When you’ve struggled with things like mental health, disorders, neurodivergence, dysfunctional thinking patterns, maladaptive behaviors, and other mental and emotional issues, it can be hard to move through the world as if you are normal. As someone who has struggled with the symptoms of autism my whole life and social anxiety for almost a decade, I know how it feels, but I’ve always wondered, what even is “normal”? How did I even get to be this abnormal, and most importantly, how can I actually be normal without trying to fake it? In this episode, we’ll explore in-depth the concept of “normal,” including what’s considered normal and abnormal in terms of mental health and relationships, how you can find self-acceptance with the reality of not being normal, and towards the end I’ll give you my best advice for how you can become as normal as possible based on my own experience being an autistic woman who had to overcome an almost decade-long battle with social anxiety. ⭐Resources from The Introverted Misfit⭐ >> 1-on-1 Coaching for Introverts: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching >> Free Audio Guide on Starting a Conversation: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/how-to-start-a-conversation >> The Effect of Time Outdoors on Veterans with PTSD: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8405544/ >> Therapeutic Fly-Fishing: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358286133_Treating_combat-related_Posttraumatic_Stress_Disorder_using_Therapeutic_Fly-Fishing_with_EMDR_TF-EMDR >> How the Outdoors Can Improve Your Mood: https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/04/09/how-the-outdoors-can-improve-your-mood