Problematic Suicide Squad

While I refuse to see the movie, I know that the Joker and Harley Quinn are once again thrust into the spotlight. Geeklings everywhere will think that they're the epitome of love, and will try to seek out a similar relationship for their own. If Jared Leto's acting isn't bad enough, now there's even more reason to hate such a horrendous film. Harley Quinn and the Joker are nothing to romanticize. I understand that they're not the only problematic couple in cinematic history, but let's face it, with the comicbook movie craze that's taken the US by storm, this is going to make more than a simple little splash. This halloween there'll be women dressed as Harley with this beau dressed as the laughably updated version of the Joker. They're going to let them refer to themselves as 'Daddy' and think this is perfectly acceptable, not remembering that the Joker tossed Harley out of a window for simply catching Batman and delivering him to the Joker. This, ladies and gents and other-gendered-awesomeness, isn't even the worst of it. This is just the tip of the proverbial fucking iceberg. He's emotionally, verbally, and physically abusive. He repeatedly puts her down, pushes her off of things, yells at her, and she just takes it all because 'he really loves me, right? I just make him angry, that's all'. 

NO.

The joker does not love Harley, doesn't appreciate her, nor does he respect her. To him, he's a pathetic little tool to be utilized until she's no longer useful. The person you love will not require you to alter your appearance for their own selfish 'need'. Where did this come from, you ask? The Joker dunked Harley into a vat of the same chemicals that bleached his own skin. Yes, she agreed to it, but had he not brought it up, she most likely wouldn't have even asked for it, but who knows. Stockholm Syndrome causes people to do some crazy shit. 

Especially if you think they love you, when they beat you senseless, nearly to the point of death, and send you flowers afterwards. Harley is a battered woman, and it takes Batman talking some sense into her, to make her realize this. The Joker is a manipulative piece of pasty garbage who has nothing better to do than beat on someone who threatens him with her intelligence. Thankfully, DC split the 'dynamic duo' up and showed the better side of Harley. 

She and Poison Ivy are romantically involved, I believe, Harley is now located in Brooklyn, she's got a thousand and one pets, a lofty apartment, couple of jobs and true friends. In Harley Quinn she talks about how badly the Joker treated her, and now she's just trying to start over, create her own image, and keep as far from the Joker as possible, and it's refreshing to see.

As a '90s kid, I grew up watching Harley swoon over her puddin' pop, do his bidding, and get into her share of trouble. I secretly wanted a love like that, where I could be myself, act as goofy as my little heart could take, and my partner would keep me in line. As I grew up, I started seeing the cracks in their relationship, and eventually had found my own dangerous relationship. The result? I was informed that I was to marry my partner at the time, that he was going to propose and I was expected to accept, over a cheap dinner. He had the number of children I was to give him, already picked out, and he had our lifestyle picked out as well. We were going to continue living with his parents until he was able to afford our home, and life, in his eyes, was going to be perfect. I had dreams of being a professional artist, which he successfully crushed like a bug. Thankfully, my mom intervened and helped me to see the problems in this, much like Batman did for Harley. I was not the reason he hit me, I was not anything he tried to convince me I was, and I deserved better, and so does our dear Harley Quinn. 

If people are going to romanticize anyone, they should be focusing on Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. Ivy spoils Harley, helps her rescue animals that are slated to be euthanized, supports her when she falls in love with someone else, and always remains there for her. Ivy is happy, when Harley is happy, which is how a real relationship works. She unconditionally loves Harley, and sticks with her through thick and thin, and it's quite amazing. 

So it all boils down to, do your research, and understand the signs of abuse and DO NOT TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THAT THE SIGNS OF ABUSE MEAN LOVE. THAT'S SETTING THEM UP FOR A LIFETIME OF FAILURE AND HEARTACHE.

Ghost Whisperer season 2, episode 4

Let me start by saying, this is the famous autism episode. 

Currently, I'm rewatching the paranormal soap opera, Ghost Whisperer. I love this show. I love the acting, the spoop factor, the message it promotes, but this episode just didn't sit right with me. I understand several things surrounding this episode, being produced in 2006 is one of them. The thinking in that time was not nearly as progressive as it is now, which helps explain the hurtful language in it.

Functioning labels are inappropriate when describing an autistic person, and they were used because they were the easiest way to describe the characters in question. They feel as if they're attempting to negate their communication skills, especially both characters weren't verbally communicative. Their brief description of autism almost made it sound like we're another species. The use of the word 'they' made it sound like the doctor was attempting to separate us and keep us on the fringes of society. Now, I have my doubts that this was their goal, and by this time I'm sure autistic voices were still being silenced, but it doesn't nullify the hurt that lingered after the episode.

Now, Melinda's patience, understanding, and even adoration toward both characters was refreshing, even her outrage at the mother of the female character, made my heart sing. Her attitude was "it's not their fault. they're people and deserve love just like everyone else" and that's something that's not often seen on early television shows. Hell, even buffy still used the word "retarded", but I still love the show nonetheless, just like this one. 

Since Ghost Whisperer was designed to reach the female demographic, it's got a more sensitive feel, almost motherly in nature. It constantly promotes love others and be good to them, and yourself, celebrate life and always try your hardest. I see hope within it, and appreciate that they were trying to dispel the stigma and misconceptions surrounding autism.

I got wrapped up in the episode and began shouting "oh! fuck you lady!" and cheering on Melinda when she educated the mother of the female character on what autism really is. The mother confessed that she gave her daughter up for adoption, because the era she was born in, was into blaming the mothers of autistic children because "without their corrupted uterus, these kids would have been fine" and she couldn't cope. My own mother was told the same. I was an unhappy child, mainly because I couldn't tell anyone what was happening since I didn't understand it. I didn't understand what sensory was let alone that I've got a sensitivity to it. Every time I "acted out" my mother was blamed for "not being able to control her child" and eventually, she began to believe it. It absolutely was not her fault, which is something she's now able to learn. I understood where that mother was coming from, and why she did what she did, and I don't blame her, in fact, I'm now going to praise the writers for that, because it showed real struggle. 

The ghost of the deceased boyfriend's purpose in making contact with Melinda was to reunite the girl and her mom. Melinda then has to help the mom learn that her daughter does need her, and always will. Having to educate this woman on the fact that yes, autistic people do feel love was heart wrenching. No one should have to explain to another person that we're people, we hurt, we love, we celebrate, we cry.... We're people too and we feel things like everyone else, but we don't always show it, and that's another symptom all on its own. The mother accepted that this wasn't her fault, that her daughter needed her and tried to work to build a relationship with her. It's not the situation where a parent says "its okay, I still love you despite your autism." it was genuine "you're my child and I love every part of you" which was beautiful. 

