Hi comrades, it’s yappening again - you're invited to drop in chat about what's on your mind in Webfishing!

We have closed the server for this session. Thanks to all who stopped by!

You will need to enter it when you start the game here in the server menu:

Note that the FAQ has been recently updated.
New questions with answers will be highlighted below:

When is the drop-in server being hosted?
This Friday, 5:00am PST / 2:00am EST / 1:00pm MSK / 10:00am UTC
Click on the UTC link to be taken to Bing search results that will localise the time to your specific region.

Test link to .ics file to add event to your calendar [still figuring this out]

How long will the drop-in server run for?
I'm planning to run it for approximately two hours unless there is demand for it to run longer and I have the spoons for it.
This post will be edited to reflect when the servers are live and when they have closed.

What happens if the server crashes?

If there was about 20 minutes or less before the server was due to close and things were winding down, sorry folks - the party died a little prematurely. But if it looked like the momentum was going to continue and I could keep going then I’ll fire up a new server and send out a new ping inviting you back. If there was 30 minutes or more to go before the promised close time, I’ll do the same.

How can I join the ping list?

Comment below asking to be added or send me a DM with a request and I'll add you to the ping list.

Will you notify me in Element when your server goes live next?

I need to do a viability assessment before I can promise anything. If you want to be on the waiting list, send me a DM to let me know and I’ll put you down and if/when it gets launched I’ll let you know via Element.

Will you hold it at a more reasonable time for North America/my time zone?
I plan to. I intend on holding this drop-in server at different times to cover different time zones so that it's suitable for folks wherever they happen to be.

What is Webfishing anyway?
It's a new little cozy game that's based around fishing and feels a lot like Animal Crossing.

How does it work?
It's basically like a chatroom that has a little game attached to it. You don't have to play the game if you just want to chat. The game itself has a very relaxed vibe without any time pressure or specific goals you have to achieve.

Where do I get the game?
It's available on Steam for around $5 USD, less if you're in a developing country.

What if I can't afford to buy the game at the moment?
If it's the one thing that's stopping you from joining, send me a DM and I'll gift you a copy as long as you are a Hexbear user with an account that isn't brand new.

Can I join if I am a lurker, if I do not have a Hexbear account, or if I found this via another part of the Fediverse?

What if I do not identify as being neurodivergent?

Of course. As long as you adhere to the Server Ground Rules listed at the bottom of this post you are invited to join the server.
You do not have to identify as neurodivergent to join the server, I've just been posting on here as I gradually grow this project and improve it to avoid overextending myself. In due course I hope to start promoting this to the whole site but for now I've still got my training wheels on.

You are not expected to be an active Hexbear user with an account in order to join the server - everyone is welcome.

What are the system requirements?
They are reasonably low. You need a device that can run Steam (like a PC, a laptop, or a handheld device such as a Steam Deck or similar.)
You can read more about the specific system requirements on the Steam page to see if your device is up to the task of running the game.

Can I join the server straight after downloading the game?
There is a brief, mandatory tutorial that the game makes you do when you play for the first time. It should only take you a few minutes to play through though. After you have completed the mandatory tutorial you will be able to join a server and start chatting/playing.

Do I have to RSVP? How long do I have to stay if I join?
You don't need to RSVP, just show up whenever you're ready to while the server is running.
You don't have to stay for any longer than you want to. You can even just pop in to say hello and then head off straight after if you like.
If you mention that you are interested in joining the server for this event in the comments section below, I will ping you when it goes live.
If you want to be part of the main ping list, just say so and every time a new post about the next upcoming peer space gets posted I’ll ping you so you get a notification that another one is happening soon.

Do I have to use my Hexbear username?
No. I'd recommend that you don't so that way you have some separation between your account here and your character in Webfishing.

Will it be moderated?
You bet it will be. I will be in there the whole time and I will moderate the space to maintain its safety.

Is there an age requirement to join the server?
I cannot guarantee with 100% certainty that the server will be safe or suitable for minors so you are only permitted to join if you are 18+.
I will do my best to ensure the server is safe but people may chose talk about heavy subjects or topics that are inappropriate for minors and I do not want to expose minors to undue risks.
I cannot check your ID at the door but please keep in mind that you need to be an adult in order to join.

A Casual, non-Peer Support server are currently being trialled for viability where the rules are stricter on acceptable discussion but which is open to all ages.

