“Be Yourself! Oh, not like that”

“Be Yourself! Oh, Not Like That” is an autobiographical graphic novel which debuts September 14, 2024.

This book is an exploration of my journey from childhood to the present day, navigating the world through the lens of autism. From the challenges of an adult diagnosis to the struggle of fitting into society’s molds, always being told to be more genuine and to “be myself”, but being told the way I did it was never right.

Throughout these pages, I share why receiving a diagnosis saved me, providing much-needed validation and understanding. Looking back, I wish I had this clarity and acceptance earlier in life, during my childhood and teen years, when I was trying to make sense of myself and the world around me.

“Come on, this is common sense”, “why are you being so difficult”, “stand still”, “be normal”, “look me in the eyes when I’m speaking to you”, “you were such a smart kid, what happened to you?”

I recall the countless times I heard phrases like these, words that only served to highlight my differences and intensify the sense of not belonging. Even as a child, I had internalized labels like “weird” and “stupid,” struggling to reconcile my early achievements with later challenges in school and life.

This is a narrative self-discovery of being an “alien” in a world that often seems foreign, in a society that has not been built for my brain. I share the highs, lows, and moments that define my own experience.

This book is a big heartfelt hug to anybody who reads it, but especially my neurodivergent friends. It is a celebration of being authentically ourselves, celebration of the quirks that make us beautifully different.

The book can be pre-ordered here.

*This book mentions struggles of mental health, depression and suicidal ideation and thoughts. Nothing graphic, but content warning if these themes trigger you.

**This book is my OWN personal experience, this is not what autism looks like to everyone who is autistic. Our traits and support needs are different, that is why it’s called a spectrum. If you know one autistic person – you know one autistic person.