However, the episode could have been complete without the conversation between Jim and Melinda where he asks shouldn't the ghost just "get over" being autistic, and Melinda retorts with "some people can't let go of who they were in life" and maybe it's not that simple? Maybe he liked his autism, or perhaps his spirit has always been autistic. No matter the purpose, it was extremely hurtful and was yet another jab at the autistic crowd. 

Overall, this episode was problematic at best, just as I had expected the instant the man's ghost showed up. The only reason I'm not going to stop watching this, is that it was produced in 2006, before anyone tried to educate others in how to respectfully treat another person. I do appreciate the progressive thinking, but the language could have been friendlier.

Aromatherapy Journal

>Click here for a mostly free DIY notebook<

I'm already using a blank journal to record the blends/recipes I experiment with, and the ones I use every night. The more I use them, the more I want to keep a detailed account of what I'm doing, and figured I should probably make an official essential oils notebook. Since we don't have a printer right now, we're going to visit a place like staples. Since the link above contains reference charts you have to pay for, this'll all be done in increments. 

This will be useful when referencing it for personal use, or when talking to someone else. Since my doctor is open to aromatherapy, I'm likely going to start bringing it to appointments with me so I can talk to her about it and help educate her a little bit, as well as document when I'm having a tough time and what oil I used for when. 

I guess it all boils down to, I just want to be more organized and this should help me be such! 

Shower Melt recipe

First try.

Lemon helps to drain your sinuses, Lavender relaxes you, as well as stops your runny nose, Peppermint opens the airways to breathe better, as does Camphor and Eucalyptus. I've been sick for the past few days/week, and this helped quite a bit, the one time I got to use it. My husband even enjoyed it! Since I added a little too much water to the first batch, I plan to add more baking soda to help stiffen it up a bit. I might even add more oils to it, but we'll see what I think once I use the the less watery version. 

Instructions:

1.) In a large mixing bowl, add the essential oil drops to your baking soda, then pour in the cool water.
2.) Blend together until it's a thick paste.
3.) Pour it into your mold.
4.) Freeze for 1-2 hours, or until solid.

How'd it do in the shower? It melted in 5 minutes, and got lost under the smell of my husband's soap, as well as mine. I think it's meant for when you aren't washing, which I'll also test out, but overall, it was soothing, and did what it was supposed to. I very much recommend making this with some citric acid so it fizzles and bubbles and puts on a little show for you.

Comfort Objects

Baby blankets, stuffed animals, t-shirts, fidget toys, lovey blankets..etc. Comfort is comfort, no matter where the person seeks it. This is something I need to stress. A comfort object is sacred to anyone, whether they be *neurotypical or neurodivergent. I'm not speaking for all autistic people, but for me, my comfort objects are indeed sacred. I still sleep with a stuffed animal, I enjoy going to Build-A-Bear and 'building' a new friend, and I've even made a couple security blankets, the one pictured above is my current project. My husband doesn't question when I want to bring a stuffed animal out on a walk, or when I need to lay down with one of my security blankets. No, it's not creepy. It's not infantalization of a 'disabled' person. It's comfort, which is something everyone needs. Mocking someone based on what soothes them emotionally is practically like punching them in the face, except their wounds aren't shown physically. Taking away a comfort object is damaging behavior and causes the person to feel lost, exposed, and even helps the victim develop trust issues. So let's say this together. Comfort objects are sacred. Help the person protect their comfort if it's put in danger or questioned, defend their right to this freedom and accept it. You don't need to understand this part of their life in order to accept it, you just need to know it's for their benefit and not yours. It won't directly impact your life, nor will it damage it, but it can destroy theirs if you take this from them. Don't even joke about taking this from the person, either. Being cruel to another human being solely for their difference, is awful and disgusting. My cousin, who will be left unnamed, did this to me as a child. I was no older than 8 when he, while at our family cabin, told me he had taken my security blanket (which was something I had from birth until then), off of my bed on the second floor, and thrown it into the wood stove. I sobbed. I begged him to tell me that it wasn't true, I couldn't sleep without the blanket. My whole sleep schedule revolved around having that, and my stuffed animal. He laughed at me, and kept silent on the subject, until one of my other cousins, who was closer to my age, told me he had sneaked upstairs and found it hidden under my pillow, right where I left it. He didn't tip off the first about this, and that helped calm me down. The older cousin wasn't going to go looking for it, he just enjoyed tormenting me, the child who was an undiagnosed autistic. Pretty shitty, huh? Well, I still have that blanket, and have since guarded it with my life. That single moment ruined my trust, and respect for my older cousin. That's the moment I realized I could never like him, let alone stand to be near him. I loathe him for that moment. That might seem petty to some people, but to me, it's the day I learned he's cruel. When a child's eyes are opened to the cruelty of others, especially relatives, is the moment part of their innocence dies. I suppose that is the true basis as to why I loathe him. Anyways. Imagine experiencing that as an adult. You've gone your whole existence depending on this one object, and suddenly it's gone, and not by your own doing. It's just gone. Don't ever do that to someone. It's torturous and like I said, awful. Let that person exist happily with their comfort item, and accept it. It's not that hard.

*Neurotypical: A person who does not have any sort of "condition" that affects their brain, such as Autism, Bipolar, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia..etc.

Aromatherapy pillow

Today, my husband and I went to a local store/restaurant and purchased dried Lavender, Chamomile, and Rose. We then bought a pound of "organic" flax seeds from the supermarket (it didn't really matter to me if they were organic or not, that's just the only one we could find). I put 2 1/2 cups of flax seed, and a 1/2 cup of lavender, rose and chamomile. After that, I made this snazzy little pillow case for it.I made it so it overlaps in the back and holds itself shut like a pillow sham. I don't know the dimensions of it, but it fits over my eyes and rests comfortably there. 

Aromatherapy isn't only essential oils, and this pillow is most certainly therapeutic! I highly recommend making one of these for sure, as it'll likely relax you entirely and help lull you to sleep. 

PMS Blend

Okay. Periods + Autism = The roughest week of my adult life. My senses are heightened for some reason, which means I can hear/smell everything. Don't think it's that bad? The sounds you don't think about suddenly become extremely grating, and then they begin to weigh on you. 

