Life Update, Website Redo, New Book Release, and My Recent Autistic Shutdown

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Chronicles of a Quiet Fighter, Life Update, Projects, and a Hard Day I Need to Share

It has been a minute since I have written a new post. Life got loud. Work got wild. And my brain has been juggling about four big projects at once. So I wanted to sit down today and give everyone a full update on what is happening with the website, my books, and my life in general.

Website Project Update

The website redo is coming together. I have been rebuilding pages, updating the layout, and adding new features that make it easier for people to read my stories and follow my projects. I want people to step onto my site and feel like they walked into a calm space. A place that feels like me. The redesign is almost finished and I am excited to show everyone the final version soon.

Publishing News

Roxy and the Storm Inside is officially published. This one means a lot to me. It is the first in the Quiet Fighter therapy style series and it is built to help autistic kids and families feel seen. The process took a lot of planning and emotional work. But it is out there now and I am truly proud of it.

Life Update and an Experience I Need to Talk About

A couple weeks ago I had a day that went sideways fast. It was one of those days where the world felt too loud and I pushed past my limits without realizing it.

Work was busy that night. Me, John, and Christian were all slammed. I stepped outside to help a customer with an alternator. He needed someone to hold the tensioner while he slipped the belt on and off. I also tested his battery. It was quick, but it still took me away from the counter, and it frustrated John and Christian a little.

When I came back in, I had more customers waiting. I got into my hyper focus zone trying to find brake line fittings. Then John snapped at me. It was not harsh in a big way. It was just the wrong tone at the wrong time. I was already overloaded from the noise and the crowds. That one moment knocked me sideways. It started the spiral toward a shutdown and I pushed through instead of pausing.

I should have taken a minute. I should have stepped aside. I did not.

By the time I finished my shift and got into my car, I was gone. I disassociated on the way out of the parking lot. I pulled out in front of a cop without meaning to. I only came back to myself when I saw his headlights in my mirror. I thought he was about to rear end me, so I hit the gas to get out of the way. He blue lighted me, but he did not pull me over. He just followed me for about four miles.

At the red light he ended up beside me. When the light turned green, we both started forward and a car ran the light right in front of us. If we had not reacted fast, both of us would have been hit. He turned on his lights and went after them.

All of that stacked on top of the work stress. The smell overload. The noise. The tension. By the time I finally made it home, I had already shut down. I forgot to get food. I barely remember the rest of the drive. I only remember moving about four miles an hour the rest of the way home.

I wanted to share this because this is the reality sometimes. Autistic shutdowns are not quiet moments. They are full body system collapse. They are heavy. They are confusing. They are dangerous when I ignore the signs.

I am still learning how to pause. How to check in with myself. How to not push past red.

This is me being honest. And maybe someone out there needs to see this and feel less alone.

Thank you for being here. If you have been waiting for new posts, new books, or new updates, I promise they are coming. And I appreciate every person who takes time to read my words.

Caleb

If this helped you, you can join my Quiet Fighter newsletter for gentle updates. You can also visit the shop to support the work.

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