If you would like to be added to the non-Peer Support list then please send me a DM requesting to be added to that peer list. All users on the main ping list will also be notified of the casual non-Peer Support server going live.

Please DO NOT comment below letting everyone know that you are a minor – don’t announce your age online in public spaces especially if you aren’t an adult, please.

What's the difference between the Peer Support server and the casual one?

All users will be expected to keep things age-appropriate in the casual server.
Currently the casual server is going live on an ad-hoc basis without advanced notification, mostly by request at the moment.
I will be there to moderate however my engagement is less intensive to allow me to manage the demands on me. Think of it as a low key hang out space to chat with whoever is in the server but not as a space where I will be able to provide peer support.

Can I make a request for you to start the casual server?

You can try.
I will make no guarantees but if I am available, if I have enough energy, and if checked my inbox, I'll probably make it happen.

What can I talk about in the Peer Support server?
Almost anything.
Don't dox yourself or others, don't be abusive or make threats against others, but basically if it wouldn't break the rules here then it won't break the rules in the server.
For more a detailed and explicit explanation of the rules, the Server Ground Rules can be found at the bottom of this post.

What if I don't have anything to talk about?
I don't mind. You can just hang out in the server and play the game or be a part of the group.

Why are you offering this?
I used to be a peer worker and I have worked in the disability and mental health sectors. This is something that I have done professionally (only face to face, not online) and it's a way of providing support to this community if there is anyone who would like to chat or to seek peer support.
It can be hard to access mental health supports for a variety of reasons. This is my modest attempt to make accessing mental health supports a little bit easier.

Is this like a life coaching/neurodivergent coaching thing?
No. While I have been trained in different coaching methods, as it is a group space and as there isn’t necessarily continuity in how your accounts will appear to me in different sessions if you choose to change your details, along with the fact that there is no accountability and goal-tracking being offered alongside consistent bookings (not to mention that I will not be keeping casenotes on my end), formal coaching is beyond the scope of this server.
I may draw upon coaching methods in the server as I see fit but this server is not a suitable space for an ongoing coaching mode of support.

Are you a qualified therapist or doctor?
Absolutely not and I'm not attempting to be one.
I can offer support as a peer, I can share based on my own experiences and understanding of things, but I cannot be more than that.

Is this space a crisis service or an emergency service?
Absolutely not. I am not equipped to handle a mental health crisis for pseudo-anonymous people remotely via an online co-op game.
If you are in crisis, you will need to access the local crisis services available to you.
If it is an emergency, you will need to call your country's emergency number.

Is it a secure platform? How do I protect my identity in this game?
The public info on your Steam profile page will be visible to others so I strongly recommend setting your profile page to private and choosing a profile pic and setting the username to something that doesn't identify you and is generic to make it effectively unsearchable (e.g. using a name like Krupskaya or Azerty or Salton Sea). You can also make a burner Steam account for additional privacy if you like.
The platform is not secure (nor is this one that you're on now), so it is not like Matrix/Element. I strongly recommend using a VPN to conceal your IP. I cannot guarantee what the game has on the back end. Treat it a you would the Hexbear Visual Cuisine on cy.tube.
Be very careful about giving out too much info or info that is too specific. You can be vague, you can throw out false info about your situation, and you can simply choose not to divulge info at all.

How many people are permitted in the server at any given time?
There is a maximum of 12 people allowed in the server currently and it is first come, first serve.
I will try and keep an eye on the numbers and in the unlikely event that the server hits 10+ guests then I will invite people to consider whether they are ready to move on in order to allow other people to join.
I may choose to revise these numbers downwards based on the demands for moderation, my PC’s ability to cope with the demands of hosting the server, and to ensure that people in the server get a chance to chat with me.

What's the server's position on ableism?
Ableism targeting another person is strictly forbidden.
The use of ableist slurs and the denigration of people based on ability/disability is strictly forbidden.
Unfortunately our culture and language is deeply ableist. Casual use of ableist language is discouraged but it is not policed; examples of casual ableism are: "Is it dumb to feel this way?". "I feel like I'm stupid for not figuring this out earlier", and "My boss went completely psycho at me".
There are alternative words that can be used however this space recognises that self-expression is fundamental to its functioning and I cannot demand that people change their use of language instantaneously or to treat communication in the server like it's some sort of crossword puzzle they have to solve in order to get their message across.
"You are dumb" is absolutely not permitted. "[x group of marginalised people] are dumb" is absolutely not permitted. "Why do people have to act so dumb just because they see a guy wearing nail polish?" is a tolerated form of casual ableism in the server—although it is not condoned—while creativity and the use of alternative non-ableist terms is encouraged.
You will be able to prompt me to yap about this topic for as long as you care to listen if you happen to ask me about it in the server.

