Family has gathered for the Holidays and I’m already feeling uncomfortable as the only autistic person involved.
The conversation somehow leads to autism, my sister and her boyfriend begin talking about how someone had told them that they both have “autistic traits”. (Personally, I feel that they’re both very neurotypical.) They joke and sneer as is they’ve been insulted, as if being autistic is the worst thing you can be called. Right in front of me.
Both of them are fully aware that I have a diagnosis, yet they don’t see a problem with what they’re saying. My parents then continue to say “they didn’t mean it to upset you”… but it did upset me, it upset me a lot.
I feel belittled and like my feelings don’t matter. I feel like I should just shut up and deal with it. I feel so upset and I don’t want to be around anyone. Am I being over dramatic? Am I being stupid?