Anyone found their traits improving, on growing understanding?

[Suzanne]

I am finding that although, I do take things literal still, I have improved greatly and also, the understanding of emotions.

Both are still there, but more subtle than they used to be. Of course, if I were to ask hubby, he might well say that I am as bad as usual! But I sense that things have improved, even if, for example, I still see the literal in my mind and at first, emotions are difficult, but soon think: ahha that is what is going on!

 

[Kyou Nukui]

I don't think so.. I only get better at avoiding the situations where my autie traits are exposed.

 

[Progster]

I find that it's not the symptoms that vary in severity, but my ability to cope, keep them in check or mask. This is very much dependent on stress and anxiety levels. Mostly, my struggles are internal, not external.

 

[SameStars]

I've been told I have really improved by people close to me. I'm able to cope better with a lot of situations or to talk about my limitations and how to work around them. I am more willing to go out of my comfort zone.

 

[Fino]

The more general rules I memorize and practice remembering, the "better" I appear!

 

[onlything]

It does seem as if I am able to learn through trial and error how to behave and mask, as well as how to read and understand people better. Some things like understanding of emotions, however, is simply impossible unless I experienced something similar. I need a point of contact to understand and learn and if one doesn't exist, I can't seem to get my head around the issue.

Also, learning others' emotional states and meanings of their words through their body language is definitely a much slower of a process and of a different learning system than that of other people. However, humans are heavily adaptable species and it does get easier to cope with time and knowledge acquired.

 

[Clueless in Canada]

Awareness as well as self-understanding in general is helpful. Now I know some of the things I do and say might be misunderstood and I can explain them. I see more of my autistic traits now that I am aware of them but am also better able to cope or work with them.

 

[Nervous Rex]

My individual traits and symptoms probably have not gotten better, but what has is how I deal with them. A few examples:

Getting enough sleep is a much higher priority and has made my life much better. Gone is the thinking that “everyone else copes fine when they’re tired. I should be able to, too.”

When I am feeling stressed, anxious, etc., I recognize that it’s just my own emotions and not necessarily representative of reality. That helps me ride it through better than I have in the past.

When I feel like I’m not properly interpreting people’s faces, tones, or words, I ask for clarification instead of trying to bluff my way through it.

I am getting better at recognizing when I am stalling on a project (at home or at work) because it’s not completely worked out in my mind, and forcing myself to get started and get emotionally vested in it.

 

[Fino]

This thread is reminding of just how useful this forum is, especially in growing my understand of myself!

 

[Aspychata]

That's interesting, yet somehow l feel l have a sign that says "construction site ongoing", wear your hard hat and proceed with caution at all times. Feel that some days are easier then others. Working on the fact that sometimes l fail to read things correctly, but the world doesnt stop, it's important to run damage control, be accepting of me, and move forward. l work on and tweak my public persona which is different then my private self.

 

[SusanLR]

Learning all that I can about my diagnosis has helped me internally just from understanding
why I have always been different and those traits are shared by many others on the spectrum.
I lived my life not knowing anything about it until I was in my 50's.

As far as working on changing my actions through scripting or remembering what to say like greetings
and formalities, I don't try. Too old and set in my ways to care now.
But, the knowledge and information has helped with a lot of my internal emotions and coping with them.