#aspieproblems

[saltywinteradult]

that feeling when you try to explain executive dysfuncion to someone and they tell you “so you’re just procrastinating” like no

[growingupautie]

That awkward moment when you are replaying a conversation in your head and your Neurotypical mask starts playing back the facial expressions and body language you made during it.

What's your #nonobadmask?

[casnonotbcofspn]

I'm not rude, I'm autistic.

@ everyone at my school

[dmnsqrl]

#Repost @the_follies_of_molly (@get_repost) ・・・ I don’t understand rhetorical questions, guys. Thank you for being a friend. 💫 #aspieproblems #aspielife #autisticadults #actuallyautistic #autism #actuallyautistic #aspie #aspiegirl #autisticmemes #autismmemes #autismawareness #autismacceptance #autisticmeme #aspergers #aspergerssyndrome #aspergersawareness #sensoryprocessingdisorder #sensoryissues #sensoryoverload #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitypride #autistickids #autismspectrumdisorder https://www.instagram.com/p/BufVn2tDZrVo3i8Zy9wphrb-UYdchhn-mxcFjY0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6cdoi1a6ozil

[demonicstain]

Self Dx story

One day I overheard my sister-in-law talking behind my back, telling my sister that she thinks I might have some mental issues because of how much difficulty I was having just communicating with them. It wasn't a joke or an insult, there was some actual concern in her voice. About a week later my sister commented on how I sometimes remind her of autistic people. These weren't isolated incidents, but they did get me thinking. I decided to look it up on Wikipedia. It seemed interesting but there wasn't much to go on, so I just kept digging until I found out about Aspergers. From there I started looking up articles, websites, and little by little it dawned on me that I might be autistic. I started navigating a few threads and forums. Asking questions here and there until I was 100% positive. I felt secure in my assumption because of the pro dx people in the aspie community, the amount of research & time I put into researching it, plus all these doctors and other aspies saying how difficult and pointless it is for a functioning aspie adult to get diagnosed. That is until a friend called me out on my self dxing. They were mad that I had been saying I'm autistic without even having a proper diagnosis. I tried not to argue so as not to upset them further. I remained sure of myself, but bought the book "the Complete Guide to Aspergers Syndrome." Reading through it made me even more confident in my self dx, helped me learn a lot I didn't know, and brought to light some other issues I'd been having trouble with. And it said there's not much point in a high functioning adult getting a diagnosis. Now, I for the long set time felt Autism was the exception to the self Dx rule, because according to a lot of people self-Dxed aspies tend to do a lot of research before coming to their conclusion. I was thinking about this today and decided to check out the Tumblrs self-dx autism tags and honestly, I realized how much of an idiot I've been this entire time. There was stuff like You know your mind better than any medical expert; That if you say your mentally ill then you are, diagnosis or no; 99% of Dxers do tons of research. Plus a whole lot more. None of it restricted to autism. When I was 15 I believed that I could be Sociopathic, if had this pro-Self Dx stuff at the time I probably would have kept believing it instead of doing more research and realizing I didn't even fit the criteria. This stuff can be toxic for young people. And definitely makes light of serious illnesses. It's okay to think you might have a condition, but keep a healthy level of skepticism. Don't say "I am ___" be honest say "I may have ___" or "I think I am ____". Keep learning, keep reading. A lot of the stuff I've been learned about autism has helped me a lot. I'm even considering getting the diagnosis. Right now I'm saving up to move away from my toxic family so I can't afford the Dx. So until then autism is only a possibility for me, not a real diagnosis. #PossiblyAutistic

[the-anxious-aspie]

[the-anxious-aspie]

[growingupautie]

"EXPECTAMUNDO"

"Lower your expectations." Another wonderful phrase that people seem to think is helpful. Also seen as "Just get any job!" "Just date whoever you can get!" "Aim low and you'll reach it." And many more unhelpful advice.

The issue with this particular bit of "advice" it makes a lot of assumptions about a person's situation, and it causes Autistic people to see themselves as worth less than others and often lowers their self-esteem based on their new perception of how they think you see them.

It also assumes that the person in question isn't trying hard enough, isn't talented enough, isn't attractive enough, confident enough, or whatever else pertains to that situation. We are trying. You have no idea how hard. And telling us this lets us know you either don't believe us or don't care.

Not to mention this particular advice has caused me to take on the wrong friends, the wrong relationships, the wrong jobs, and made me feel like I was less than because I was always being told to settle for scraps. And several of these choices added up and destroyed the life I had.

And yes, sometimes we have to settle for what we can get until we get what we want or deserve. And that message is fine. You don't start in the best job after all. But the idea of "beggars can't be choosers" leaves us feeling worthless and can make us choose the wrong path for ourselves. A much worse path.

And for those like me who heard this for years and followed it numerous times, that bar is already pretty low and we need your love and support to bring it back up. So don't tell us to lower our expectations. Tell us to meet or even surpass our own expectations. And we will.

-Nathan McConnell

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