Imposter syndrome and Surprised responses

You. Are. Not. A. Fraud.

Just needed to clarify that. Imposter syndrome sucks (I’ve suffered it both as an Autistic and a musician), but you’ve got a diagnosis that can serve as proof that you really do have it. Not everyone who legitimately has Autism has a diagnosis they can point to.

Okay now for your question: One way that I deal with people who feed my imposter syndrome is by weeding out who I feel safe telling about my diagnosis. If you know someone understands Autism or you are really close with them, it is a little easier to explain what you have than say a random coworker or acquaintance. For example, I disclosed as Autistic to one of my coworkers at my last job because he first mentioned he has a niece with Autism, and I was able to explain that I have some similar characteristics to her.

Another idea is to practice. Us Autistic folk are famous for practicing conversations ahead of time, so go for it! Write down what characteristics you think apply to your Autism and practice saying them aloud as if you are trying to explain them to someone else. Think of what questions someone else might ask about those qualities and be ready for that.

Bottom line: Stave off imposter syndrome with preparation. Be careful who you tell and practice what you’ll tell them.

Thank you for this. I am going to keep reading the first line over and over until it's embedded in my brain. I don't know why I didn't prepare for the questions previously, but I will do now.

I know that sometimes people are surprised or confused about my behaviour or words, so I thought that my being Autistic would explain that to them, but for some reason it doesn't - I think on some level I have to accept that people will always remain confusing to me. 

I think we all feel that when we've been diagnosed as adults, we don't conciously mask, its just something we've learnt to do to make life easier. I think everyone, even neurotypicals mask to an extent, it depends on the situation,  we may have a work self, where we dial down certain aspects of ourselves, the side of ourselves we show to family and maybe the truer self that we share with those who we're emotionally closest too. As I say, its not something wrong as everyone does it to an extent, I think you'd have to be a very boring person not to do it ever, its just that with ASC we don't seem to know when or how to turn it off and be authentically ourselves, we've probably had early experiences that have taught us that our authentic selves are inappropriate in some way, often without any explaination as to why.

I've had the 'but you seem so normal' remarks from people, part of me wants to shout at them and ask if they expect me to be dribbling, incontinent and brain damaged? the other difficult one is 'we're all on the spectrum somewhere', which is often well meant but hard not to take as dismissive. Sometimes its worth asking what people think an autistic person would/should/ought to be like? That question often stumps them, but it's worth rembering and telling them that ASC is a spectrum and no two people will have the exact same symptoms like they would with something like measles, its more like a cold where you can anything from being a bit bunged up and a scratchy throat, to something that has you in bed for a few days.

I think we all feel that when we've been diagnosed as adults, we don't conciously mask, its just something we've learnt to do to make life easier. I think everyone, even neurotypicals mask to an extent, it depends on the situation,  we may have a work self, where we dial down certain aspects of ourselves, the side of ourselves we show to family and maybe the truer self that we share with those who we're emotionally closest too. As I say, its not something wrong as everyone does it to an extent, I think you'd have to be a very boring person not to do it ever, its just that with ASC we don't seem to know when or how to turn it off and be authentically ourselves, we've probably had early experiences that have taught us that our authentic selves are inappropriate in some way, often without any explaination as to why.

I've had the 'but you seem so normal' remarks from people, part of me wants to shout at them and ask if they expect me to be dribbling, incontinent and brain damaged? the other difficult one is 'we're all on the spectrum somewhere', which is often well meant but hard not to take as dismissive. Sometimes its worth asking what people think an autistic person would/should/ought to be like? That question often stumps them, but it's worth rembering and telling them that ASC is a spectrum and no two people will have the exact same symptoms like they would with something like measles, its more like a cold where you can anything from being a bit bunged up and a scratchy throat, to something that has you in bed for a few days.

TheCatWoman said:

the other difficult one is 'we're all on the spectrum somewhere', which is often well meant but hard not to take as dismissive.

very true.