What you see in the title is something that someone I grew up with said about my autism.

I was reminded of this when I saw something just now.

A lot of people still think autism is interchangeable with being mentally handicapped. And some extremely stupid people think it’s something you can “beat” like it’s some sort of affliction that destroys families.

Autism speaks is one such organization that says it’s like that last part.

I don’t know how to define autism and neither do 100% of autism specialists I’ve spoken to

This is just me venting about people who don’t get it and refuse to learn each case of autism is unique

  • binary45@lemmy.world
    21·
    11 days ago

    Personally, I like to make it an analogy. It’s like we have a different OS compared to everyone else. There’s nothing wrong with us, we’re just different.

  • Last@reddthat.comEnglish
    10·
    11 days ago

    When you feel things more intensely than others, and something as simple as too much background noise or bright light is enough to cause sensory overload, I think the chances of “beating” it become nonexistent. It’s exhausting just trying to appear normal even when everything seems fine.

    • fairchild@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      4·
      11 days ago

      True. This could however look different, if public spaces would be designed in a way that would comfort neurodiverse folk, for instance. Why is it even a thing people design such things if they don’t care much about lights and smells and noise and all that? Unfortunately the world is built to exclude certain people, races, genders.

      Reminds me of that one time I listened to some talk in a newish building a few years back. There was this extremely annoying sound of air-conditioner, which made it impossible for me to concentrate on anything that was said. Eventually I asked if it could be turned off and as the answer was no, one of the other’s said something along the lines of “You will just forget about it in a few minutes” and I just thought “You have no f*ing idea”

  • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
    7·
    11 days ago

    We need some Autistic people to get obsessive over defining Autism.

    I do think it is kind of possible to “beat” Autism. If you get to know yourself you can learn to better expect your own tendencies. Essentially you can learn to recognize when you start to get over stimulated or obsessed and then you can take action. For instance it might be necessary to step out of a social event for a “bathroom break.” Autism is not going to disappear and if you learn to recognize it you will be much better off.

    • fairchild@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      31·
      11 days ago

      I mean, you are right about getting to know yourself and trying to navigate difficult situations, but there is a difference between beating Autism and just being better off. Trying to get through certain situations might work on some occasions, but honestly, there’s days it is absolutely impossible, eapecially if you run into unforeseen events. And then still, this might be very subjective and depends on other factors that make up a person.

      • yetiftw@lemmy.world
        2·
        11 days ago

        really the impossibility level depends on how much you care about what other people think of you

        • fairchild@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          1·
          11 days ago

          I mean not caring too much is usually my approach too and this works 9/10. I was thinking more of edge cases, e.g. an important appointment when you have one of those really bad days, where you can’t just go “Yeah, whatever” but will fuck up some major things in your life or will regret not having been able to act “normal” for a while.

  • r3df0x ✡️✝☪️@7.62x54r.ruEnglish
    1·
    8 days ago

    My sister thinks this way. It’s possible that she just has a lot fewer impairments than other people, and that makes it easier for her to pass. I try to convey that what might be easy for her could be incredibly difficult for other people.