Lol my sister(whos autistic) described me as someone who has all the benefits of being autistic without the drawback. Also because i grew up with her i dont really care if someone had it. In school i was both friends with the cool kids and the kids who were always alone. I think we should educate people more about how not to be a dick btw.

[–] Dagnet 40 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I used to think I got all the benefits without any of the drawbacks but eventually I found out I just got really good at masking all the drawbacks, even though it still tires me out.
(not saying it's your case too)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What is your experience with masking?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Not the same person, but my experience has been that it's not some unique thing to autistic people, it's basically just the same thing anyone would do in a different culture.
Just stuff like "urgh this is so boring and uncomfortable, but i can't just walk out.." or "i should make sure to smile now so they know i'm happy".

In the moment it doesn't feel like a huge deal most of the time, but when you do it constantly you end up spending so much mental energy on it that you get exhausted, at which point i need to immerse myself in stuff like sitting at the computer or going for a hike, where there's no need to mask and i can get the mental stimulation that i need.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Same story here. My brother struggles greatly with autism. Meanwhile I am a very very logical thinker but I've been blessed with enough of a capacity for intuition for it not to take over my personality.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Any example come to mind of some urge you have to fight, maybe when you see or are told something illogical?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Hmm it's more Special Interests that I have to fight, as I can find it simulating to spend hours and hours on them but it would get me nowhere in my life/career/financially. They're things where only I can see the beauty in them

[–] ZILtoid1991 1 points 1 month ago

I personally just mastered the act of reaching the "autistic zen", where I not really feel the drawbacks.