"i just can't control my brain!"

While in Texas for the World Autism Organization International Congress, Jake's brain was working overdrive.  He wanted (needed) to write to manage his thoughts, so we banged out a bunch of blogs on a variety of topics.  We wrote as we scrolled through his 500+ notes in his phone. Two of the scariest things have combined to terrify Jakey, brain changes and loss of control. Jenn 

"Oftentimes, now during puberty, I struggle with intrusive thoughts. It can happen numerous times every day.  When I am calm, when I am playing on my computer, when I am eating dinner or any time.
 
The thoughts that pop into my head are about all kinds of things: getting in trouble, girls, Impractical Jokers TV shows, YouTube videos that I’m not supposed to watch, threatening thoughts, police & crimes, being silly in public and what would happen next.
 
I have a hard time telling the difference between what is real and what is not real.  So if a thought comes into my head, I could do it…. And that could be scary.
 
I worry very much about being overwhelmed and losing control in public.  Sometimes I think about crashing into or hurting people, sometimes it is fear of the police or what others might think that cause me to act wildly or dangerously.
 
Lately, the way I have been dealing with stress and these thoughts is by writing them down.  I have more than 500 stress notes in my phone.
 
Writing them down and sharing them, helps me help others.  When I share them other people may feel better because they will learn about autism. "  Jake