Are you insured for this?
No.
The pleasure is mine but the liability is yours.

Do you offer refunds?
Sure, but it's a free service so it's not worth asking for a refund on that.
Due to the current limitations of the time-space continuum, I will be unable to refund you your time.

Do you wear wigs?

Server Ground Rules:

• No oppressive speech - no racism, sexism, queerphobia (including transphobia) etc.
• Be respectful of others - be kind, don't be a jerk.
• Don't record the server, don't spread the things that another person has said in the server around to others - if you have any concerns or complaints about my conduct or anyone else's then let me know either in the server or on Hexbear so I can address it.
• Verbal warnings/kicks/bans are up to my discretion - adhere to the first three ground rules, keep the space safe for yourself and others, and you'll be fine.
• Use of a VPN is strongly encouraged
• Keep your OpSec practices in mind at all times
• Consent is fundamental to every part of the server - you are always allowed to say that you don't want to do something or that you don't want to talk about something. Your choice will be upheld in the server.
• I am not a therapist or a doctor and I cannot be a replacement for them
• This is a casual peer support space not a crisis or emergency service.
• There is a maximum of 12 people allowed in the server and it is first come, first serve
• The server is for people who are 18+
• Anyone who agrees to these ground rules is welcome to join the server

Hope to see you there!

Hi comrades, it’s yappening again - you're invited to drop in chat about what's on your mind in Webfishing!

The server is now closed

Note that the FAQ has been updated.
New questions with answers will be highlighted below:

When is the drop-in server being hosted?
This Saturday, 11:00am PST / 2:00pm EST / 7:00pm UTC
Click on the UTC link to be taken to Bing search results that will localise the time to your specific region.

How long will the drop-in server run for?
I'm planning to run it for approximately two hours unless there is demand for it to run longer and I have the spoons for it.
This post will be marked closed when the server has been shut down.

What happens if the server crashes?

If there was about 20 minutes or less before the server was due to close and things were winding down, sorry folks - the party died a little prematurely. But if it looked like the momentum was going to continue and I could keep going then I’ll fire up a new server and send out a new ping inviting you back. If there was 30 minutes or more to go before the promised close time, I’ll do the same.

How can I join the ping list?

Comment below asking to be added or send me a DM with a request and I'll add you to the ping list.

Will you notify me in Element when your server goes live next?

I need to do a viability assessment before I can promise anything. If you want to be on the waiting list, send me a DM to let me know and I’ll put you down and if/when it gets launched I’ll let you know via Element.

Will you hold it at a more reasonable time for North America/my time zone?
I plan to. I intend on holding this drop-in server at different times to cover different time zones so that it's suitable for folks wherever they happen to be.

What is Webfishing anyway?
It's a new little cozy game that's based around fishing and feels a lot like Animal Crossing.

How does it work?
It's basically like a chatroom that has a little game attached to it. You don't have to play the game if you just want to chat. The game itself has a very relaxed vibe without any time pressure or specific goals you have to achieve.

Where do I get the game?
It's available on Steam for around $5 USD, less if you're in a developing country.

What if I can't afford to buy the game at the moment?
If it's the one thing that's stopping you from joining, send me a DM and I'll buy a code for you to use as long as you are a Hexbear user with an account that isn't brand new.

Can I join if I am a lurker, if I do not have a Hexbear account, or if I found this via another part of the Fediverse?

What if I do not identify as being neurodivergent?

Of course. As long as you adhere to the Server Ground Rules listed at the bottom of this post you are invited to join the server.
You do not have to identify as neurodivergent to join the server, I've just been posting on here as I gradually grow this project and improve it to avoid overextending myself. In due course I hope to start promoting this to the whole site but for now I've still got my training wheels on.

You are not expected to be an active Hexbear user with an account in order to join the server - everyone is welcome.

What are the system requirements?
They are reasonably low. You need a device that can run Steam (like a PC, a laptop, or a handheld device such as a Steam Deck or similar.)
You can read more about the specific system requirements on the Steam page to see if your device is up to the task of running the game.

