can listen to and it brings me a genuine feeling of relief/release to hear it. i must loop it over and over until i suddenly hate it. i don’t know why.”
randomly finding yourself thinking/talking like a robot and having to consciously switch on emotions/empathy
or the other way around, if you get overwhelmed
“loud noises are fucking terrifying and i will cry if i get caught off guard by one”
“someone i don’t like/trust/know touched this thing and now i can’t until it’s been washed”
p a i n
where is the pain coming from? idk.
what’s itching??? where is that???
“wow that hurt! okay, i gotta do it again”
feel free to add on!!
Inspired by a post by @/wilczak I’ve been thinking a lot about my own desire to have a pet snake.
For nearly all my life I’ve wanted to keep snakes. I had garter snakes for several years before rehoming them when I went to high school and became busier. I’ve always felt a kinship with them. Even before I knew what I was, I knew snakes were my kind.
It took me a long time to realize I was a snake. I knew I was a changeling since I was very young, however the realization that I was a snake took longer to come. I couldn’t see beyond the veil for a long time and only sensed fragments of my true form. Once I realized I was a snake, my attachment to them made so much more sense.
We’re not a social species by any means, however I’ve always wanted to keep snakes because we’re the same. We understand each other in a fundamental way. Largely we’re uninterested in each other, but there’s a sense of camaraderie in shared species-ship.
I love learning about my kind, and the idea of taking care of another sounds very rewarding to me. We are brethren.