Heather Cook

Asian female presenting person wearing a sweater sitting at a window and looking out with unfocused gaze and head leaning on her hand as if thinking.

Different Types Of Thought Work

What I’m talking about (and NOT talking about) when I mention dissolving painful thoughts.

Why I Intentionally Messed Up My Book Pile

You might have noticed that the stack of books next to my chair is disorganized. That’s intentional, here’s why I did it.

Purple oil painting of a bunch of lavender flowers.

Deconstructing My Art Anxiety

I’ve been getting an urge to do some art. It’s popped up in short bursts throughout my life and is always quashed quickly by anxiety flareups. Here’s how I’m working through it.

Autistic Energy Management

How do you make positive changes in your life when you have no energy left? In this workshop recording, I share my philosophy of the situation and lots of practical tips.

A Tale of Two Phone Calls (and Anxiety)

Phone calls can be quite stressful. When I used to need to make them a lot, I often could not force myself to pick up the phone. Here’s what I learned from that.

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When You Want To Integrate Body Stuff But Can’t

How do you follow the advice to integrate sensory awareness when you’re not getting info from your body?

Unmasking My Wardrobe Color Choices

I recently found another way I’ve been masking without realizing it. Here’s me talking through how I realized this and let this mask drop away.

How Much Is It Okay to Go Out of My Way for Others?

As you’re learning to establish healthier relationships and boundaries, the question comes up, “How much is it healthy to do things for others that use my own energy and effort?”

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How to Prevent Meltdowns

Meltdowns are no fun, but it is possible to avoid them. Here’s a framework for how.

When You Start Feeling Sensory Stuff and It’s All More Annoying, Here’s What to Do Next

A common experience with later identified Autistics who start figuring out all the sensory stuff that they’ve been shutting out, is that instead of things getting better, everything is more annoying.

Woman with dark skin and hair pulled up in a bun, wearing an orange shirt and black skirt, sits on the floor against a couch with her knees pulled up and arms crossed, looking anxious. In the background a guitar leans against a wall.

On Anxiety, Nuance, and Trusting Yourself

Sometimes the advice we get creates more problems than solutions. Here are a few thoughts on some anxiety advice I heard, and on developing trust in yourself.