With Elli

Friends are more than companions in our lives — they’re the people who walk beside us when life feels heavy and remind us that we don’t have to carry everything alone. Friends: How They Support You and Why You Need Them Friends help us hold the invisible weight of life. When we’re with someone we trust, we can let down our guard. We don’t have to explain every detail or pretend to be stronger than we feel. That sense of safety allows honesty and vulnerability to come through. Sharing worries, joys, and struggles with a friend doesn’t mean they’ll fix everything — but it reminds us that we’re not alone. Their presence makes even the heaviest burdens lighter. We need friends because they mirror back our humanity: they see us when we feel invisible, they remind us of our worth when we doubt it, and they walk beside us when life feels overwhelming. That’s why it feels so healing to unburden your soul to someone safe and loving. Why It’s So Important for Humans to Talk About Their Probl...

We all carry stress. Some days it’s light, other days it feels like a heavy stone on our chest. But what happens when the weight never lifts? When extreme stress stays with us for too long, it begins to shape our body, our mind, and even the way we see ourselves. I’ve been reflecting on these questions — about stress, trauma, ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, and burnout — and I want to share what I’ve learned. My hope is that this can guide anyone who wants to understand themselves or someone they care about a little better. What happens if we don’t deal with extreme stress? Stress isn’t just a feeling — it’s something the body experiences physically, emotionally, and mentally. Over time, if it’s not addressed, it can lead to: Physical effects : Chronic headaches, high blood pressure, heart issues, digestive problems, weakened immune system, and disturbed sleep. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline flood the body, affecting organs and tissues. Mental effects : Anxiety, depression, irr...

For many autistic people, social interaction feels like a performance — not because they’re dishonest, but because they’ve had to learn to "mask" their natural ways of being in order to be accepted, understood, or safe. This is called masking , and it can happen all day, every day. What Is Masking? Masking involves things like: Photo by Jens Riesenberg on Unsplash Imitating facial expressions and tone of voice Forcing eye contact Hiding stimming (like fidgeting or self-soothing movements) Suppressing emotions or overwhelm Studying and rehearsing what to say before saying it Pretending to be “okay” — even when they’re not Many autistic people start masking from a young age, often unconsciously. Over time, it becomes second nature — but it’s not natural. It’s learned. And it’s exhausting . It’s Not Just Strangers — It’s Everyone Masking doesn’t only happen in formal situations or with strangers. It often shows up in daily conversations with: Pho...