general World Autism Day! (02 April)

[Sunamena 426]

I would love to raise awareness for World Autismday and autism in general.


Autism is something that some people have to live with, and unlike most issues, it is not something people see or understand.
People do not expect someone without legs to run.
People do not expect a blind person to compete in archery.
People do not see the issues Autists have to deal with and often do not take these issues seriously.

Autists do not have specific and defined issues. It is a very very very broad array of issues they can have. Yes, as like every human they learn to deal and act upon their issues. But nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to show some compassion towards people with autism.

I want to wish everyone with autism a very happy life and compassion!
And if you are brave enough and willing, please feel free to share your story down below!
I might do so 2 later on when I find the courage.

[Fasu 551]

Thanks for sharing! I might post own story here later.

[NebulaFirefly 15]

Oh, holy Force, I've forgotten that this day is so soon! Thank you for reminding about this day, and for sharing this!

Idon't know if it would be valid to tell about myself in case of autism (I am self-diagnosed with Asperger's, but don't have official diagnosis because of risks associated with having official psychiatric disorder for my career). But I am happy that someone cares about people with autism!

[ShadOBabe 18,997]

Whoo, neurodivergence!

I have an interesting viewpoint about my Aspergers diagnosis. On the one hand, every oddity that didn’t match with my peers suddenly made sense. But I’m still kind of glad it took a good while for me to be diagnosed. No one used kid gloves or ever gave me low expectations to meet. There was no reason I couldn’t do anything I wanted.

Happy Early World Autism Awareness Day! 

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,330]

Very nice post. This is something that affects my entire life in many ways. My quirks, "ticks" that I have, social awkwardness and other oddities, it stems from this and other stuff too. I consider myself highly flawed but really, I am who I am. I think I have quite a...unique personality and my funky brain is why. I see that a positive because even if I am heavily flawed, I would not want to be anyone else.  

Self acceptance is key. Everyone should always remember that. 

[Here No Longer 5,276]

Thanks for sharing! I suspect I'm probably on the spectrum somewhere, but I'd have to get that checked out. All the weirdness of how I am as a person. I've never really gotten the opportunity to see somebody who actually specializes in diagnosing autism (because oh boy is self-diagnosis a bad idea... Autism presents symptoms, if you want to call them that, that align), but what I have had is plenty of opportunities to research it myself.

 

Anyways, it fits like a glove considering my inability to develop social or motor skills (seriously though, you should see my handwriting. And that's AFTER trying ABSURDLY hard to make it better, and no I do not have cerebral palsy, and that's the only think I know that would affect somebody's motor skills throughout their entire life like this), my... fairly problematic development in my childhood years... Pretty much falls in line with what used to be called "Asperger's Syndrome" though the developmental part may make it a bit more severe than your average case of what would be called that, in my imagination at least. I remember making a blog post about all the reasons I think I have it a long time ago, but suffice it to say, I'm quite sure I probably have it.

[Sunamena 426]

So, here is my short story....


I was diagnosed at a semi young age that I had Autism.
I was about 10 years old.
My dad knew when I was 2 or younger.

When I was 7, I had to go to a special school. And many smart people made me do tests and stuff like that.
And they determined after lots of tests that I have autism.
They had a specialist come over, because not all parents and family members accept this. My parents and brother simply stated that this word, Autism in fact does not change a single thing. They have known me for 10 years, and Suna is and will always be Suna they sayd.

Going to middle school, I went to what one would call a normal school. Docters thought it would be impossible, but the grand director, who I had a close relation with cause he often made me do little tasks, suggested I should try it.
In my first year of middle school, I did great. I was the first of class when it was theory.
But when it was about working with my hands, I had major issues.
But I clearly was doing my hardest best. And I was (and am) nice to everyone. To the extent that it is a flaw, I soon learned the hard way people like to abuse that trait, and yes, that came with paine and tears. I learned from those experiences.
That is what I saw in normal people then as well... They have flaws, just like I do as an autist, and they learn to live with it or work around it. Was it harder for me? Yes. Did I fail alot? Yes? Did I give up! No! 