Can I join the server straight after downloading the game?
There is a brief, mandatory tutorial that the game makes you do when you play for the first time. It should only take you a few minutes to play through though. After you have completed the mandatory tutorial you will be able to join a server and start chatting/playing.

Do I have to RSVP? How long do I have to stay if I join?
You don't need to RSVP, just show up whenever you're ready to while the server is running.
You don't have to stay for any longer than you want to. You can even just pop in to say hello and then head off straight after if you like.
If you mention that you are interested in joining the server for this event in the comments section below, I will ping you when it goes live.
If you want to be part of the main ping list, just say so and every time a new post about the next upcoming peer space gets posted I’ll ping you so you get a notification that another one is happening soon.

Do I have to use my Hexbear username?
No. I'd recommend that you don't so that way you have some separation between your account here and your character in Webfishing.

Will it be moderated?
You bet it will be. I will be in there the whole time and I will moderate the space to maintain its safety.

Is there an age requirement to join the server?
I cannot guarantee with 100% certainty that the server will be safe or suitable for minors so you are only permitted to join if you are 18+.
I will do my best to ensure the server is safe but people may chose talk about heavy subjects or topics that are inappropriate for minors and I do not want to expose minors to undue risks.
I cannot check your ID at the door but please keep in mind that you need to be an adult in order to join.

A Casual, non-Peer Support server are currently being trialled for viability where the rules are stricter on acceptable discussion but which is open to all ages.

If you would like to be added to the non-Peer Support list then please send me a DM requesting to be added to that peer list. All users on the main ping list will also be notified of the casual non-Peer Support server going live.

Please DO NOT comment below letting everyone know that you are a minor – don’t announce your age online in public spaces especially if you aren’t an adult, please.

What's the difference between the Peer Support server and the casual one?

All users will be expected to keep things age-appropriate in the casual server.
Currently the casual server is going live on an ad-hoc basis without advanced notification, mostly by request at the moment.
I will be there to moderate however my engagement is less intensive to allow me to manage the demands on me. Think of it as a low key hang out space to chat with whoever is in the server but not as a space where I will be able to provide peer support.

Can I make a request for you to start the casual server?

You can try.
I will make no guarantees but if I am available, if I have enough energy, and if checked my inbox, I'll probably make it happen.

What can I talk about in the Peer Support server?
Almost anything.
Don't dox yourself or others, don't be abusive or make threats against others, but basically if it wouldn't break the rules here then it won't break the rules in the server.
For more a detailed and explicit explanation of the rules, the Server Ground Rules can be found at the bottom of this post.

What if I don't have anything to talk about?
I don't mind. You can just hang out in the server and play the game or be a part of the group.

Why are you offering this?
I used to be a peer worker and I have worked in the disability and mental health sectors. This is something that I have done professionally (only face to face, not online) and it's a way of providing support to this community if there is anyone who would like to chat or to seek peer support.
It can be hard to access mental health supports for a variety of reasons. This is my modest attempt to make accessing mental health supports a little bit easier.

Is this like a life coaching/neurodivergent coaching thing?
No. While I have been trained in different coaching methods, as it is a group space and as there isn’t necessarily continuity in how your accounts will appear to me in different sessions if you choose to change your details, along with the fact that there is no accountability and goal-tracking being offered alongside consistent bookings (not to mention that I will not be keeping casenotes on my end), formal coaching is beyond the scope of this server.
I may draw upon coaching methods in the server as I see fit but this server is not a suitable space for an ongoing coaching mode of support.

Are you a qualified therapist or doctor?
Absolutely not and I'm not attempting to be one.
I can offer support as a peer, I can share based on my own experiences and understanding of things, but I cannot be more than that.

Is this space a crisis service or an emergency service?
Absolutely not. I am not equipped to handle a mental health crisis for pseudo-anonymous people remotely via an online co-op game.
If you are in crisis, you will need to access the local crisis services available to you.
If it is an emergency, you will need to call your country's emergency number.

