Personal Essays by Peak Afflatus
I write succinct essays on autism, identity, collapse, recovery, and the psychology of modern life. I explore the mind from the inside out, tracing its patterns, contradictions, and attempts at coherence. Think of it as autistic phenomenology meeting modern existentialism, written in a raw, lucid, and fiercely self-interrogating style. These essays sit between the personal and the collective, examining how perception twists, how systems shape us, and how clarity returns once life has come apart. They also touch on emotional regulation, burnout, perfectionism, and the cultural scripts that shape how we live.
Between Familiar Ground and Unpriced Risk
On the Hidden Complexity of Choosing Change After Collapse
The Mind That Thinks It’s the Default
When You Realise Your Way of Thinking Is Not Universal
The Reflex to Rail and the Reluctance to Reflect
Humanity’s Fault-Finding Draws a Line at Itself
The Unreliable Witness of the Creative Self
The Volatility of Self-Perception and Instinctual Judgement
The Anatomy of Trust
An Exploration of Connection, Safety, and the Courage to Rely on Others.
For the Harder Days
Seek Support: Peak Afflatus explores the terrain between collapse and recovery, tracing the inner climb as much as the outer one. If you’re struggling with your mental health or neurodivergence, these organisations offer confidential support worldwide:
Find a Helpline • Mind • Samaritans • Befrienders Worldwide • Autistic Self Advocacy Network • Autism Connect