Positive Sides of Autism - Your Thoughts

Thanks for sharing, Number!

I resonate with that so, so much. I'm so early on in my journey but there are so many things in my life that I had beaten myself up for and labelled as me being uniquely being 'messed up'. There was a lot of self-hatred as I couldn't understand WHY I couldn't do things that everyone else could. 

Now, things are starting to make so much more sense. I'm staring to build up more self-compassion and understanding. I feel like I've stopped butting heads with myself so much and started accepting and working with myself. It's nice. 

OK - so this is an ass-about-face way of thinking about this.....but no change for me there!

The BEST thing about KNOWING I am autistic / AD is that I have an explanation for all the things, feelings and thoughts that I DON'T do well !

All the strengths and superpowers that I have and  always had....didn't really need any sort of "explanation"....they just "where/are" and that was/is glorious.

However, when I reached my 40's, I was becoming endlessly frustrated, angry and preoccupied with trying to understand why I wasn't "achieving" what I considered to be my full potential.  I tore myself to pieces trying to "correct" my autistic nature....because I didn't know I was autistic.

So.......the best thing for me about being autistic...is KNOWING I'm autistic.  Calmness and contentment achieved.....Golden!

Thanks for sharing, Claire!

I'm interested in hearing more about your creativity - how do you express it?  

Thanks for sharing, Hello kitty 09!

I definitely resonate with the kid at heart and love that I feel able to be myself in that way. I really wish more people would be comfortable expressing their interests even if they aren't the ones on the accept list for adult neurotypicals (running, reading, watching TV etc.). 

Thanks for sharing, Jamie! 

Resilience is so important and something that is often (in my experience) overlooked. 

Thanks for sharing, Desmond79!

I think being able to take a step back is really helpful. I do something similar. I find myself relatively uninterested and unaffected by news events but other people I have spoken to who are neurotypical can be very emotionally swayed by them. 

Thanks for sharing Nerdwizard73!

That sounds really cool! I'm also really good at learning new processes quickly which is super useful when starting new roles. 

Thank you, Ausomely Autistic and thanks for sharing!

I also question norms which is excellent when revising (and streamlining) processes at work which goes really well with being detail oriented! 

I'm really enjoying being part of this community and learning more about others' experiences too :)

Hi NAS73180! 

I don't think that would mean you're not Autistic. I'm not officially diagnosed but I test with significant Autism traits on lots of the tests on this website - https://embrace-autism.com/autism-tests/

I myself am deeply affected by people and tend to take criticism to heart. There are lots of different traits with Autism and you don't have to have all of them. Some of them are also contradictory! I'm not drawn to people in the same way I've seen neurotypical people be and sometimes actively avoid social engagement. So it sounds like you're like me on that front than like Alex. 

Thanks for sharing, Alex! I'm with you on the ability to see things other can't! I try to be accepting, and I am generally, but I know I definitely have my areas that I am working on

Thank you for sharing, Martin! I'm completely with you on the lateral thinking and hyper focus. I have timers set up on my phone to remind me to eat and drink as sometimes I get so completely absorbed in something (be it work or a game or reading) I'll completely neglect everything else. 

Ability to retain loads of information I read.

Honesty.

Repetitive nature.

Learn new things quicker than most NTs.

Hyper focus.

Extreme creativity.

Eye for detail.

Like how I am unique. I like how this makes me who I am.

Correction! I love how it makes me who I am!

I am deeply affected by people and deterred by them.  Does that mean I am not autistic? 

1. Eye for detail 

2. I’m honest.. too honest

3. problem solving 

4. good at navigation

5. can drive 

6. kid at heart 

7. unique 

8. See things others can’t 

9. have a lot of special interests 

10. I don’t lead or follow. I go on my own path 

11. think outside the box

12. curious love to explore 

Thinking outside the box, seeing details others don't, hyper-focus, resilience 

Distancing myself from the maelstrom of society. 

I can learn new systems or computer programmes really quickly. Within 3 hours of starting a new job I had picked up basic to intermediate skills on 2 computer programmes they use and shown 2 existing members of staff how to do something on it. I also wrote a training presentation for the new phone system for the whole team after 4 days of working there. 

Now if there are any problems with the computers or phones they come and ask me. Usually I can figure it out and put the informarion into a format that everyone can understand. 

PetitePip said:

I'm also very, very good at making quick connections between things and solving problems

So am I! Great discussion! I love being autistic for these reasons and many more:

•  I love the way I make people laugh with my autistic literalism and honesty even without meaning to! It is very funny.
•  I love the autistic intensity which which I feel emotions and if I really happy I love to stim by making noises.
•  I love being monotropic which means I can hyper focus and have a thirst for knowledge and constant learning.
•  I love being a deep thinker and very analytical, I question norms.
•  I love how passionate, knowledgeable and enthusiastic I am about my dedicated interest which is autistic experience. When I am absorbed in my autistic community and learning about other autistic experiences, it is the best feeling. My dedicated interest forms the basis of my intended career and gives me direction in life.
• I love the way I am detail oriented, I see things other people do not.
•  I love the intensity of empathy and responsibility I feel for my neurokin and for anyone who has been misunderstood.
• Most of all I love being part of this autistic community and helping and chatting with my neurokin.
• Hyper focus and flow state- my ability to become a specialist in my interests and become so absorbed in an activity (like replying to this post) that I forget about everything else- monotropism.

AlexC83 said:

Accepting - non-judgmental; see the good in everyone; adapt to who I’m with to help them feel comfortable. 

I agree with this too. I am very observant and nonjudgmental.

This discussion is a great way to boost confidence about our autistic identities, thanks for starting it.

Ability to see things others can’t - able to interpret and analyse deeply, particularly around my special interests.

Lack of ego - not deterred by criticism; don’t do nice things for praise or compliments. 

Accepting - non-judgmental; see the good in everyone; adapt to who I’m with to help them feel comfortable. 

(I’m obviously ignoring the downsides of any of these, but this is a post about the positives after all!)

An exceptional eye for detail, I have lost count of the number of PhD theses I have proofread for colleagues.

Hyper focus. When fully engaged in a task, I can forget to eat meals.

Lateral thinking and solving problems from unusual directions. Recently, my kids (adult) were at loggerheads, one was going to be away and wanted to do clothes washing on the day the other (also autistic) usually did hers. Neither was budging, so there was an impasse. I suggested that the one going away use the timer function to set up the machine the night before to start early in the following morning, well before the other would have wanted to use it, problem solved. I knew that the machine had a timer function, but had never used it myself. My wife, who had actually used the timer in the past, did not think of it.