Birthdays have been a therapy topic for as long as I've been working with fellow autistic folks. Usually someone mentions having seen a social media post about how hard it is to be the center of attention or to react in the "right" way to a gift, and don't get me wrong-I have no idea what I'm supposed to do while everyone is singing happy birthday to me. Do I look at the cake? Do I sing along? What do I do with my hands? But in my experience, most "why birthdays can be hard f

If you’ve spent any time in self-help spaces, parenting forums, or workplace “professionalism” conversations, you’ve probably heard some version of "Don't be entitled. The world doesn't owe you anything." Entitlement is framed as one of the ugliest personality traits one can possess. It's selfish, unreasonable, and corrosive to relationships, they say. And yes, entitlement can cause harm when it’s paired with exploitation or disregard for others’ needs. But fear of being seen