When I got older, another docter came to check on my hand-working speed issue. It was determined that my speed when working with my hands is up to around 80% slower then the average person. In essence, when I would finish 1 screw, youd have done 5. I long struggled and tried to improve this, to no avail. It saddend me.
Then I decided something important... I gave up on improving this. It was clearly that it would not work at all. I put in lots of effort and it did not gave any fruit. It is like trying to walk to the moon. It is impossible. So instead of focussing my time and effort into improving that where I failed, I focussed it in the things where I had lots of growth.
Yes, I do accept that I will always not be the best or even good at anything. Quite honestly, I do not care about being the best or even being good.

Now I am getting to a few of my good attributes, that many people like me so much for.
I easily gain extreme happyness and extreme sadness as well. Do not confuse this with bipolar. 
I recently saw a flower blooming.
I got off my bike, to simply look at the flower, it was so pretty, it's leafs were swaying calmly in the wind. This filled me with so much happyness. The full moon with a few pretty clouds surrounding it. The frog that is next to the lake.
The little snail that is crossing the road, that I picked up and safely put aside, filled me with happyness, because maybe I just saved it from being crushed.
Bad dreams or scary things, do scare me to an extreme extent as well. I am terrible at making important decisiions to the extent that I delay, avoid or even ignore those. I actually need someone to do those for me.

On the other hand, I can be a trouble to others living with me, they have to know certain ticks and behaviors that I have.
Such as me not liking or wanting to speak at certain moments or places, me not wanting them to do, say or touch certain things. 
And be mindfull how they word things. "We are leaving at 9:00." means to me that I am exiting the house at 9:00, not that I will arrive at the destination at 9:00.
If I take a second round of food, you shouldn't ask me if it is good, you should be able to see it.
When someone askes me: "You know what you can do for me?" i will often reply with "No.". 
First time they look confused, they think the no is an answer to the question: "Do you want to help me?", but it is an answer to their question wether I know.
Because I learned this behavior of normal people, I usually answer with "Not yet." If I do not forget to do so.
Or the question: "You are not eating here?" I would answer with: "Yes" for NOT eating there, and "No" for eating there. The question is if I am NOT eating here. But since many people mean it the other way around, I tend to say "I would like to eat here" or "I am eating at...."  if I feel like it and if I do not forget ofcourse.

So, is it difficult to have autism? Yes, both for me and the people living with me.
Am I happy?
Yes, even very much so!




So, I tried to keep it down, because I can write a whole book about my life, but even this story is a hassle to read I can immagine.



If you read it all, I commend you very much!
And have a pony!

[Splashee 28,563]

I'll bring this wonderful thread up to the top, and I will fully read your story @Sunamena.

 

Some people think that I had Autism. Probably of the ways I focus on details of things. But I have been professionally diagnosed with other things, ADHD among other things that are less fun to discuss. But I don't have Autism.

[Stone Cold Steve Jobs 22,440]

I have very very minor Aspergers. But I knew a kid in high school who had severe Autism. He was picked on and ostracized and ridiculed but didn’t seem to understand what people were making fun of. I did my best to say hi to him and be cordial and friendly. The people bullying him missed out. He was a cool kid.
 

Last I heard he is a card dealer in Vegas now and very happy. God bless him.

Edited March 23, 2020 by Stone Cold Steve Tuna

[Sunamena 426]

Happy World Autism Day everyone!!!





I received a card from my parents for this day!

 

[Muffinnz 3,219]

I feel bad for people with autism 

[Sunamena 426]

13 hours ago, Muffinnz said:

I feel bad for people with autism 

You feel bad for people with autism?

For what reason exactly? For our struggles? For how we get treated? 

[Muffinnz 3,219]

21 minutes ago, Sunamena said:

You feel bad for people with autism?

For what reason exactly? For our struggles? For how we get treated? 

All of it

[Sunamena 426]

18 hours ago, Muffinnz said:

All of it

I must admit. These Corona things make things hard for everyone. But as an autist, we have it even harder. (most of us)

[Splashee 28,563]

8 hours ago, Sunamena said:

I must admit. These Corona things make things hard for everyone. But as an autist, we have it even harder. (most of us)

I can only agree with this. I don't know how difficult it really is, but I am willing to understand the amount of power you must deal with to handle just autism alone. Anything on top of that, and it gets very difficult!