What is Emotional Intelligence? Emotional Intelligence is someone’s ability to “identify and assess his or her emotional state, as well as the emotional state of others.” To be more specific, it’s a person’s ability “to relate to others, work in groups, read between the lines in conversation, and interpret behaviors and moods displayed by others.” Emotional Intelligence isn’t related to IQ, but in some cases, it’s more important. Some studies have even found that 80% of competencies that differentiate top performers from others are in the domain of Emotional Intelligence.  Many peopl ..read more

You’ve probably heard the term “Emotional Intelligence” before, but what does it mean, exactly?  You can probably infer that it means being intelligent when it comes to emotions. And that is part of it. But emotional intelligence or emotional quotient - or “EQ” as it is commonly called - is so much more than that. EQ is how we not only recognize and manage our own emotions, but the emotions of others - and it’s crucial for succeeding in both our personal and professional lives. What is EQ? EQ is made up of four components: 1. Self Management Self-management means that you’re taking respon ..read more

To someone looking in from the outside, an autism “meltdown” might look like a child throwing a temper tantrum, but what’s going on is often much more complex.  If you’ve cared for a child with autism, you might know that a child going through a meltdown has different triggers, motivations, and needs than a child having a tantrum. To know what is going on with your child when they’re having a meltdown, and how to help them, you first have to understand what a meltdown is. Autism Meltdowns: What Are They? A meltdown in an autistic person is a reaction to sensory, emotional or other overwhe ..read more

The term “self-care” gets thrown around a lot these days.  Whether you’re skipping out on a co-worker’s birthday party (that you really didn’t want to go to anyway) to stay home and binge Squid Game, or treating yourself to a whole pint of Cherry Garcia, it’s all ok--if it’s in the name of self-care. But what is self-care, really? At its heart, it’s taking care of yourself, mentally and physically.  No green tea face mask required. Self-care really means getting enough sleep, eating properly, drinking enough water, exercising, and taking care of your mental health and emotional needs ..read more

“Nothing ever goes right for me. I am tired of trying to fit into everyone’s idea of normal.” Sadly, these are words spoken by an autistic person—one who is tired of fighting the fight and has considered taking their own life. Suicide and suicidality rates in autistic people continue an upward climb. What does this mean, and what is next? Suicide Statistics in the Autistic Population The CDC reports that suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among i ..read more

Suicide and Children Suicide is not a pleasant topic to talk about. Parents and people, in general, avoid discussing suicide because it can stir up frightening, sad, and alarming feelings. But in today’s world, we can no longer afford to not talk about it, especially as it deeply involves our youth. The alarming facts are that suicide is the second leading cause of death in children and teens, and we are seeing steadily rising increases in suicide death rates between the ages of 10 and 19 years old—up to 60% increases in recent years. Suicide is preventable. Young people who are contemplatin ..read more

This post was originally posted as an invitation to Love & Autism in 2015. It has been updated in 2021 because although we are no longer hosting the Love & Autism conference, the message of love still stands. Anita & Abraham burst into a fit of giggles as they recount their first night as a couple. Anita builds the story and Abraham shares the punch line. In telling it, they appear transported to this early period in their courtship. As the story goes, Anita has a secret that she has kept from Abraham, her best friend and now lover. She is worried beyond belief. She doubts that he ..read more

Nobody really knows the extent of the long-term mental health ramifications caused by the pandemic, post-COVID or not. We are seeing signs that addiction and substance abuse is increasing in all demographics due to the pandemic. Sadly, the world appears to have glazed over the uptick in addiction and self-medicating in autistic people pre-pandemic. So, what does the overall increase post-pandemic mean for autistic individuals who may have already had a higher rate of addiction? To answer that question, we must first understand why addiction and substance abuse happens in the autism community ..read more

Is it a Toxic relationship? He said that I am way too sensitive, but deep down I know that is not true and that I should be doing something about this relationship. His behavior lacks empathy—it hinges on manipulation and emotional abuse. I need to tackle this problem, yet I cannot seem to get started. Toxic relationships have existed since the beginning of time. Millennials are the first generation to openly talk about setting boundaries to deal with the problems that stem from mentally draining relationships, such as manipulative emotional abuse or gaslighting. But, as aware as we are of the ..read more

Technology and the Impact on Family Life How many times have you sat and talked with someone as they looked at their phone? It is not nice to put someone on ignore, and it feels uncomfortable on the receiving end. It leaves us feeling as if we are invisible and that we do not matter. Now, draw that scenario around you and your child. How would they feel if they were communicating with you, but you were paying attention to your phone instead? What if this happens frequently? Parents are a child’s first teachers in life and undivided attention is critical in that role. Through our physical and m ..read more