Is it a secure platform? How do I protect my identity in this game?
The public info on your Steam profile page will be visible to others so I strongly recommend setting your profile page to private and choosing a profile pic and setting the username to something that doesn't identify you and is generic to make it effectively unsearchable (e.g. using a name like Krupskaya or Azerty or Salton Sea). You can also make a burner Steam account for additional privacy if you like.
The platform is not secure (nor is this one that you're on now), so it is not like Matrix/Element. I strongly recommend using a VPN to conceal your IP. I cannot guarantee what the game has on the back end. Treat it a you would the Hexbear Visual Cuisine on cy.tube.
Be very careful about giving out too much info or info that is too specific. You can be vague, you can throw out false info about your situation, and you can simply choose not to divulge info at all.

How many people are permitted in the server at any given time?
There is a maximum of 12 people allowed in the server currently and it is first come, first serve.
I will try and keep an eye on the numbers and in the unlikely event that the server hits 10+ guests then I will invite people to consider whether they are ready to move on in order to allow other people to join.
I may choose to revise these numbers downwards based on the demands for moderation, my PC’s ability to cope with the demands of hosting the server, and to ensure that people in the server get a chance to chat with me.

What's the server's position on ableism?
Ableism targeting another person is strictly forbidden.
The use of ableist slurs and the denigration of people based on ability/disability is strictly forbidden.
Unfortunately our culture and language is deeply ableist. Casual use of ableist language is discouraged but it is not policed; examples of casual ableism are: "Is it dumb to feel this way?". "I feel like I'm stupid for not figuring this out earlier", and "My boss went completely psycho at me".
There are alternative words that can be used however this space recognises that self-expression is fundamental to its functioning and I cannot demand that people change their use of language instantaneously or to treat communication in the server like it's some sort of crossword puzzle they have to solve in order to get their message across.
"You are dumb" is absolutely not permitted. "[x group of marginalised people] are dumb" is absolutely not permitted. "Why do people have to act so dumb just because they see a guy wearing nail polish?" is a tolerated form of casual ableism in the server—although it is not condoned—while creativity and the use of alternative non-ableist terms is encouraged.
You will be able to prompt me to yap about this topic for as long as you care to listen if you happen to ask me about it in the server.

Are you insured for this?
No.
The pleasure is mine but the liability is yours.

Do you offer refunds?
Sure, but it's a free service so it's not worth asking for a refund on that.
Due to the current limitations of the time-space continuum, I will be unable to refund you your time.

Do you wear wigs?

Server Ground Rules:

• No oppressive speech - no racism, sexism, queerphobia (including transphobia) etc.
• Be respectful of others - be kind, don't be a jerk.
• Don't record the server, don't spread the things that another person has said in the server around to others - if you have any concerns or complaints about my conduct or anyone else's then let me know either in the server or on Hexbear so I can address it.
• Verbal warnings/kicks/bans are up to my discretion - adhere to the first three ground rules, keep the space safe for yourself and others, and you'll be fine.
• Use of a VPN is strongly encouraged
• Keep your OpSec practices in mind at all times
• Consent is fundamental to every part of the server - you are always allowed to say that you don't want to do something or that you don't want to talk about something. Your choice will be upheld in the server.
• I am not a therapist or a doctor and I cannot be a replacement for them
• This is a casual peer support space not a crisis or emergency service.
• There is a maximum of 12 people allowed in the server and it is first come, first serve
• The server is for people who are 18+
• Anyone who agrees to these ground rules is welcome to join the server

Hope to see you there!

It is recommended that you use a VPN when accessing TankieTube to protect your anonymity as your IP may be revealed to others

Classically trained pianist, dive-bar chanteuse, black power icon and legendary recording artist Nina Simone lived a life of brutal honesty, musical genius, and tortured melancholy.

It is recommended that you use a VPN when you access TankieTube to protect your anonymity because your IP may be accessible to others while using the site

It's happening!! There is now a TankieTube channel that has started up which is dedicated to posting audiobooks for people who are neurodivergent.

This book is a real favourite with neurodivergent folks, especially if you struggle with energy, motivation, and executive dysfunction. The title says it all.

The book is quite short and it's divided up into succinct chapters so you don't have to dedicate hours upon hours to slog through it, especially if you happen to be struggling with finding enough time and energy to manage the basics.

Here's a summary of the book from the publisher:

When you are neurodivergent, have undiagnosed ADHD or are struggling with your mental or physical health, keeping on top of the laundry pile and tackling dishes in the sink can feel like climbing a mountain. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Licensed therapist KC Davis has been there. Having relearnt the basics of self-care after an adult diagnosis of ADHD, she is here to revolutionise the way you look after your home and your mind. This gentle guide to staying afloat when life is tough shares practical strategies to create a functional home, make your space work for you rather than against you, and treat yourself with more compassion and kindness.