Scenario: You're sitting upstairs in your bed, watching a movie. It's summertime, and you live in an older home, which doesn't have central air. Your window-mounted air-conditioning unit kicks on, and you can hear it humming/buzzing against the plastic frame. As you try to follow along with your movie, the sound of the ceiling fan pushing air is the second annoyance of many. Not only does it have an ever-moving shadow, you can hear the thrum of the motor, and the buzzing of the lights in their sockets. Then, you can hear the buzzing of the xbox and it's whirring motor. Not that bad, right? Too bad every time you lay your head on your pillow, you can hear the downstairs window mounted unit buzzing away. To add onto this building hell, you have a white-hot stabbing pain beginning to take up residence in your abdomen. It's like having extreme intestinal discomfort, but add in nausea, fatigue, muscle cramps/charlie horses, headaches, constipation, mood swings, and depression/anxiety elevation. No matter what you do, nothing brings a smile to your face. You can *stim as much as you want to try and alleviate this, but it's useless. You feel like a hollow shell of yourself, and wonder if every day will be like this, because if it is, how will you survive it? You sit, and you cry. You put on a cheerful movie, and cry more. You listen to up-beat music, and still you continue to sob. It's the only thing you're good at. The only thing that feels right, and so, you feel pathetic. You feel like your life is a black void of nothingness, and you'll never return to the light. Then you remember, this is just the first day of your period, and this is temporary, but this somehow still doesn't help. This is a small glimpse of what we uterus-sufferers go through.

*Stim: Short for self stimulation, or stimming. Common autistic stims are rubbing on soft fabric, flapping hands, auditory release (echolalia), rocking, chewing on things, clenching and unclenching the hands repeatedly...etc. It' a means of release for autistic persons. It helps stimulate serotonin production in the brain, helping them get through rough situations.

This Blend... Is sweet, earthy, warm, cooling, invigorating, calming, floral, minty, bright, fresh, and citrusy. It helps level mood swings, eases depression and anxiety, helps comfort you, alleviates fatigue and brain fog. This blend was made specifically to keep a PMSing persons level, comfortable, and sane. 

Put it on the palm of your hands, cup them over your mouth and nose. Take five slow, and deep breaths. It can also be applied to the aching parts of your body. Do not take internally. As it's in a roller bottle, rub onto your abdomen. 

If your pain is causing nausea, couple this with pain medication (which should be taken as directed on the bottle). 

If your person (or people) are experiencing menstruation hell, do not tell them that "it isn't that bad". If you don't have a uterus, and don't experience this specific part of nature, do not assume you know what this entails and discount their struggle. Instead, be supportive and give them what they need, even if that means a sappy movie night with chocolate ice cream and stuffed animals.

Why did I remain gender-neutral? Not everyone who has a uterus, is female. Boys get periods too. 

Sensory Hell Blend

My language skills right now are lacking, so let me try and convey this accurately. I've said in the past that I've had "rough" days, but today was one of those days that everything set me off and made me feel uncomfortable. After a rather routine trip to walmart, I crumbled and started to cry in the car, which is the start of one of my meltdowns. Then, I started to shut down, which means, I stare off into the distance with a blank look on my face, and I lose my verbal language, albeit temporarily. However, halfway into full "shutdown mode", an image popped into my mind (which is how my thought processes work apparently), and I remembered my aromatherapy emergency bag! I rubbed Road Trip and Worry-B-Gone into my palms, cupped them over my mouth and nose and took 5 deeps breaths. It cleared my mind, calmed me down enough for my husband to put on classical music. Soon enough, I was back to myself in no time! 

Unfortunately, after moments like these, it's fairly common for autistic peoples to feel sleepy, and that's exactly what happened to me. So, I looked through my "Essential oils for Depression", and threw together this specific blend, and it's done just what I needed. 

Worry-B-Gone Blend

This bright, uplifting, sweet scent is like Liquid Sunshine! It's aptly named Worry-B-Gone, as it often helps ease my anxiety and/or depression. It's easy to love, and isn't overpowering, plus it pairs well with my more 'earthy' or 'floral' blends. Be careful, though, it's addicting! My husband is particularly fond of this one, because he says it smells like Hawaiin Punch.

Road Trip Blend

Like so many, I have a hard time dealing with car-centered anxiety, and have tried practically everything, until now. About 2 weeks ago, my husband and I needed to travel to the closest military base in order to have his ID renewed, which happened to have been a 2 hour trip. Since we were close to the Maine border, we decided to go to the Naval History museum, toured the USS Albacore, visited the Kittery History museum, AS WELL AS walking around Fort Constitution. It was a fun filled day of learning and exploration, but since it's summer, there was other people there, which meant pushy, asshole kids. Thankfully, I put the road trip blend into my diffuser necklace and it kept me from going into a panic attack, all day long!

Naturally Lovable: Produced by Now Foods.

Please, be aware that aromatherapy paired with another distracting activity can help you defeat moderate to severe anxiety. I keep a book with me at all times just for that, and when traffic got really bad, I whipped that bad boy out and started to read. My husband knows I'm not ignoring him when I go quiet in the car, so he doesn't push me into conversation, but I also don't completely ignore his attempts to talk, either. Although this is a temporary solution, it's one that's surely enjoyable. 

The Ugly Truth

Today. Was. Rough.

Have I started to give you the impression that I don't have days straight from hell? Let me shatter this false image right now. I am like any autistic adult, I have meltdowns, sensory sensitivities, shutdowns, burnouts... and anything I haven't learned has a name, just yet.

Today didn't start out normally, but it started out good. Unfortunately, however, I had to take zzzquil sleep aid last night fairly late, which left me exhausted today. Exhaustion apparently means sensory sensitivities and depth perception difficulties. What did that lead to? I knocked over my freshly opened soda, which spilled all over the floor, and our expensive foreign rug. I was pissed, and extremely embarrassed. I yelled for my husband's help, and he came rushing in like the valiant knight I see him as. He's so sweet, and I snapped at him. I feel awful about it, and I know that my anxiety is having a field day with that. I've tried desperately to calm down and not react that way, but I had a similar scene when I couldn't find my mouse, of all things. Now I'm exhausted from such an influx of emotions, and I'm left wishing I hadn't snapped. Thankfully, I was able to calm down before the (mild) self mutilation phase, which spirals into a world ending meltdown. 

