"I can't handle stimuli very well." - Esther

My name is Esther, I am almost 17 years old and I love animals very much. My hobbies are being around animals and drawing. I will start my paraveterinary training (veterinary assistant) in 2022. I was diagnosed with autism when I was 15.

Due to my autism, I can't handle stimuli very well. That is why I am often overstimulated. I also cannot cope with changes and my processing speed is very slow and I have difficulty making contact as well. So looking at people etc. and social activities will cost me a lot of energy. To make things a bit easier, I have some aids, such as hearing protection to muffle sounds, a tangle, an weighted blanket and a wobble pillow.

I am proud of the progress I have made in these past few years. Seeing where I have came from, I can be proud of that.

I would advise people with autism that you don't have to be insecure about your autism, because it brings a lot of positive aspects too.