Today’s episode explores the exhausting demands of social expectations and the performative nature of casual "checking in" after the holidays. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, rejects the traditional catch-up call, arguing that these interactions often prioritise the caller’s need for efficiency over genuine emotional intimacy. For Dr. Hoerricks, silence is not a sign of isolation but a necessary space for self-regulation and internal coherence. She emphasises that verbal spontaneity can be a taxing burden for those who are autistic and / or gestalt processors. Ultimately, her article and poem serves as a firm boundary-setting exercise, reclaiming the right to exist without constant narration or social performance. She reframes quietness as a position of strength rather than a withdrawal from the world.
Here’s the link to the source article and poem: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/quiet-is-not-withdrawal-the-cost
Let me know what you think.
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