@felineforestmedicine@mstdn.social i have this necklace: https://www.etsy.com/listing/247765213/communication-necklace-batteries-pastel? (the shop also has a couple other designs for similar concepts — i like the ‘health bar’ one with different numbers of hearts)

Combined with a ‘hey sometimes I get overwhelmed which makes it difficult for me to talk’ convo I’ve found it works pretty well.

I’ve also found that text communication is easier for me sometimes (and harder other times) so I’ll sometimes send ‘just fyi I’m not talking today’ texts to people with instructions that they should also text me if they need something instead of trying to talk to me in person

Some of the people I know who go nonverbal more regularly have learned to sign and found that it’s more frequently accessible to them, but that requires a *much* higher level of commitment from both you & the other parties bc you’re all learning a whole new language. But it’s not too hard to learn a handful of signs / how to fingerspell without really getting into the grammar if that’s something you’d like to try out. Plus it might come in handy if you make any Deaf/HoH/nonverbal friends!