What are autistic meltdowns? I've read in several places, that it's when the fight or flight instinct is triggered. We are more likely to go down swinging than run away. It can be purely physical, meaning, the person in question will thrash, bite, spit..etc. Or they can just go limp and sob hysterically. Or start rocking and crying, or stimming like crazy. 

The Mighty details what meltdowns are in children, and adults.
   "The last bit of control over their universe disappeared."

They are catastrophic in nature, and tend to obliterate any shred of sanity you have for any space of time it has the power over you. These are sometimes preventable, but not always. If your person is having one, help them, understand when they can't communicate and do everything within your power to make sure they're okay during and after. Make sure they have a 'panic' room, where everything is well organized, and easily accessible. Dark, quiet places with soft blankets, a cool (or even warm) drink, things to snack on, something to keep their mind busy and short sentences with simple (but noncondescending, or infantalizing) speech. Keep in mind this person has only temporarily lost control of their own world, and will resume their position once they're able. 

Can't this happen to someone who isn't autistic? Yes! My husband, and one of our close friends is also on the spectrum. He'll experience a shutdown with uncomfortable subjects, and our friend will experience meltdowns just as I do. We have very similar behaviors, which cements the Autistic Spectrum's existence to me. 

Life is hard, please don't make it harder on your spectrum people. Understand their behavior and habits and encourage them. We all need love, support, and understanding. We need guidance, and a gentle hand, but Adult Autistics are not children and do not need to be, or appreciate being babied. When we ask for further explanations or simpler language, don't talk-down to us, or assume we won't comprehend you right away. 

Something as simple as a bug bite can threaten my sanity. Why? It's the constant disturbance in my otherwise comfortable life, and that could very well be why I was on edge today. It's an involuntary reaction when my body itches, and I have to put-forth extra effort in remembering my itch remedy, which throws off my day's balance. Balance and routine are essential in my life (I speak a lot from experience with the hope that when someone else reads this, they might be able to relate), and when one of those are interrupted, I find myself almost instantly on edge and hating life. 

It can be the simple irritants that ruin my world, even just for a day. My husband, being my knight, understood this and let me binge on one of my favorite shows, then retreat upstairs for some alone time with another favored show, after the first one left me emotionally drained. Sometimes, that's all it takes. 

Please, treat your spectrum people with care, love, and understanding.

Autism and the media

TRIGGER WARNING FOR SUICIDE ATTEMPT

Being autistic can mean that you feel alone about 90% of the time. Especially in this world, where it's practically considered a death sentence.

Why? Because television often depicts autism as being something everyone suffers from, and when you'd think this is the worst, the children are often times the product of spiteful beings who don't understand their children's needs. It's hard to relate to a character in popular media when they are 100% completely different than you. It's easier to make the character non-canonically autistic (ex: Groot, Luna Lovegood...etc), but some people are up in arms about this. They think it's unfair to the fictional character and the author. As a budding author, I'd actually be flattered that someone was taking one of my (already quirky) characters, and doing such, because it is important that people feel like they belong. 

It baffles me when people take this away from an already unappreciated, overly ostracized minority. We are bullied, made fun of, abandoned, told we are better off dead, and worse. I was physically assaulted as a teen, was manipulated by an abusive ex-boyfriend, and told by multiple people in my high school that I should just kill myself and make everyone's lives around me, easier. I was an undiagnosed autistic who felt entirely alone. I had no fictional character to hold onto and think "if they can make it through this, then so can I!" or "If they can battle a dragon, without a weapon, and win then I can face the bullies tomorrow!" Instead, I had to forge my own way. And I attempted suicide 3 times before my 18th birthday. Then I met my husband online. He was my beacon of hope after my most recent, and last attempt. Most people aren't as fortunate as me, and have that in their lives. Some people are constantly told by their loved ones that they're worthless, disgusting, annoying, or worse. 

What's worse than having no one to relate to? Having people try to force you to identify with characters like Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory. He's blatantly inconsiderate of other's feelings, and isn't well liked. I've never once been told that I am rude and uncaring, in fact, I've been told that I'm overly sensitive of other people's feelings. I try to always be courteous, because that's how I was raised, and there are many people just like me. I've met so many autistic people who hate the Sheldon Cooper image. 

Being a woman on the spectrum, means you're in a sea of testosterone in the media. Sex jokes, fart jokes, sexist comments, misogyny. More men are depicted as being relatable autistics than women, and that again, is because the standards for diagnosis was forged off of  boy's symptoms. I am not a genius, which means I'm not Temperance Brennan. Differentiating between right and wrong is not a commonly lacked skill (but I'm not speaking for other people in this, it's just a simple observation), which means we are not Suzanne "Crazy Eyes". Yes, these characters are adored, and cherished (especially by me and my husband) but they're not always accurate depictions of real autism. 

Living life on the spectrum is hard because of other people, please, if someone wants to non-canonically apply autism to one of their favorite characters, let them. It helps them cope, it gets them through their daily lives, and often gives them hope. Taking that away is a form of silencing, which happens more frequently than anyone ever wants to admit. Let us have this one. We get nothing else, it seems. 

(And if you don't have something, don't depict a character with it, it's unfair to the community of people you're trying to portray, since you likely won't have a proper understanding of the diagnosis.) 

Thank you FlavorWire for putting together a list of possibly ASD characters! Much love.

Sparklers

Let me tell you something about July 4th. For anyone who lives outside of the US, it's probably a baffling holiday, but its one every USA citizen will tell you is extremely important. Today's the day that celebrates our freedom. This is the day our forefathers designated as a national holiday, and it's remained such since 1776. It's tradition to celebrate with fireworks and sparklers, and other gunpowder centered recreations. Everything about this day can easily spell out autistic hell, especially when immersed in an outdoor venue. It's hot, everyone's packed close to people they don't know, children are louder than usual, there are random skyward explosions, and everything about this day is unstable. At the end of the day, you get to sit back and enjoy dehydration with different colored sparks in the sky. Fun, right? Only if you're in a controlled environment, it would seem!

I am deathly afraid of sparklers, so the point that even being around one made me ansy, until today! Today, my husband offered me one, and I accepted. I had put a calm oil on my paracord bracelet, and even had my diffuser necklace on, and I was calm.Sure, at first it took some getting used to, I was frightened and held it stiffly away from my body, until I received some encouragement from my husband, and then I began to wave it about, slowly, but surely enjoying myself. Then he handed me two of them and I lit the second one all by myself. That sounds very childish, but you know what? I was terrified at first. It was a fear I put in the past because I was in a safe environment. Why was it safe? I have no idea, but I'm fairly certain it's because I had the right scents on me, and had taken my *meds. 

