Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi thought i’d start a positive tread.
We often are told or feel like autism is full of negatives and although it can make things more much more difficult or put at as a disadvantage in some situations. I do also believe it can come with great strengths and positives too.
Feel free to list some of yours, it would be great to read them!
Mine are…
1. Amazing sense of direction and navigation
2. Good with animals
3. Good in emergencies or instances where you need to think quick and logically
I’ve worked in IT all my life and now understand where one of my real advantages comes from (hyper focus).
When I was still developing software, which is one of my life long special interests, I could easily slip into a flow state and maintain it for 50+ hour work weeks. I was an absurdly productive software developer which is why they promoted to the point they don’t let me code any more.
And now I’m lucky if I get an hour or two of focus anymore.
:) ill try not to worry
Are there any good jobs for someone who doesnt like to talk, like at all? And I like to know exactly what I need to be doing at every moment, but not too strict that it causes anxiety. I dont like things that require creative input because even though I am creative, my brain cant seem to share it, I can only be creative on my own terms. I dont like tedious work or else I cant focus and I get super uncomphortable but I can do certain things that would be tedious to others but I hyperfocus on it and could do it for hours (like writing lists. unless im using a pencil and not a pen cause I push too hard with pencils then my hand hurts after only 2 seconds)
Not so, dear FrozenHeart. Do not fret. There are many types of employers who are delighted to only employ people who will do exactly what they are specifically and precisely asked to do....and no more than that. Predictability is a very valuable commodity in the workplace, in my experience. Don't worry.
Judge Dredd said:Too bad that I know NT that are as good as me, and they do not have any of my social difficulties.
That is the thing im most worried about when I enter the workforce. People want efficiency and anything I can do, some NT could do better or faster. I may have the awnser faster but it takes me longer to expain. And I have troube knowing what to do unless someone tells me to do it, so like if I was at a fastfood place and something spilled, obviously you would clean it up, but for me id just stand there until someone told me to clean it, no way someone would hire or keep me like that
ASD for me is a kind of "curate's egg" situation: a lot of bad things with just one or two redeeming qualities:
Curate's egg - Wikipedia
I am good with computers and electrical systems. Too bad that I know NT that are as good as me, and they do not have any of my social difficulties. I really got the short end of the stick.
absolutely, I like using the street view so I can see the exact layout of the road/area and visual clues like what's just before the turning to take etc. Makes me feel so much calmer and as if I know where I'm going (although I don't! )
This is my favourite positive as well. I spent so long not knowing and understanding myself. It feels good to know about myself at last.
I am also the cool cucumber in a disaster: observational/ situational awareness.
gifted in the arts.
See a map, Know a city! (well DF is a challenge)
See a part, know the pattern.
putting disparate elements into associative relations.
"seeing" the mechanics of objects and bodies in exploded view.
remembering words to songs
read the sheet music -hear the song.
see an ephemeris, "see" the dance of celestial mechanics.
remembering things.
My favorite, feeling texture without touching.
super sniffer!
crikey, what jolly fun!!!
Amerantin (former member) said:Ability to hyper focus Visual thinking Excellent memory Fact-based thinking and opinions not emotion or identity based Generally very calm in a crisis because it takes me a while to mount an emotional reaction Can hear a spider walking from several rooms away
Same, but also the monotropism helps with learning things quickly.And I don't get wrapped up in the insecurities of not fitting in.Also I have been able to "smell" the start of a battery pack in a 3DS swelling before it could explode and cause a fire. I admit to this day I don't know what exactly it was giving off the scent, but it did stop after the battery pack was replaced and the 3DS has worked fine since so presumably it wasn't the circuitry. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Now I think about it that does fairly often with me. I have a problem with leaving situations, I tend to just clear off awkwardly.
Great thread!
My positives are
That’s great! I am sure it helped you and others understand and think more positively about their autistic identity in such a lyrical way!
It really cheered me up just when I needed it
Thanks for sharing this link! The spoken word poem is absolutely brilliant, I love it!
Great!
This is a subset of a thing that happens to me quite a lot in shops, appointments etc: people often need to tell me that the interaction has ended and I can go.
I feel like we could have a thread of just stories when we mke silly mistakes like that lol (Im gonna do that rtn actually cause I have a funny story)
Google Maps has been a lifer saver over the last 10 years, before it getting anywhere could be a nightmare.
It's just how the ASD brain works for us really. Last week I had an autism moment when I'd got enough stamps on the loyalty card at my local teashop. When I went to pay the waitress said I didn't need to. It didn't register. I just stood there for a few seconds on a total blank and she cheerfully reminded that was that and I could clear off. It still doesn't make sense to me now how I didn't get it instantly.
I like your list. I can agree with all those :)