#autistic? Stuck in #lockdown? Looking for ways to cope? Look no further. Here is my genuine, certified, bona-fide guide to surviving the shut-in when #autistic. Thread - please share. Also a little tongue in cheek...

1. If you use twitter a lot, be more proactive in curating your feed. Use the word-blocking feature to remove any topics that you just can't handle right now. Mute quickly if need be. Block if you have to. #autism #lockdowneffect

2. Set a routine for a shower or bath each day, even if you don't usually. It'll help build a new daily routine and make you feel like things are more normal than they actually are!Alternatively, enjoy the freedom of not *having* to shower! #autism

3. Try and have two or three favourite interests on the go, just in case one of them suddenly evaporates. Now would be a bad time for that phenomenon to occur so pre-empt it! #lockdowneffect #AutismAndCovid19

4. Write a list of things you know you enjoy doing and put it somewhere really prominent. You'll forget what you enjoy when at your most stressed so this really helps! #AutismAndCovid19 #autism

5. Do *not* set unrealistic targets for yourself at the moment. It's a surefire way to make yourself feel crappy. You're living through a global emergency. Give yourself a break. #AutismAndCovid19 #autism

6. If you rely on nature to keep you on the level, make use of YouTube videos of trekking through woods, hill walking, birdwatching etc. It's not great but I find it helps a lot. #AutismAndCovid19 #autism

7. Revisit one of your old immersive interests and enjoy the guilt-free opportunity to pour time into it. I'm loving rewatching the Simpsons and reading about volcanoes. Re-read Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, whatever works. #AutismAndCovid19 #autism

8. Jump into an immersive video game. Stardew Valley, Minecraft, Subnautica, Terraria, Rimworld, Factorio, Skyrim, Breath of the Wild, Cities: Skylines, Civilization - these are all brilliant time-sinks. Well worth it. #AutismAndCovid19

9. Make the most of your daily walk. Don't feel bad always doing the same route, maybe walk your normal daily routine as far as possible. I like it outside atm as the air is cleaner and the roads deserted. Its a dream. #autism #AutismAndCovid19

10. A day spent watching TV or doing one thing at the moment is absolutely fine and no reason to feel bad. We've got to get through it somehow! #AutismAndCovid19 #autism

11. Wear whatever the flying fuck you like. You might do this anyway but if anyone has a desire to be yourself, now is the time. #AutismAndCovid19 #autism

12. Turn off news notifications on your phone. I, for example, have just been informed Boris Johnson has been taken into intensive care and to be honest, I didn't want to know right now. #autism #AutismAndCovid19

13. Keep in touch with people. A lot of #autistic folk are saying that they thought they'd enjoy the lockdown but find themselves really happy when they *do* get contact with someone. #autism #AutismAndCovid19

14. Do micro housework - little bits when you have the spoons! I've really got into this. I hate the idea of a 'spring clean' as it's too big. So I break it down into manageable bits here and there. #autism #AutismAndCovid19

15. No, now is *not* necessarily the time to do that big job you've been putting off - it's a global pandemic! You don't need to justify being inert for a while! #AutismAndCovid19 #autism

16. If you're an #autistic parent, please don't fret about the home schooling thing. If it's proving difficult, relax about it a bit. Give your kids a break and let them have some time. #AutismAndCovid19 #autism

17. If you're working from home, you probably won't be as productive as normal. I think this is far enough and if you've declared being #autistic, now is the time to lean on your reasonable adjustments a bit... #autism #AutismAndCovid19

18. Stim.

Just bloody stim to your hearts content. Now is a great time to discover new ones of even figure out what you're missing if you've masked for so long you've forgotten! #AutismAndCovid19 #autism

19. Try to eat healthily as much as you can. It just helps generally. This is true for everyone. #autism #AutismAndCovid19

20. Take some time to identify the sensory stressors in your home and have a go at minimising them. I covered over a blinking light on my PC and now it's so much better. hadn't had time to think before. #autism #AutismAndCovid19

If you liked this, any coffee money I get at the moment is going into buying my dream LEGO set - the new wrecked pirate ship. Its lovely. Any contributions from your appreciation would be really kind. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/UfTVnRY