#Repost @aut.in.sight_aut.in.mind (@get_repost) ・・・ It’s hard to prioritise self-care when it means making choices in opposition to neuro-normative expectations deeply embedded in our society. Some people get angry, are accusatory, or take it personally. Some people are shaming, dismissive, or continue to push boundaries. And some people are unrelentingly kind, supportive, and understanding. These people give time and space, have patience, and encourage authentic Autistic expression (like my vast array of idiosyncratic stims). Unstructured socialising, particularly in groups/with unfamiliar people, and even more so in unfamiliar and/or loud settings, takes a physical toll on me. I am often unwell for days afterwards; I have fibromyalgia and it flares up in response to the stress and cognitive demands of unstructured socialising. I rarely attend social events anymore, I rarely see people socially. This is not social anxiety, this is not a lack of social skill. This is not rejection or a lack of care for the people in my life. This is me accepting that I have a pervasive, neurodevelopmental difference from most people. And I’m cool with that. I have all the social skills I need, I am actually rather good at socialising, but social interaction will never come naturally and intuitively. Mental arithmetic comes more naturally to me than unstructured socialising. Most people don’t want to do a maths exam every weekend, it would be exhausting for them! Socialising is my maths exam. Yes, I get “good marks”... but it’s exhausting! “I spent decades doing my best to fit in- learning social rules and hiding myself behind cognitively powered normalcy- only to find the prize for fitting in so effortfully came in the form of burn-out. Meeting neuro-normative expectations made me sick. I am not making a stand, rebelling, shunning social rules, or pushing people away. I am recovering from burn-out. I finally feel free to be my Autistic self.” #actuallyautistic #autie #neuronormative #autisticidentity #fibromyalgia #autismspectrum #selfcare #autisticselfcare #masking #takeoffthemask #autinsightautinmind https://www.instagram.com/p/BpzeXdfFN4Yk3RAivLy3ShDEYdDKqwrfQqkJJo0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=p1azlcys54tv
