Published on 12, July, 2020
DSM-5 says that to meet the diagnostic criteria for ASD there must be persistent deficits in all three of the areas below.
So why is it some of us are completely alone and isolated while others seem to have friends, partners and active social lives?
How do people who meet the above criteria achieve this?
I have friends and an active social life, and have had partners. The answer to how is that everyone I interact with socially is neurodivergent.
As autistic people, we don't have communication deficits, we have communication differences. Studies have shown that information transfer between two autistic people is just as good as between two neurotypicals.
MrSolo said:As autistic people, we don't have communication deficits, we have communication differences.
Absolutely! Couldn’t agree more!
It feels like a massive life-ruining deficit to me
For now, perhaps. Is that bleak = yes. Is that an immoveable reality = no. Do these words help you = No. Does that mean I shouldn't say the words = no. Have I ever felt as low as you seem to be feeling now = yes. Did things swing around for me = yes...eventually. Will things swing back and smash me in the face again soon = probably.
Ironically enough, for me, it was when I had decided I could (and would have to) live without proper or adequate human connection, that I started to find some ?! Go figure !? Cruel Irony....or self fulfilling prophesy? When I felt "desperate" to connect to humans, I think most humans couldn't fathom my 'intensity' and so ran for the hills.
I started to "make do" with nominal and ad hoc random interactions with the world and that built my confidence that I do belong within it and do have a CONNECTED part to play within it. From those very unpromising "seeds" of connection, some mighty saplings have grown !
Dude - all I'm saying is that, in my opinion and experience (not just my own, but watching the lives of others around me twist and turn with fate).........
HOPE
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