KC’s philosophy: good enough is perfect. With her help, your home will feel like a sanctuary again.

KC Davis appears on social media here and there so if you want more advice from her then it's worth checking to see if she has an account on your platforms of choice. Supporting her in this way will help her reach a broader audience so even if you can't afford to support her work by purchasing it yourself, you can still contribute something back by helping to raise her profile in the media by following her if you find her advice helpful.

Note that as of posting this audiobook is still in the TankieTube transcription queue so if you encounter any bugs or glitches then give it a while and try coming back to it a bit later
(It is working on my end but ymmv)

Barnier has been appointed after Macron repeatedly stalled on appointing a new prime minister.

He's a member of the Sarkozy Gaullist conservative party The Republicans that managed to muster a stunning result of under 7% of votes in the most recent elections.

I don't wanna say I told you so but I did comment "Wer hat uns verraten" about this situation a little while back and whaddaya know - Macron has just had his Paul von Hindenburg moment.

Shit's about to kick off. Let's hope that May 1968 was just the practice run for the French people and this time around they're gonna pull it off.

It's called Redz. Most of the content is Arabic at the moment.

Pretty cool though, might have to start spreading the word to comrades in Amerikkka about it, in light of the upcoming TikTok ban.

This isn't directed at anyone here, I've just been hitting my head against a wall of willful ignorance and lateral ableism elsewhere and it's frustrating as hell.

Nonverbal isn't even the preferred term as it's a misnomer and it denies the fact that most non-speaking individuals have words, it's just about not having the ability to speak those words.

The clinical term for a person who cannot speak temporarily due to circumstances like being overstimulated or due to being anxious is selective mutism. You might hate the term and you're well within your rights to. I don't like it at all personally and I think that verbal shutdown is a better term. But that's a battle for the people like me, who experience verbal shutdowns, to wage in mainstream discourse.

What isn't okay is colonising the term "nonverbal" as this causes major problems for the non-speaking community because it promotes the false notion that nonverbal people can speak but they just aren't able to in particular moments. This makes accessibility much harder and it makes advocating for accommodations far harder as people in the community without disability will develop a fundamentally incorrect understanding of the needs of non-speaking individuals.

As an analogy, imagine if the accommodations for wheelchair users was based purely around the needs of people who aren't permanent wheelchair users and so the expectation becomes that things like toilet stalls, steps, and small amounts of walking are manageable for all wheelchair users without any adaptations or alternatives so therefore all of the accommodations of wheelchair users are only suitable for people who use wheelchairs part-time and who are capable of some amount of walking at any given moment - this would be extremely harmful to accessibility and to the wheelchair using community. In a similar sense, a person who experiences selective mutism and refers to it as "going nonverbal" can directly impact accessibility and accommodations negatively as it advances the concept that a non-speaking person just needs a little bit of time or a less overwhelming environment to speak rather than requiring the use of sign language or AAC.

The higher needs autistic community has been trying very hard to get people to understand why it's important to avoid the use of the term nonverbal/non-speaking except where it's accurate to do so but, unfortunately, the higher needs autistic community gets routinely overlooked and ignored.

I've just been trying to tell some people that they are misusing the term nonverbal, gently but firmly at first, and instead of taking this as a cue to do the basic research or to listen to leaders in the disability advocacy community who talk about being non-speaking and all of the issues around it, instead they are just digging their heels in and refusing to listen or even to just go and spend two minutes on the Wikipedia entry for selective mutism because they feel like their honour is at stake and that they must defend their claim over the use of the term nonverbal against all who threaten it.

Online discourse often frustrates the hell out of me. I'm polite and respectful unless someone is being intentionally disrespectful so it's not like I'm just yelling "You're wrong and stupid and evil!!" at a random person online but some people just refuse accountability and self-crit, and I lose patience with this because no amount of explaining the fact, quoting relevant information, or describing the negative consequences for others due to these actions is sufficient because some people's top priority is their ego and they just want to be free from genuine, good-faith constructive feedback.

Anyway, rant over.

Just try to keep in mind that the terms nonverbal and nonspeaking are intentionally specific out of necessity and try to remember to use a term like selective mutism or verbal shutdown when you're describing the intermittent phenomenon of losing your ability to articulate your words. It would mean a lot to me if you do and I know it means even more to the non-speaking community – this is one small way to act in solidarity with the disability community.

