• Beany Brain
  • Posts
  • Beany Brain #96: Dysphagia, and Helpful Hints for Swallowing Vitamins and Pills + Resting Up

Beany Brain #96: Dysphagia, and Helpful Hints for Swallowing Vitamins and Pills + Resting Up

Author

Abigail Munday
June 03, 2026

Beany Brain: loving our jumping-bean brains!

Welcome to this issue of the Beany Brain! I hope today’s newsletter will bounce us up as we contemplate the upsides and challenges of being neurodivergent, a little beauty, some creativity, and just general yeehawesomeness.

Table of Contents

Photo by Abigail Munday

Dysphagia, and Helpful Hints for Swallowing Vitamins and Pills

When I was little I remember my sweet cousin telling me she could swallow 13 pills at a time. Granted, she had a lot of health issues and needed those pills, but Kristin was a wonder. A real tough cookie.

Well, I’m thankful that I’ve never had to take 13 pills at a time.

And I couldn’t swallow that many even if I needed to.

It takes me half a glass of water, at least, to get one vitamin down.

Dysphagia typically addresses the pathology of a swallowing disorder, but individuals with autism have a high incidence of a habitual swallowing dysfunction that may be causal for lifelong digestive disorders (Toman, 2010).

Wonderful.

So anyway, I’m learning new things:

Dysphagia means swallowing disorder.

And autistic people can suffer from it. In fact, it’s common among our population.

I never made this connection until I had the thought the other day that I wanted to share some of my swallowing hacks in Beany Brain with you all.

Do any of you have trouble swallowing pills? My mom used to have to crush vitamins in applesauce for me (yuck).

I’m getting better at it, though, with my (nearly) patented Abigail Pill Hacks:

  1. Work on your posture, and that includes building up your back muscles in order to keep your head from protruding forward out over your nest and check. The further back your head is and the better your posture, the easier it is to keep your throat open (I have found).

  2. Swallow pills and vitamins with warm water. This has helped me tremendously. My throat doesn’t really like cold water with pills.

  3. Lots of water. Follow with food if needed.

  4. As you’re swallowing, imagine that you’re swallowing. That helps me.

Uncle Google says to talk with your doctor, a speech and language therapist or pathologist, or occupational therapist if this is something that is interfering with your life in a really negative way. They can all help with swallowing issues.

Otherwise, it can be a bitter pill to swallow. And that is not a pill I want to die on.

Ha Ha Haiku

A funny haiku for you every week in every newsletter, whether it’s one of my own or one I curate for you. HA. Ha. Haiku.

Hail in the birdbath

Machine gunning the bird poop

Exciting hot tub

(Abigail Munday)

Photo by Abigail Munday

Rest Up

Raise your hand if you feel guilty for resting.

{Raises own hand. OK, both hands.}

I just read an article in The Guardian from January that talks about this very thing, and about our absolute need for rest.

We’re all kind of like hamsters on wheels. (My hamster Gertrude when I was growing up loved getting in a clear plastic ball and running around the house, little poops crackling in there with her and popping around inside the ball like popcorn.)

The writer of the article, Madeleine Aggeler, says:

But what if the thing we needed more of was to do less? What if this was the year we finally learned to rest?

As folks have found out, though, rest comes in different forms. You might need more than just physical rest.

From the article:

[T]he American Psychological Association put together examples of how to practice the seven types of rest:

Physical rest: making sure you get enough sleep; taking naps.

Mental rest: journaling; meditating; doing tasks that are not mentally taxing, like puzzles.

Emotional rest: talking through feelings and experiences with a friend or therapist.

Social rest: setting aside time alone to recharge; making sure you’re spending time with people who don’t leave you feeling drained.

Sensory rest: spending time outdoors; taking breaks from screens.

Creative rest: engaging in creative hobbies like drawing, reading or dancing.

Spiritual rest: connecting to a cause or tradition that feels meaningful to you.

What kind of rest do you need today, Beany Folks? I’m thinking that I need some creative time. And maybe a break from screens.

OK then, bye!

Photo (of a telly screen) by Abigail Munday

Yeehawesome!

Yeehawesome! is a happy-brain roundup in each issue of Beany Brain. What’s happening that’s good in brain land? What’s bringing me joy?

  1. Chelsea Flower Show! Check out the auricula flowers above. I had so much fun watching the Chelsea Flower Show live for a week, each weeknight, with my in-laws. So much scope for the imagination.

  2. Making cottage pie with mashed sweet potatoes on top instead of white potatoes. Delicious.

Photo and Food by Abigail Munday

  1. The Felgild Compline—beautiful prayer and music. Breathe…

Quote of the Week

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

Desmond Tutu

Beany Brownie Points and Extra Bonus Funniness

an oldie but a goodie

Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday was a day once a year in college when they would suddenly and surprisingly call off all classes and we’d play all day. The cafeteria provided special fun food and we’d do stuff outside like slip ‘n slides and jello wrestling in sumo suits. This segment of Beany Brain is dedicated to that memory of silliness and fun—no words, just a photo from the week that I’ve taken or found that reminds me to let the joy in. Since Beany Brain is published on Wednesday every week (at least, Wednesday in Japan), I hope you enjoy this Wonderful Wednesday.

Abigail photo archives from about 2015

Today’s Beany-full Summary:

  • Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that many autistic people have. A speech and language pathologist, GP, or occupational therapist can help.

  • There are different kinds of rest, more than just physical. Some examples are mental, spiritual, and creative.

  • Go forth in Beany joy. What will help you feel yeehawesome this week?

Thank you for reading this installment of Beany Brain! You’re very welcome to hop on by any old time.

If you’re enjoying Beany Brain, please share with a friend or seventeen at www.beanybrain.com. Cheers big time!