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that aromatherapy has "healed me of my depression or anxiety disorder" but I'm also not going to lie and say that it's done zilch. It has helped me gain confidence, fight my depressive/anxious streaks but that's coupled with my antidepression meds. I don't recommend straying from what your doctor has prescribed to you, unless you've talked to them first. They're the trained professionals, and if they're like your confidant, then they're more likely to listen to you than ignore your concerns and curiosities. 

*Depression Medication: I'm on a very low dosage of zoloft, so much in fact that it only takes the edge off and doesn't dope me up, which is what I wanted. 

What I will tell you is, that this is one of the true testaments of how much aromatherapy can help someone. I have an anxiety disorder and it helps me fight that. It helps me in situations that I don't even notice half of the time, and for that I tell you, you should try aromatherapy if you feel it'll help. Do your research for which oils would suit your needs and go from there! But this isn't my pitching campaign, it's just me, spreading how excited I am to have tried and loved sparklers! *I even asked if we could get more this week, and hubs said yes! (He's in charge of the money since finances stress me out and have been my source of meltdowns before. It's not that I can't be an adult, but I can only take so much stress.)

*We live right down the road from an Atlas Fireworks store that sells fireworks 'out of season'.

There you have it folks! From shaky, anxious, tearful mess, to exuberant, happy, calm living! Thank you Aromatherapy, you've changed my life.

Today's Scents: 

*The firebird perfume oil has the link to the etsy store I purchased this from! They're wonderful. I highly recommend their lotion, since it's non-greasy and homemade, I feel it's got better quality than the regular store bought stuff, plus it's got such a rich scent! It's extremely calming and overall delightful.

DIY Cold Remedies pt 1

Honey Lemon Ginger Tea
1 cup water
1" piece of ginger (or more to taste), peeled and chopped roughly
1/2 lemon
1 teaspoon honey (or more to taste)

1. Take a small pot over medium heat
2. Heat water, ginger, lemon and honey
3. Strain into a mug

*According to thekitchn, 1 whole lemon heeds 3 tablespoons of juice.
*It's best to use organic and locally made honey for the pollen it carries.

Edit 7-3-'16: (I added) Heat the Ginger, honey, and lemon for about 10 mins. Put in a jar together and let cool (if you want it to be cold). I added cinnamon and put the ginger and cinnamon in a makeshift teabag to keep the smaller pieces from floating all over the place.

I had a fairly large jar, so I added half a lemon, 1" of ginger and about 2 tablespoons of honey.

The ginger is very strong, I'll be using less of it in future brews, and more honey. But so far? It's tasty cold, too. Here's to hoping that it helps boost my immune system! (I've seen that's one of the benefits of this drink)


Honey & Cinnamon
1 teaspoon of honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Mix together
2. Take twice a day for 3 days.

*Both Honey and Cinnamon are antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal.
*It also has been known to knock out bladder/kidney infections, reduces sugar levels and blood pressure, and acts as a pain reliever for arthritis.

***      ***      ***      ***

Honestly, I'm not one for hot drinks, but I'm giving honey and cinnamon in hot water, a try. Right now, I'm feeling rather ill (sinus drainage, mucus build-up), so I'm hoping this works. Now, I'm quite the fan of modern pharm, but sometimes, you just don't want to deal with the side effects it can cause. So if the hot water, honey and cinnamon mixture doesn't work, I'll turn to cold meds, but it sure is tasty! It's also soothing on the throat, even though mine isn't sore. It's also good cold! It's sweet, but soothing and calming. I highly recommend it.

I have tried the Cinnamon and Honey paste, and its really delicious with crackers, fruit, toast, pretty much anything. It works in about 2-3 days, so long as you take it twice a day. It's a little spicy, so keep a drink handy, but it's better if you eat it with or on something else. 

Sometimes, homemade remedies are best paired with modern pharmaceutical products, but there's no harm in trying the first! This is by no means a substitute for medical advice or attention.  

***      ***      ***      ***

Allergy Bomb (10mL roller bottle)

20 Drops Lavender

20 Drops Lemon
20 Drops Peppermint

*Fill the rest with fractionated coconut oil

Vapor Rub
(by wickedspatula)

3/4 Cup Coconut Oil Solid

3 Tablespoons Beeswax
20-40 Drops Eucalyptus Oil
20 Drops Peppermint Oil

10 Drops Rosemary Oil
10 Drops Wild Orange Oil (optional)
I added:
10 Drops Camphor Oil (optional)
10 Drops Lavender Oil (optional)

1. Create a double boiler by placing one pot over one with water.

2. Melt down Coconut Oil Solids and beeswax together,
3. Add essential oils, and transfer to your container.

4. Keep in a cool, dry place.

Congestion Killer
(Steam Diffuser and/or Diffuser Necklace Blend)

6 Drops Peppermint

5 Drops Eucalyptus
4 Drops Camphor
2 Drops Lavender

***      ***      ***      ***

Do not ingest essential oils (unless directed by a trained medical profession who has experience in this area of therapy)! Kayla Fioravanti made an excellent point. Deaths in the aromatherapy group have skyrocketed since it's become an internet fad. Ingestion can lead to organ failure and even death. Aromatherapy is meant to be purely topical. 

For the Vapor Rub, I suggest putting it on the bottom of your feet, under your nose and on your chest. Since it doesn't contain petroleum jelly, it won't get on everything. It'll absorb quickly and help open your airways. I also recommend putting the oils (the same amount as in the rub recipe) in a roller bottle diluted with fractionated coconut oil. Apply the roller bottle mixture to your hands, cup them over your nose and take 5 slow, deep breaths. The roller bottle mixture is also good for headaches, when I have one, I add the oil to my temples, and forehead. It also helps with physical aches (muscles will sometimes spasm on my scalp and it is quite painful. The only thing I've found that actually helps is peppermint (diluted with fractionated coconut oil) oil), plus, if you like minty things, its very pleasant.

Honestly, my headaches don't stand a chance against any of these essential oil blends! In fact, before I tried any of this, I'd had a persistent near crippling headache. The first night I tried the Vapor Rub, I slept like a baby and woke up feeling like a new person! Since then, I keep my essential oil roller bottle with the same blend with me at all times! If I don't want to use the rub or my roller bottle, I'll put it in my steam diffuser and it'll do the same exact thing. I've even gone so far as to put it in my diffuser necklace and same results as with steam, oil or rub! 

Self Diagnosis?

There are only a few times in someone's life that they should ever diagnose themselves. Usually, when you leave it to a professional, they'll cover all bases and try to help you, but not everyone has the means or a trained professional on their side, that's when copious amounts of research and self-diagnosis is appropriate. 

Last August, I woke up and experienced something I now know as a meltdown. When I didn't know what it was, I thought it was a panic attack, but waking up immediately to it didn't make sense. I hadn't panicked about anything, hell, I hadn't even had the time! The previous day was stressful and I was a grouch almost all day, but I was under the impression that when you lay down to sleep, you wake up refreshed and anew, having left the previous day behind you. Oh boy I didn't know how wrong I was! So, when I calmed down enough, I consulted the ever-wise Google. What did it spit back at me? Autism Symptoms in children. Not only did I have to dig and scrape the darkest parts of the web for Adult Autism Symptoms, I had to then wade through the cesspool of Autism Speaks, and whiny parents in order to learn more. When I was about to give up, I turned to tumblr and Amazon Kindle. I found a book by Cynthia Kim called "Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate". When I bought it, I started reading and immediately began to cry. It was like someone had sat-in on my life and written it into a book. I was finally validated, after 24 years of being told "you're just artsy. Shy. Geeky. Unique", sure, all of these are fine, but they were excuses, not answers. The last nail in my proverbial coffin, was my sensory sensitivities. I began noticing I'd feel panicked after sudden light/noise, and was barely able to handle myself. It was like someone was peeling away this film from my eyes, so I could finally see me, for me. Then began the painful process of adjustment, and the only reason it was painful, was because my husband and I had to rework our lives to accommodate this sudden epiphany. Majority of our friends were accepting, but we kept our family in the dark until when we had the money and the knowledge under our belt, to find a trained therapist in diagnosing Autism in Adults. I spent six months on the waitlist, and that was the longest wait of my life.

Was my husband immediately accepting? No, he was shocked and very wary, which was explainable, until I started highlighting passages in my book and sending them to him via text. After about the tenth message, he realized how wrong he was to doubt me. He felt guilty, but as I learned, he did too. He appreciated it then, and still does now.  

Did we encounter people who weren't supporting? I won't name anyone, but the simple answer is yes. We've had several people leave our lives because of my informal and formal diagnosis, and our quality of life has actually improved because of it. You don't always realize the toxicity of the wrong people, until they're gone, and you're able to breathe freely. 

My experience with self-diagnosis was always intended to be temporary, but for some people, it's permanent. Some people are in dangerous situations where Autism will always carry stigma. Others simply don't have the means to seek out professional diagnosis, or there are no professionals trained or willing to help them, in their area. Sure, there are irresponsible people out there who just want to "fit in" or there are others, who, like me, do the appropriate amount of research and make an informed self-diagnosis. More times than not, those who cannot seek out a professional, don't just open a health manual and pick out what they want to have. 

So it all boils down to, I am self-diagnosis accepting, so long as the person or people conducting it are going about it responsibly. If you're curious about a neurological disorder, research it. Learning isn't bad, and if you happen to identify with something, approach a community about it and start asking questions. Everyone is different, and can therefore present differing symptoms. 

Be safe, friends! Living life as an undiagnosed autistic adult was hell, and no one deserves to go through that! Do what you need.

What is Neurodiversity?

Usually, I wouldn't look anything up on wikipedia since it's maintained by the public, and some people find it hilarious to upload false information. This time however, I trust my peers.

Neurodiversity as defined by Wikipedia.

   "A concept where neurological differences are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation. These differences can include those labeled with Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum, Tourette Syndrome, and others."

Teaching others about Neurodivesity is extremely important. Not many people know or even understand this subject, which can lead to negative feelings and false ideas. Autism is often a vast and confusing subject, especially when it comes to girls and women. The diagnostic criteria for Autism was set by the example of boys. Girls are much different from boys in several ways. Boys are more likely to act out and be very open in expressing their differences, whereas girls often hide this which makes them much more difficult to diagnose. Now, I'm not purposely excluding non-binary people, or other gendered people, but in the health manuals, there are no documented cases that I specifically know of, although there are a plethora of *us within the community.

*Us: I identify as non-binary, although my birth certificate says female.

This is a short post, but that's all I can think of for now!

The dreaded summer

Beach trips. Barbecues. Flip Flops. Bathing suits. Campfires. This is something neurotypical people like about summer. You know what my autistic mind sees? Sweating in places that makes me cringe. Way too hot. Humidity. Unstable temperatures. Loud people. Random fireworks. Random thunder and lightening. Screaming children. Sunburns. Copious amounts of bugs, that're always in my face.

Normally, summertime is filled with fun and laughter, right? Not for me. For me, it means itchy skin, little things constantly in my face, weather so hot that it makes places on my body sweat that should never produce water. THEN we have the bites those tiny little things swarming in my face leave. Nothing is stable about summer. In fact, there is so much randomness about it that it makes me cringe. Autistic people need an environment that's constant, and since everything in summer is fast paced, it seems nothing during this season is calm enough to be constant. Sure, when I've got my own activities planned, I don't think twice about enjoying myself, however, this usually means ignorant people who can't understand how to be civil to strangers. There are a lot of positive things during summer, but most of them are people related, and I hate people, well, most people. 

How do I combat this? I make a safe space in our house where I can retire. I read a lot, listen to good music, play games, or write. I keep myself distracted from the unstable environment. Calming scents help, but they cannot keep my mind busy, but they do help take the edge off. 

Always remember to accommodate your autistic, if its within reason. If they want to take their blanket, a pillow, stuffed animal or something else they find soothing into a closet, because it's quiet, make sure they're comfortable. Check in on them SOMETIMES, make sure they have a fan, and some water. But most of all, just make sure they're calm and comfy. Life is hard, lets not make it worse for them during these times of sensory sensitivity. 

Why #RedInstead pt 1

the-newshub - gives a well worded history of the infamously evil Autism Speaks. 

"For a charity that claims to be in support of autistic individuals, it would appear to be their last area of concern. Even their title is a misnomer; allowing autistic people to speak is the last thing they partake in. They offer little to no support to those on the spectrum (with only 4% of their donations actually going to autistic families) and have even gone as far as to present a mother who admitted to contemplating the murder of both herself and her autistic daughter (with said daughter being right next to her as she said this) as a sympathetic party. She goes on to state the only reason she didn't do so is because she also had a non-autistic child at home."

brokenbrilliant on wordpress  - explains more about #redinstead, and the reasoning for the movement.

#WalkInRed - Gives the exact goal of #RedInstead. The name had actually been changed from #WalkInRed to #RedInstead to be further inclusive to those differently abled within our community.

Google Results for RedInstead

LeftBrainRightBrain - Explains why Autism Speaks' LightItUpBlue campaign is actually just advertising for their bogus charity.

By saying Autism is a disease, it nullifies the positivity it has possibly presented in people's lives. Their Eugenics campaign has the unrealistic idea that we need to be "cured" rather than accepted and loved for how we are. I am worthy of love. I am different. Different is okay. In most cases, the people who speak out again autism are the parents of autistic people, who use that like the race card "I'm not racist, I am friends with brown people!" and no, I'm not comparing the two. They ignore the voices of the autistic person in order to make theirs known, which is who Autism Speaks focuses on. They mute the voices of the autistic persons in order to listen to how their developmental disorder impact their lives rather than the person actually living with it. Until recently, there were no autistic peoples on their committee. Don't you think that would be vital? For autistic people. By autistic people. In fact, that is the slogan for ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network).

The puzzle piece was actually coined by an organization who used a crying child's silhouette in a puzzle piece to represent how autistic people suffer. Which is bullshit. It was also made by a parent to support other parents, instead of the children. Yes, living with me, an autistic adult, is not the easiest, but no, I do not deserve anything less than love and support. My autism does not impede my quality of life, nor is it ruining my marriage, which Autism Speaks has declared it will. In fact, my diagnosis has improved my marriage, because now we know about sensory sensitivities, burnouts, meltdowns and the importance of schedules, which is something enough parents and relatives see as a problem. In fact, the people who cannot "cope" with their relative's diagnosis, are often toxic and unwilling to help anyone but themselves. Yes, this can be an unfair generalization, but so is every negative "theory" about autistics.

Vaccinations do not cause Autism. In fact, vaccinating your children is good because it stops the spread of potentially deadly contagions. But they're preserved with mercury! NO. They contain no more mercury than eating tuna fish. Stop looking for every excuse in the book to not inoculate your children. If you don't, you're the reason why there are health epidemics, and breakouts of contagions that haven't been documented since the 1920s. Nonvaccinated children contract everything under the sun, and spend their lives sick and miserable. Don't believe me? GOOGLE IT. I did and it gave me nightmares for weeks. If you want to be healthy, cut out full-fat milk, high fructose corn syrup. Go organic. But don't use Autism as the excuse as to why you didn't pony-up as a responsible parent and vaccinate your children.

Autism is not a disease. It is a developmental disorder that exists on a spectrum, much like gender and sexuality. Believe it or not, ADD, ADHD, and Dyslexia all exist on the autism spectrum, as they are all developmental disorders. Diseases are contracted and spread, developmental disorders are not, in fact, they are hereditary.

I just got my diagnosis and I feel broken! Oh friend. Please don't! There is a whole community of healthy, and happy autistics who want to talk to you! All you need to do is search #autismpositivity on tumblr, #RedInstead on twitter. Those are the two that are most popular! There are also facebook support groups full of people just like you. Sure, there are some people who hate their brand of autism, but, if you don't learn to love it, your life will be miserable. Be your quirky self, indulge in your special interests (the word that comes to mind is 'obsession' but that can sound extremely negative. Essentially, a special interest is something you love learning about or doing), and flaunt who you are. Say "KISS MY ASPERGERS" to those who refuse to understand you and love yourself. In fact, I know more people that love their autism, than I do the people who hate it.

Please, love yourself, love your children, and relatives. Autism is not a death sentence or a curse. It is not a disease and cannot be passed on like an STD. Lets put a stop to these falsities.

"I have an oil for that" pt 1

Premade Blends:

Now Foods:

Naturally Lovable: Lemon, Orange, Sandalwood, Jasmine Absolute, Ylang Ylang

Primary Benefits: Romantic, comforting, and calming.

Peaceful Sleep: Orange, Tangerine, Lavender, Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood

Primary Benefits: Calming, relaxing, and soothing.

Nature's Shield: Clove Bud, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus, Rosemary

Primary Benefits: Uplifting, energizing, cleansing, and freshening.

doTerra:

Breathe: Laurel, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Melaleuca (Tea Tree), Lemon, Ravensara, Cardamom Seed

Primary Benefits: Promotes a restful night's sleep, helps minimize effects of seasonal threats.

Balance: Spruce Needle/Leaf, Ho Wood, Frankincense Resin, Blue Tansy, Blue Chamomile, Fractionated Coconut Oil

Primary Benefits: Relaxation, eases anxiousness, evokes tranuility, and balance.

***      ***      ***      ***

Confidence: Bay Laurel, Bergamont, Cypress, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Orange, Rosemary

Anger: Bergamont, Jasmine, Neroli, Orange, Patchouli, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver, Petitgrain

Anxiety: Bergamont, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Mandarin, Neroli, Patchouli, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetiver

Depression: Bergamont, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Mandarin, Neroli, Orange, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Helichrysm

Fear: Bergamont, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lemon, Neroli, Orange, Roman Chamomile, Sandalwood, Vetiver

Insecurity: Bergamont, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Vetiver

Grief: Cypress, Frankincense, Helichrysm, Neroli, Rose, Vetiver, Sandalwood

Happiness/Peace: Bergamont, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Neroli, Orange, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang

Irritability: Lavender, Mandarin, Neroli, Roman Chamomile, Sandalwood

Loneliness: Bergamont, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Helichrysm, Roman Chamomile, Rose

Stress: Benzoin, Bergamont, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lavender, Mandarin, Neroli, Patchouli, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang

***      ***      ***      ***

Having a hard time sleeping? 
Taken from Scott Jenkins book.

Benzoin: Relieves stress, tension, nervousness, and anxiety. It is often used as a sedative. 

Bergamont: Great relaxant, soothes nerves, anxiety, tension, and stress.It stimulates the feeling of sedation and relaxation similar to serotonin and dopamine.

Chamomile: Roman chamomile is best for relaxation, stress relief and better sleep.

Cedarwood: Helps the brain to stop overthinking, and overprocessing. 

Clary Sage: Widely used to treat patients with depression. It relaxes the mind and body, and relieves stress.

Frankincense: It calms and relaxes the body and soul, which makes it an effective sedative and stress reliever.

Geranium: Relieves stress and balances hormones for overall relaxation. It's also great for skincare.

Jasmine: The smell relaxes the mind and body, relieves stress, and induces sleep.

Lavender: Dubbed the "best" essential oil for its versatility. It is the only EO (essential oil) that can be safely applied directly to the skin. Its deep, rich aroma, calms the senses, body and mind, which induces a deeper and more relaxed sleep.

Lemon: This is an easy favorite by many for its sweet, citrus scent. It promotes happiness, relieves tension, and mental fatigue, exhaustion, restlessness, insomnia and sleeplessness. It is also antibacterial, and antiviral.

Marjoram: Sweet marjoram is best for sleep related issues for its relaxing and sedating properties. It relaxes the mind, and body, induces relaxation, happiness and calmness. It promotes a deep sleep and overall body relaxation. 

Neroli: Has high relaxing properties. It is a non-irritant, effective in relieving insomnia due to panic attacks, depression, anxiety and shock.

Orange: Brings calm and peace to the mind and body. it uplifts moods and has been known to relax someone entirely.

Rose: Is very soothing, and relaxing. It is an aphrodisiac. Aside from helping with sleep, it also helps bring back a person's sex drive.

Sandalwood: Its intoxicating smell is very relaxing and can lullaby someone to sleep.

Valerian Root: Contains GABA receptor modulators, aka valeric acid, which is a sedative. GABA pills are usually consumed when someone's sleep pattern is interrupted, and needs to be lulled back into dreamland. This oil prevents enzyme-caused GABA breakdown in the brain, which is how it causes sedation. It calms the nervous system in order to promote a better sleep.

Ylang Ylang: It is relaxing, calming, and causes a sedative-like action that has been known to put someone into a deep sleep.

***      ***      ***      ***

Arthritis bothering you?

Peppermint: Soothes general and inflammatory pain.

Rosemary: Soothes muscle/joint pain, and improves circulation.

Marjoram: Helps treat painful joints.

Anise: It has several uses outside of soothing arthritis including being used as an anti-hysteric, anti-epileptic, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, decongestant, and sedative. It is utilized in treating arthritis and rheumatism. It kills and repels insects, lice, worms, and relaxes nervous afflictions. 

Morning Blend

Since this image has a small amount of detail on it already, let me tell you how it makes me feel! Do you have a beverage and snack? No? Well you might want to grab one! Have you drank a glass of water today? No?! Please remember to drink some water each day! Oh wait, I'm off subject!

Ready? Lets go! 

Every morning, before my experimentation with aromatherapy, I'd start my morning with a jolt of caffeine, and then worry if I didn't finish it by a certain time of night, that I wouldn't sleep. Now, I love caffeine. It and I have had a love affair since I was a young teen. However, since I have ADHD, it would exasperate my naturally high energy levels, and cause me to feel a little out of control. Yes, I've had a caffeine addiction several times in my life, and the headaches accompanied with quitting, are the absolute worst. 

Since I started aromatherapy, however, I do not need caffeine to wake up. In fact, this particular blend helps me wake up and feel wide awake until I switch out the pad in my necklace to a calmer scent. Citrus scents, I've found, are really energizing, so much in fact, that my husband told me that I was acting extremely hyper my first time. Since then, I've used an even amount of citrus oils as floral, just to try and keep the energy level down. 

Does the allergy part work? Yes! In fact, I find myself presenting less allergy-like symptoms with it, than with meds, which weren't seeming to do a darn thing. 

Light & Airy Blend

Steam diffusers can be a necessity in some households, it sure is in mine! Every night, before bed, I'll read, or watch a movie while I diffuse that night's scent selection. Often times, it helps calm me down enough to lay down and give into sleep, other times it helps me breathe (which can be an absolute blessing during allergy season) clearly enough to relax into sleep. This specific blend gives me sweet dreams, and when I say sweet, I mean sweet. Since Nightmares are a common product of Autism, it's important to keep peaceful scents around. The sweet/peaceful/happiness inducing scent helps keep the person in a good frame of mine while falling asleep,which often helps beat those night time monsters! I've heard Juniper Berry also helps! 

Not only does this give me sweet dreams, it helps open my lungs up to a degree for deeper, easier sleeping. 

Please use Eucalyptus oil with caution, as it slows the breathing in children under 5. 

Light and Airy scents are always welcome in my house so it won't practically suffocate my husband or our cat. It's calming enough to help guide me to sleep land, but light enough that my husband, with his super sniffer, won't get a stomach cramp. 

Have ADHD? Are your default modes fast forward and stop? Then this is your pause button! How do I know? I have ADHD and can attest to this! 

Peaceful Sleep is produced by Now Foods.

Wind Down Blend

Let me start off by saying, I'm an autistic adult. I'm 25 and was diagnosed in early 2016. No, I do not find this a curse, nor do I support Autism Speaks and their Eugenics campaign. I'm happily married, and I do not think this'll ruin my marriage, if anything, this discovery has helped improve it. 

How has it helped me? I've become more calm. In stressful situations, I used to put my hands over my ears and panic until my husband reminded me about the headphones I often travel with and use while in walmart, the grocery store or some other unpleasant atmosphere. With the diffuser necklace, I'll remember it on my own and find that I'm more even-tempered. Autism comes with insomnia-like symptoms, and I'll have a hard time sleeping for weeks at a time, but with aromatherapy, I'm able to calm down and even sleep during those flare-ups. 

Now, why am I posting this? This "Wind Down" diffuser necklace blend is calming enough that I'll wear it right up until bed, then diffuse something similar to it, which will put me to sleep. I no longer feel like my anxiety has reached atomic levels, in fact, I only feel that 'out of control' level when I'm in walmart at 3pm on a friday, which is saying something! Before, I had that feeling all day, every day, and was prone to emotional overload which meant I'd snap at my husband. 

I've only been using aromatherapy for a month, and already I feel like a new person! 

Naturally Lovable and Peaceful Sleep are both made by Now Foods. I'm only specifying this to make the search easier, I'm not one to push brands on people, especially since not everyone wants to buy doTerra, Young Living, or Now Foods.