.webp)
Mastering ACCEPTS: A Guide for Autistic Adults to Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) teaches practical tools for managing emotions and coping with distress. While it was originally developed to help those with borderline personality disorder (BPD), people who are neurodivergent or dealing with many mental health conditions can find DBT-based tools helpful.
For many adults with autism spectrum disorder, the DBT skill “ACCEPTS” is helpful during moments of sensory overload, executive functioning fatigue or emotional dysregulation. It offers simple ways to shift focus and make space to regulate before taking action.
Let’s take a closer look at what each part of ACCEPTS means and how you can make it work for you.
Navigating Friendship on the Autism Spectrum: Strategies for Success
Making friends while having autism spectrum disorder can feel complicated, exhausting or even discouraging—especially when social rules seem unclear or your way of connecting doesn’t always match what others expect. Many autistic people grow up being told they’re “too much,” “too quiet” or “too blunt,” which can make reaching out feel risky. You might have been burned before or feel unsure about how to move from casual interactions to deeper connections.
But friendship doesn’t have to follow a neurotypical script to be meaningful. When you understand your own social needs, boundaries and communication style, it becomes easier to build relationships that feel safe and authentic. While every person’s experience is different, there are some common challenges autistic individuals can face when it comes to friendship. Thankfully, there are also practical, affirming strategies for forming connections in ways that honor who you are.
Whether you’re looking to make one solid friend or expand your community a little at a time, friendship is possible—and you deserve it.
Navigating Autism and Gender Dysphoria: A Journey Towards Identity and Acceptance
For many people living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), exploring gender identity can feel especially complex. Research and community experience consistently show that autistic individuals are more likely to identify as transgender, nonbinary or outside the traditional gender binary than the general population.
That doesn’t mean being autistic causes someone to be transgender or vice versa. Instead, this should be a wake-up call to understanding how neurodivergence can shape people's experience and expression. For example, this can lead to an autistic person questioning social norms more often and feeling less pressure to conform to the traditional gender role for their assigned gender or sex.
Understanding this intersection is crucial. Gender dysphoria is often just one part of a broader autistic identity that deserves affirmation, respect and support. Recognizing how autism and gender diversity interact helps reduce stigma, improve mental health outcomes and empower autistic individuals to live more fully as their authentic selves.
