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working on change in core features of autism - is it worth the effort?

Phased

Hi all :-)

I'm two years into being ASD type 1 diagnosed and 60 years old.  I am slowly getting to understand what that means and the implications of it.

I am now wondering just how much autistic people can change in the expression of core features that define the condition.  Is it worth the effort to try or should one instead work on being "authentic" to one's true autistic self?

I suspect the reality will be a bit of both and finding one right answer might be impossible for now, nonetheless...

I've started a bit of analysis on this so far I've got this:

Just be your authentic autistic self – let your autism be free? 

 Advantages – less hard work cognitively, socially aligns oneself to other autistic people, be “true to yourself” and recognise self better has it's own reward

Disadvantages – problems with survival and thriving in neurotypical world

Potentially missing out on experiences and insights that would enhance and make life more meaningful

 

Change by adapting  Work hard and smart at learning to understand it – perhaps get the brain and behaviour to  both consciously or subconsciously do things to “fit in” to more neurotypical society and life.

Advantages less social conflict and increased potential for social “advancement”

Disadvantages This is in itself potentially “masking” behaviour so the risk of “losing oneself” might be higher

Relies upon “knowing oneself” and recognising other things that might be impossible for autistic people so really a waste of time and effort...

 

I would like to ask what is the knowledge and experience of other members in the community please - can you help with this analysis?

Parents

  • I'm my authentic self, I wasn't diagnosed until I was 50 and I'd struggled all my life with fitting in and socialising, getting it wrong, getting bullied and picked on, being told I was embarassing, diagnosis was such a relief. I feel I'd rather have people reject the real me than the one I was pretending to be and in fact the real me is more accepted and liked, I don't know about successful in the workplace as ill health has stopped me working. But then success as the world see's it has never been a motivator for me, as an autistic person, it's something I've never really understood.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    I too have different perspectives on what being successful means in comparison to most it seems.  I suspect that it is the workplace situation that is often a key confounding variable for many autistic people -certainly the biggest issue for me.  I hope that your health allows you to enjoy life nonetheless :-)

  • in reply to Phased

    I do enjoy life thank you.

    On the work front, many businesses are starting to realise the value of neurodiverse views and ways of looking at the world, one of the biggest of these is GCHQ, apparently ND's being a unique and useful way of dealing with national security issues.

    For me being authentic, is not trying to fit in, I've mostly found that this fails as people know you're not being who you really are. I find people are generally quite accepting and quite a like a different perspective. Those who don't, well do I really want to be around the small minded? Apart from aggravation they being nothing to my life.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Good to learn that you enjoy life - long may you continue to :-)

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