this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2025
33 points (94.6% liked)

Autism

7588 readers
163 users here now

A community for respectful discussion and memes related to autism acceptance. All neurotypes are welcome.

Community:

Values

  • Acceptance
  • Openness
  • Understanding
  • Equality
  • Reciprocity
  • Mutuality
  • Love

Rules

  1. No abusive, derogatory, or offensive post/comments e.g: racism, sexism, religious hatred, homophobia, gatekeeping, trolling.
  2. Posts must be related to autism, off-topic discussions happen in the matrix chat.
  3. Your posts must include a text body. It doesn't have to be long, it just needs to be descriptive.
  4. Do not request donations.
  5. Be respectful in discussions.
  6. Do not post misinformation.
  7. Mark NSFW content accordingly.
  8. Do not promote Autism Speaks.
  9. General Lemmy World rules.

Encouraged

  1. Open acceptance of all autism levels as a respectable neurotype.
  2. Funny memes.
  3. Respectful venting.
  4. Describe posts of pictures/memes using text in the body for our visually impaired users.
  5. Welcoming and accepting attitudes.
  6. Questions regarding autism.
  7. Questions on confusing situations.
  8. Seeking and sharing support.
  9. Engagement in our community's values.
  10. Expressing a difference of opinion without directly insulting another user.
  11. Please report questionable posts and let the mods deal with it. Chat Room
  • We have a chat room! Want to engage in dialogue? Come join us at the community's Matrix Chat.

.

Helpful Resources

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I sadly don't have anyone I'm close to that gets it. I've tried explaining it and got nowhere

top 12 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] SharkEatingBreakfast@sopuli.xyz 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

None. No one. And only one tries to understand but doesn't quite get it, but, damn, I respect & appreciate her for trying.

Most just tell me to "try harder [to be normal]" and I want to fucking scream.

Being misunderstood with no attempt to even try to understand causes me to pull away from people. Fuck 'em.

[–] CheeseToastie@lazysoci.al 2 points 1 week ago

Yep. My best friend doesn't get it at all. She tries, but nothing. She gets some things like the sensory overload, but I had to scream at her that there's some things I just can't do.

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My husband understands, although it was mildly annoying when my primary doctor said (paraphrased) "oh they're (me and twin) are on the spectrum" and he laughed so hard before "yeah, yeah that tracks and makes sense now" like wow husband! Rude. (I love him and he was right though, everything made sense)

I guess my twin understands but we both have slightly different manifestations and sometimes get feral with each other because of it.

[–] meh@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 week ago

feral with each other

gonna be stuck in my head all day now. definitely stealing this one.

[–] Vibi@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 week ago

Maybe 4... and by understand, I mean they have experienced my highs when I have something in my life to temporarily hyperfixate over that brings me so much joy - but also my incredible lows during burnout periods. They've been caught in my emotional storms and have continued to be there when I eventually even out (sometimes many months later). They understand I can be highly emotional and prone to crumbling under sadness and stress.

The other people in my life know I'm on the spectrum, but I don't think they necessarily get it.

I would say the biggest difference I notice is communication. I tend to need full honesty and full commitment. I'm super incompatible with people who think small lies are better than uncomfortable and honest conversations or who make plans and don't follow through with them.

[–] ScottFromScotland@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

I live in Lincolnshire and the local authority has an autism hub, where they promote a variety of social activities just for neuro divergent folks, perhaps your own council does something similar? Haven't signed up for any yet, just need a nudge. Think we need to form our own societies, I've seen my daughter's neuroverse group at York university and it works so much better when everyone is autistic and no neuro typicals are involved, judging and misunderstanding.

[–] Dagnet@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

Have only told 2 people, they don't seem to really understand it however

[–] HEXN3T@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Only people either roughly as autistic as me, or affected more severely.

Everyone else feels like talking to a wall.

[–] CheeseToastie@lazysoci.al 3 points 1 week ago

Yep that's my finding too

[–] meh@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 week ago

three i think, with one making an attempt recently. got a sister who appears to get it but we're not really close. two friends. one who's kid got diagnosed a couple years after mine, then got herself diagnosed. the other recently went from "haha yeah im totally weird enough to be autistic haha" to "well shit". after a conversation we had where a whole bunch of experiances she's had dismissed by others, were also things i experiance. and my ex appears to be making an honest effort recently in an ateempt to connect with our son. fewer lazy cliche phrases, more pauses and thoughtful interactions from her to him. thats been really nice to see.

[–] zlatiah@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

In my case... Ironically, almost everyone I know (which is not many). And not just the -tism, but all the other quirks I learned about myself from evaluations

My parents were literally involved with my psych tests and know everything. Despite them growing up in a culture that didn't even believe depression is real, they've been incredibly kind and understanding

Most of my (now former) coworkers know. Half of them are understanding, the other half... I think they either don't believe me or don't have a grasp of the weight of the situation

I guess I try my best to not mask in order to alleviate some mental stress so there's that...

[–] chonkyninja@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago