People have suggested I'm autistic sometimes, but my legitimately tested and diagnosed friends usually don't. I think a lot of people just want to diagnose everything, pathologize differences in the world rather than accept some people were born rather similarly to them and just think differently. If it doesn't negatively impact your life, who cares? Keep being you no matter why you are that way.
Funnily enough, I'm the opposite - my medically diagnosed autistic friend thinks I am, but my neurotypical friends (and therapist) often dismiss the thought.
The thing is, my issues do negatively impact my life. I don't want to say anything ignorantly offensive, so apologies if I do, but I suppose it matters in my mind because I want to know if it's part of my personality or if it's something I have to create strategies for because I'm on the spectrum, if that makes sense? If it's because I'm autistic, I can read books, I can draw on the experiences of others, I can join support groups, I can take medication... If it's just me being a product of my upbringing, well, shit, I still haven't figured out what to do about that really...
But I know even if I am on the spectrum, that aspect of myself isn't going to go away.
that is interesting. And yeah, if you are actually negatively affected by symptoms of autism, then yeah looking into strategies makes perfect sense, sorry if I was at all dismissive. Even if it was upbringing, I think anyone can overcome anything mental short of a disability given enough time, support, and energy. Not trying to be a "power of positive thinking" or anything, just that mindsets and behaviors can be modified with effort over time.
People have suggested I'm autistic sometimes, but my legitimately tested and diagnosed friends usually don't. I think a lot of people just want to diagnose everything, pathologize differences in the world rather than accept some people were born rather similarly to them and just think differently. If it doesn't negatively impact your life, who cares? Keep being you no matter why you are that way.
Funnily enough, I'm the opposite - my medically diagnosed autistic friend thinks I am, but my neurotypical friends (and therapist) often dismiss the thought.
The thing is, my issues do negatively impact my life. I don't want to say anything ignorantly offensive, so apologies if I do, but I suppose it matters in my mind because I want to know if it's part of my personality or if it's something I have to create strategies for because I'm on the spectrum, if that makes sense? If it's because I'm autistic, I can read books, I can draw on the experiences of others, I can join support groups, I can take medication... If it's just me being a product of my upbringing, well, shit, I still haven't figured out what to do about that really...
But I know even if I am on the spectrum, that aspect of myself isn't going to go away.
that is interesting. And yeah, if you are actually negatively affected by symptoms of autism, then yeah looking into strategies makes perfect sense, sorry if I was at all dismissive. Even if it was upbringing, I think anyone can overcome anything mental short of a disability given enough time, support, and energy. Not trying to be a "power of positive thinking" or anything, just that mindsets and behaviors can be modified with effort over time.