I know I spend a lot of time talking about autism and ADHD in this comm so I wanted to make an effort to spread the focus a little and talk about how PTSD and ADHD can feel very similar and where symptoms can overlap, with a focus on PTSD and the internal experience of it. In talking about PTSD there's necessarily going to be a big

[CW: Discussions of trauma and abuse, mostly from an abstract perspective or an internal experience]

I'm going to rely a lot on this fight/flight/freeze/flag/faint curve. This isn't perfect and it's not definitive but it'll do:

It's worth noting that this is the typical curve but you may not find that you progress linearly through the spectrum, you may cycle very quickly through the first stages or you might just instantly switch to one of the latter phases. This is not uncommon at all.

So with PTSD it's really common to experience hypervigilance. This is when you are in a state where your mind goes into threat-detection mode and you become extremely attuned to your environment, often to the expense of other considerations including things like your biological needs. Hypervigilance is closely associated with the fright part of that curve diagram but it also happens in the freeze, fight and flight parts too.

This experience of hypervigilance might be for 10 minutes, it might be for days. Hypervigilance associated with PTSD grips you like a vice. For me it feels like my sense of time recedes as I become so acutely aware of every little sound, every little change in my environment that nothing else even registers as a concern. Hypervigilance is usually triggered by external environment - a door slamming, a car backfiring, a person yelling or screaming. But it can also be triggered by internal experiences emotional states or thought patterns or recalling memories, especially in cases of CPTSD. Hypervigilance can look a lot like ADHD inattentiveness because your ability to regulate and direct your attention is overridden by a survival and self protection instinct. You might be in the middle of a conversation and notice a person out of the corner of your eye who resembles an abuser and suddenly it feels like you've zoned out completely. Or maybe it sounds like someone is walking up behind you and your brain immediately devotes all of its attention away from what someone is saying to you and towards detecting and responding to this potential threat that is approaching.

Dissociation is another common experience of PTSD. This is associated with the far end of the spectrum, from flag to faint (imo there needs to be a fawn between those two points but I'll try to elaborate on this later in the post).

Dissociation feels very checked out and disconnected from anything. For me it feels like my head is under water - things still register but everything feels very muted and distant. I stop feeling things in my body. I often need to have prompts or stimuli multiple times before it registers in my brain that I need to respond. This might be the classic, almost-ADHD situation where a person needs to click in front of your eyes and say "Hey... Hey! Are you even listening??" or it might be a timer or an alarm going off for a solid 60 seconds before that sound connects to the I'm supposed to respond to this stimulus with an action thought process.

Both hypervigilance and dissociation can bring with it the impression that you have a sensory sensitivity that can resemble ADHD or autistic traits. You may find yourself in an extremely uncomfortable situation physically but this doesn't really register in your awareness until it manages to burst through the hypervigilance or dissociation where you suddenly feel the overwhelming need to address this situation. The same thing happens with other biological needs besides the sensory, such as hunger and tiredness. With PTSD you may not register your tiredness or hunger (or the need to pee or feeling uncomfortably cold or any other biological need for that matter) until it is bordering on an emergency.

This can feel like poor interoception or like sensory sensitivity. The difference between autistic or ADHD traits and PTSD symptoms here is that a person will only experience these things some of the time, during periods of abnormal psychological states; I'm autistic - I always hate the feeling of velvet and velour, and I always have. When I'm struggling with my own PTSD symptoms and I'm hypervigilant or dissociated, I can lose connection with my physical experience and I can fail to notice my physical discomfort until it starts becoming excruciating, at which point I respond. But this is not my baseline experience. I have always hated rough wool and been unusually sensitive to it, throughout my entire life, because I'm autistic. I sometimes don't register that my skin is itchy due to hayfever until it feels like my skin is on fire because PTSD symptoms make me check out from my internal experience. (Hopefully that helps make a clear distinction between the two experiences where they appear to overlap.)

With PTSD, after the peak comes the inevitable crash. For example, if you're hypervigilant or in a state of flight for a long period then a crash is inevitable as your brain and body cannot sustain this heightened state permanently.

