What is the good in your autism?

[Ronald Zeeman]

I liked this

 

[AprilR]

The humility it gives me

 

[Judge]

Seems quite logical...with any number of physical considerations potentially answered.

Let's see what kind of traction it might get in the coming years....

 

[JayLapointe]

What are the top 3 good things about your autism?

1. It adds joy to our relationship. My boyfriend lovingly makes fun of my various quirks and it makes us laugh all the time- I’m grateful that we can laugh about it
2. I always have good intentions
3. I basically can’t lie

I hate questions like this. I know they mean well but it always feels like it comes from the position of "Autism is a disability but lets try to find a silver lining so you don't feel bad". It comes across somewhat contrite, belittling even.

Might as well ask a neurotypical what the best part of being a neurotypical is. I mean they had no more choice in the matter than we do being autistic.

 

[arithmetic]

Hi Everyone
Like many others here, I got a very hard time for being born autistic before autism was discovered. My angry, contemptuous and finally sadistic parents gave me a nightmare childhood of blame and violence. Maybe its because of this "autism" - just diagnosed a few weeks ago and I'm 69 in a few days - that I'm still a good man.
I have had satori experiences as well as other non-worldly experiences. (The only important thing I can say is that despite all there is definitely Someone who cares.)
I wish I could become a little more sensitive to non-worldly things sometimes but then again I find it hard enough to navigate the world I'm living in now.

 

[Markness]

It helped me challenge and eventually overcome the brainwashing I was subjected to in my developmental years.

 

[Tired]

Might as well ask a neurotypical what the best part of being a neurotypical is.

I can focus on many things at once and do them all perfectly. I can be distracted by stuff, and then easily return back to the task at hand. I can understand people's emotions, facial expression and read between the lines perfectly... guess I just sound very typical for a NT

 

[Jumpinbare]

The chocolate candy center. /s

 

[Dagan]

Memory that probably rivals an elephant.

Creative and knowledge seeking brain that almost never takes a break (unless there's coffee and donuts).

Willpower...probably modeled after / influenced by Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Encyclopedia Brown and Batman.

 

[RemyZee]

I like how I see in patterns and cannot unsee them.
How I Can be engaged in something for hours and hours, so when I'm on my interest I can get a lot of work done and don't get bored or tired. I like how my mind works: the way I perceive things, how I learn and how I process information, the weird ways my intellect plays out. Even the sensory challenges come with some positives. I like my relationship to solitude--I think lots of people get very antsy from being alone: but I find it rather meaningful. In short, there are lots of challenges about being autistic, but it comes with some gifts as wel..

 

[AuAL]

I don’t really know. I don’t try to “separate” my autism from what is me. I spent 64 years “without” autism, then discovered I was autistic. Let all my achievements and failures just be “mine.”

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I don’t really know. I don’t try to “separate” my autism from what is me. I spent 64 years “without” autism, then discovered I was autistic. Let all my achievements and failures just be “mine.”

Don't feel bad I was in my mid fifties, thought my life was about overcoming bad luck, made it work somehow.
Knowledge is freedom, retired now life good issues with walking due to stroke, however I figured even this out. My Stroke caused by covid. I love sorting out real life puzzles. Currently working on Da Vinci code, real fun. Cannot believe how much headway I'm making.

 

[AuAL]

@Ronald Zeeman, I think you missed my point. I don’t feel bad. The point is, I don’t go looking for “what is the good in my autism.” I’m autistic. Nothing I do is going to change that.

Anybody can say, “I am a live human being.” Should we go looking for “what is the good in that”? My achievements, and there are some I am proud of, are mine. The whole of me. Do we look at someone who achieves above average in sporting endeavours and say, “Oh, that’s all just down to them being gifted in their musculature”?

This whole “what is the good in my autism” seems to me to be something like, “I am afflicted with autism, let’s find some silver lining, so I can feel better about myself.” Maybe I don’t feel the need for this because of my late discovery of my autism - I’ve lived most of my life just being me, achieving what I can, and failing when I can’t. You get knocked down, you get up again.

(A caveat - discovering I was autistic was life-changing for me in a positive way. I realised I was not a “broken” neurotypical, which brought me back from the brink.)

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I agree with you, also finding out late I was on the spectrum, it drove me to overcome what I thought was bad luck.
became world class in my career, got married, raised a family. plus my brother also on the spectrum showed us how to invest a retire comfortably. so life is great, My ability to think visually is my best gift One eyed guy in world of the blind.