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Nurturing Imagination While Grounding Reality for Autistic Individuals At Autismhoodmedia, we believe in celebrating the vivid imaginations of autistic individuals, like my son Sheamus. He’s always been a dreamer a young artist whose mind dances between bright worlds of creativity and the steady ground of daily life. But one thing we’ve learned on this journey is how vital it is to help him separate those beautiful fantasies from reality. For autistic individuals, the line between fantasy and...

Understanding Anxiety in Autistic Individuals: Facts, Causes, and Natural Supports By AutismHood Media Introduction Anxiety is one of the most common co-occurring conditions among autistic individuals, affecting up to 40–50% of people on the spectrum compared to about 18% of the general population. While anxiety is a typical human experience, autistic individuals often experience it differently, more frequently, and more intensely. Understanding the science behind this and exploring natural s...

Laundry Day Lessons with Sheamus: Building Skills, One Load at a Time”In our home, laundry day isn’t just about cleaning clothes it’s about building life skills, learning patience, and spending intentional time together. For Sheamus and me, it’s a quiet routine we’ve come to appreciate. It starts with separating the clothes. Sheamus has gotten really good at this part whites in one pile, darks in another, and towels in their own section. He’s very visual and detail oriented, so sorting has be...

☕ Morning Coffee with Sheamus: Our Daily Ritual In our house, mornings are more than just the start of a new day they’re sacred. It’s when the world is quiet, the sun peeks through the blinds, and it’s just me and Sheamus, bonding over something as simple as coffee. We’ve got a little coffee station set up right in our kitchen. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s ours a Keurig machine, a carousel of coffee pods, flavor creamers (hazelnut is Sheamus’s favorite), and a couple of mugs that mean more th...

Understanding Repetitive Behaviors in Autism: Why They Happen and How to Support Without JudgmentRepetitive behaviors are a hallmark characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These behaviors, often called “stimming” or “self-stimulatory behavior,” can take many forms: rocking, hand flapping, repeating certain phrases (echolalia), lining up objects, watching the same video clip over and over, or insisting on doing daily routines in the exact same way. While they may appear unusual to o...

Inside Our Mornings: Sheamus’s Routine at Sunrise In our home, mornings start early real early. While most folks are still turning over in bed, Sheamus is already up by 5 a.m., wide-eyed and ready to begin his day. The routine is always the same and that consistency matters deeply. Like many autistic teens, Sheamus finds comfort in repetition and rhythm. As soon as he’s out of bed, he heads straight to the bathroom to brush his teeth. You’ll hear the soft sounds of him spinning and gently roc...

A Safe Haven for Curiosity and Connection There’s something magical about a quiet library on a weekday afternoon the soft hum of fluorescent lights, the scent of paper and ink, and the gentle rustle of turning pages. For my son Sheamus, it’s more than just a place to borrow books. It’s a haven. A world within a world. A routine that feels like home. Our local community library has become one of Sheamus’s favorite spots. The moment we step through the doors, I see his face light up. There’s no...

Why Does Echolalia Happen in Autism? The autistic brain processes language differently. For some, echolalia is a stepping stone to independent speech. For others, it’s a permanent and valid mode of communication. Here’s what echolalia can do for an autistic person: ✅ Practice speech patterns ✅ Reduce anxiety or regulate sensory overload ✅ Participate in social interaction using familiar scripts ✅ Express feelings using borrowed words ✅ Make sense of the world through repetition Think of it li...

Sheamus and Chris the Mailman By Autism Hood Media Every afternoon, between 3 and 4 p.m., something special happens in our building. While most people are waiting on mail, my son Sheamus is waiting on a friend his favorite mailman, Chris. Chris isn’t just the guy who delivers packages and envelopes. To Sheamus, he’s a familiar face, a daily dose of consistency, and a small part of a big routine that helps Sheamus feel grounded in the world. As soon as Sheamus hears the hum of the mail truck p...

My Journey Raising Sheamus: From Struggle to Strength In 2010, I became a full-time single parent to my son, Sheamus. He was just a year old when I was awarded full custody. His mother had visitation rights, but due to her battle with drug addiction, those visits stopped. Tragically, she passed away in 2022 from an overdose. Sheamus never really knew her, and for a long time, I didn’t speak of her. I carried that weight quietly trying to protect his innocence and preserve our peace. By age 3,...