The hangover from these PTSD symptoms feels very similar to executive dysfunction. Maybe you were hypervigilant and barely slept a wink last night, you were too anxious to eat much, and now your brain is fried from the psychological state alone without even mentioning the impact of your blood sugar being a disaster and the impacts of insomnia on yourself. Or maybe your day has been one triggering event after another and you've been putting a huge amount of effort into keeping it together and you're just mentally drained from the constant strain. This is by all measure the exact same as executive dysfunction and it would be borderline impossible to tell the difference between typical ADHD executive dysfunction and a PTSD hangover (not a legitimate term btw, just one that makes sense to me and which doesn't feel inherently pathologising). The difference is in what caused this experience - with ADHD or autism, it's the consequence from trying to focus, dealing with sensory overload, masking and stuff like that. With PTSD there should be a very clear triggering event and a heightened psychological state that directly preceded your brain turning to mush temporarily as you recover.

The last big thing that comes to mind is that it's common for people who experience PTSD to go into fawn mode. This is particularly common in CPTSD and afab peeps.

Fawn roughly comes between flag and faint on that curve above. The fawn response feels very similar to masking, to the point where there's a discussion to be had about whether autistic people pleasing/fawning is itself a direct response to social rejection and trauma due to socialising, but that's something for a different post.

The fawn response is where you become extremely compliant, where you lack appropriate boundaries and the ability to maintain them, where you engage in people-pleasing behaviours, and where you attempt to appease others especially where they feel like a threat (this doesn't mean they are towering over you and making threats against you, it may be a particular type of person who fits closely to an abuser's characteristics, it may be an authority figure, it may be difficult to identify what about someone tells your brain "This person is a threat!!"). Conflict avoidance and codependency are super common in the fawn response, and out of the spectrum above I'd argue that the fawn response is probably one that is much more difficult to identify since it can feel very similar in the level of arousal as what is more or less typical and since it is the most sustainable over a long period of time, at least in my experience.

The fawn response, to me, is one where I find myself entirely focused on the emotional state of others without any connection to my own emotional state or beliefs (think principles, morals, ethical positions etc.) A person in a fawn response state might find themselves laughing at a racist joke, agreeing with a reprehensible opinion, or a violation of their bodily autonomy, in contradiction to their own values, because they are instinctively trying to avoid coming into conflict with another person by being assertive and maintaining boundaries, although this is just an example of the many ways it can manifest. How do you tell the difference between PTSD fawning and autistic or ADHD masking? That is a complicated question and it's very tricky.

As a general rule, a person who experiences PTSD will only experience this state intermittently and often as a response to identifiable threats but, because of the ability to sustain a fawn response and because it's kinda pernicious rather than being extremely obvious like the other states, this is only a rough guide and it may take a lot of work to figure out when you're experiencing the fawn response and how to identify the signs of it.

To conclude the main part of this post, those with PTSD you should find over time that the symptoms generally become diminished (with a strong caveat that sometimes processing trauma can make other stuff bubble up to the surface, making it feel like you're doing worse or going backwards, and sometimes you can bring about a sort of healing crisis as you bring old traumatic experiences to a head). With ADHD or autism, often the more you process things the more you become aware of your inherent traits like executive dysfunction, masking, people pleasing and so on. But they tend to be much more stable and persistent across (mostly) your lifespan whereas PTSD has a clear demarcation before and after the traumatic event(s), although of course CPTSD is the confounding factor due to the fact that it in particular is associated with early and developmental trauma so it's not always possible to remember back to a time where there was a "before", and for many survivors of child abuse there actually isn't even a "before" (with some pretty clear evidence that traumatic experiences in utero can produce PTSD symptoms in children after being born).

So hopefully this helps to clarify things for you if you're trying to understand what you're experiencing or the ways that PTSD and ADHD (and in some respects autism) can seem to overlap. I know I haven't paid any attention to when they co-occur and this is because it's an extremely complex matter and it would take an entire post in itself to cover this (although I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that subject justice tbh).

Just as a final passing thought, I think that a key strength of the neurodivergence umbrella is that for example, due to the significant overlap in experience of these different conditions, PTSD survivors may find a lot to be gained by borrowing from insights into sensory modulation and dealing with poor interoception coming out of the autistic part of neurodivergence (research, theory, and self-advocacy) and autistic people might likewise find there's a lot to be learned from managing people-pleasing and the fawn response from PTSD survivors. Of course there's a lot more that we can learn from one another too but that's the most obvious examples that spring to mind.

(Turns out that I ended up talking about autism more than I anticipated. Oh well.)