Hey everyone!
Let’s kick things off with a fascinating little tidbit: Did you know that crows can recognize individual human faces and even pass that knowledge along to other crows? That’s right—if you’ve ever wronged a crow, there’s a chance they’ve shared your face like a “Wanted” poster with their feathered crew. Just a little sprinkle of intrigue to brighten your day—welcome back, or a big hello if it’s your first time stopping by!
Today, we’re diving into trust and anticipation—two emotional heavyweights that quietly shape how we connect with the world and move through life. These emotions might not grab the spotlight like joy or anger, but they’re no less powerful. Whether you’re neurodiverse, allistic, or somewhere in between, trust and anticipation weave their influence into every corner of your experiences.
For someone with ASD, trust can feel like trying to build a house of cards in a windstorm—delicate, easily disrupted, but essential. Imagine stepping into a new situation, like a bustling café or a crowded event. Trusting that the sensory environment won’t overwhelm you can feel like taking a leap of faith. It’s not just about trusting people; it’s about trusting spaces, routines, and even yourself. Building that trust takes time, and disruptions can feel monumental, making it harder to try again next time.
If you’ve got AuDHD, things can get even more layered. ADHD’s impulsivity collides with ASD’s craving for predictability, and routines become the safety net you rely on to feel grounded. But life doesn’t always stick to the plan, and when routines fall apart, it’s like that house of cards comes tumbling down. Even for allistic individuals, trust can be fragile—tested by disappointments, changes, or betrayals. Imagine leaning on a close friend only to find that they’ve let you down, or striving toward a work goal only to face an unexpected obstacle. Rebuilding trust, whether in others or yourself, is a challenge that requires patience, time, and sometimes courage.
On tough days, self-trust can be the hardest to hold onto. Tasks that might seem simple—getting out of bed, brushing your teeth, remembering to eat—can feel like climbing a mountain barefoot. For those who were late-diagnosed, the challenge deepens; you might have lost the tools you relied on to navigate life unnoticed, leaving you feeling unmoored. The gap between what you want to achieve and what feels possible can grow wider, chipping away at your confidence. When trust in yourself wobbles, it can feel as though the ground beneath you is shaky. But here’s the beauty of trust: it’s resilient. Rebuilding starts with small, deliberate steps. It could be using visual reminders to stay on track, setting a single goal for the day, or even celebrating the act of showing up. Every small win counts and reinforces that sense of trust in yourself, one brick at a time.
Anticipation, on the other hand, can be both exhilarating and intimidating. For someone with ADHD, it might fuel hyperfixation—a burst of energy that drives intense focus on something you love. Think about this blog, Desiree: the thrill of diving into a topic, anticipating new insights, and reveling in the joy of learning more. It’s an emotional high that makes life feel electrified. Anticipation gives you something to look forward to—a reason to push through the mundane. However, it’s not without its challenges.
For someone with CPTSD, anticipation can carry a heavy weight. A flashback triggered by an unknown can be so vivid that it feels as if you’re back in the moment—experiencing every sound, smell, and emotion with all your senses engaged. Imagine planning something you’ve been looking forward to, only for one seemingly small thing to throw you back into a memory. It’s not just a mental replay; it’s visceral, as if time folds in on itself. The present moment vanishes, leaving you caught in an emotional storm that demands all your energy to weather. Balancing the thrill of discovery or excitement with the potential risk of these emotional landmines is no small feat—it’s a testament to resilience and strength.
For those with AuDHD, anticipation can feel like orchestrating chaos into a melody. ADHD drives the excitement to dive headfirst into something new, while ASD craves the stability of routine. Picture trying to balance the curiosity and eagerness to start a creative project with the need to map every step out in advance. It can feel like pulling in opposite directions, but when it works, the result is an incredible harmony that lets you thrive in both structure and spontaneity. Even for allistic folks, anticipation can feel like a rollercoaster. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a goal, but doubts creep in—those “what-ifs” that tap on the shoulder and whisper reminders of things going awry. Managing that push-pull is a challenge everyone faces, no matter their perspective.
The magic lies in how trust and anticipation work together. Trust sets the foundation and anticipation builds on it, propelling us forward. Imagine trusting your strategies to manage a chaotic day while anticipating the joy of hyperfixation. Or trusting small, safe routines to find moments of calm and anticipating the warmth of curling up with a book by the fireplace. For allistic individuals, it might mean trusting a team to achieve a shared goal and savoring the anticipation of that moment of success. No matter where you’re coming from, these emotions create a powerful framework for growth.
Cultivating trust and anticipation takes practice, but it’s worth it. Whether it’s trusting that your planner will keep you on track or anticipating the satisfaction of completing a project, each step strengthens your emotional core. These emotions rarely work alone—trust mixed with joy leads to contentment, while anticipation paired with curiosity sparks exploration. Together, they make life richer, brighter, and full of possibility.
Trust and anticipation are quiet heroes in our emotional lives—helping us connect, grow, and find meaning. Every small step forward builds resilience and hope, even when the road feels challenging.
So, let’s hear from you! What’s a moment where trust or anticipation played a key role in your life? Maybe it was trusting yourself to take on something new, or anticipating the joy of reconnecting with a hobby that lights you up. Perhaps it was a time when one of these emotions felt shaky, but you pushed forward anyway. Share your story in the comments—big or small, every experience matters, and your insight could inspire someone else on their journey.
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