#life changes

It’s very much not ‘works in vet med’ of me but when the very sad day comes that I have to say goodbye to them I don’t think I’m getting any more pets until retirement.

It’s too much for me to try to do all of the things I need to do for myself and also take care of all them. They all have such big personalities.

I haven’t talked about this article in depth before, so I wanted to come back and really analyze it — especially because moving is something that often gets treated like a normal life event, when for autistic individuals it can be much more complex.

According to Autistic People and Moving Home: A Systematic Review (Mason et al., 2023), there is actually very limited research on what autistic people experience when they move homes, even though housing and living situations are discussed much more broadly. The article narrowed hundreds of studies down to just a small handful that directly examine moving, which shows how overlooked this transition really is.

What the article highlights is that moving is not just a logistical change — it disrupts routines, environments, and sensory experiences all at once. Because many autistic individuals rely on predictability and familiarity, these changes can lead to stress, uncertainty, and emotional overwhelm rather than just adjustment.

At the same time, Mason et al. (2023) emphasize that moving can also be connected to independence and personal growth. Both autistic individuals and their families often see independent living as something positive and meaningful, but the article also makes it clear that there are real barriers — including financial limitations, employment challenges, safety concerns, and difficulty navigating housing systems.

What stands out most here is how much support really matters. Even when the article doesn’t center caregivers directly, it shows that successful transitions often depend on structured preparation, predictability, and clear communication. These supports help rebuild a sense of stability when everything familiar changes at once.

It also raises an important question about how we define “success.” While traditional perspectives often focus on independence as the end goal, Autistic People and Moving Home (Mason et al., 2023) pushes us to think more broadly about well-being, comfort, and autonomy. From a neurodiversity-affirming perspective, a “successful” move isn’t just about living independently — it’s about whether someone feels safe, supported, and able to function in their new environment.

For caregivers, this really reframes things. Moving isn’t just a one-time task — it’s an ongoing transition that can impact behavior, communication, and emotional regulation in ways that aren’t always immediately visible.

Like… it’s not just “we moved.”
It’s “everything familiar changed, and now we’re working to rebuild a sense of stability.”

Overall, Autistic People and Moving Home (Mason et al., 2023) makes it clear that transitions like moving deserve more attention — both in research and in practice. When caregivers plan ahead, stay patient, and support predictability during change, they’re not just helping someone adjust. They’re helping create a sense of safety in an entirely new space.

Link is below if you want to explore more!

I've been doing so well handling my adhd burnout... I almost felt like it was gone... but the anticipation of the move is killing me. I'm exhausted again all the time. And Im not responding to things the way I should be and I know it... and then I feel guilty afterwards... but I dont feel like I can control myself.

I have this overwhelming homesickness even though I AM at home.