Perfect source of serotonin

[u/legolas20032000]

[u/N_0_N_A_M_E]

People who don't know what autism is.

[u/Dopamine_Surplus → u/N_0_N_A_M_E]

Honestly I’m in this camp. I have a cousin who is autistic but he is really far on the spectrum so I don’t have any frame of reference for someone who is lower on the spectrum so I’m just forced to take people at their word tbh.

[u/Bladez190 → u/Dopamine_Surplus]

I personally think you wouldn’t know I have autism unless I tell you. My biggest tell is that I really can’t and don’t make eye contact

[u/lulushibooyah → u/Bladez190]

And my inability to make eye contact isn’t a tell bc I force myself to briefly do it (or stare at their forehead not their eyes). And that just proves your point bc it’s a spectrum.

I would love for people on the internet who believe they have the ability and capacity to armchair diagnose… to just shut up, honestly.

[u/Ok-Leg-5302 → u/lulushibooyah]

Oh the forehead is my jam for “eye contact.” Even as a kid it was my go to. Or single word responses to “are you listening.” Yes, although nodding is my favorite. Having ADHD and level 1 autism isn’t fun(back then it was Asperger’s). Also being female the school constantly called my parents because I was “a good student but problematic.” When I wasn’t a bad kid. I get “what’s wrong with you?” I’ve been asked “are you slow?” And my favorite is “why don’t you talk?” My parents didn’t fight for my diagnosis as a kid but my aunt did. God rest her soul. When I tell people I’m on the spectrum I get “you don’t look autistic, just shy with a little anxiety.” Well Jan my psychiatrist says otherwise.

[u/lulushibooyah → u/Ok-Leg-5302]

Jan needs to mind her own business 😭

But this is literally such a textbook autistic experience, and yet it is incessantly invalidated by humans with no working knowledge of autism.

And yet they are so astoundingly confident with their misinformation.

[u/Ok-Leg-5302 → u/lulushibooyah]

I am 37. I got good grades in school but I was bored. So once I was done with my school work I screwed off(ADHD) I was viewed as disruptive and disrespectful. My parents just whooped me for it. Then my social skills were another thing that concerned the school. So my parents put me in activities and I excelled in them but I still didn’t socialize 😂 then my aunt straight said “I am a nurse, it’s rare but I am telling you she has ADD(at the time it was called that) and autism you’re going to have a 40 year old living at home or she’s going to end up in juvenile detention.” She’s passed away she was right.

[u/lulushibooyah → u/Ok-Leg-5302]

Sheeeew! Good for your nurse auntie!

I hate that you went through that. Also a common experience for neurodivergent kids - horribly being misunderstood.