An inherent “selfishness” of autism?

Maybe it’s just me. But for me, I’ve found that my autism has a selfishness whereby I don’t understand how things I do or say affect others. Maybe “selfishness” is want for a better word.

Not understanding people’s frustrations. So for example, mine is taking my time to get back to people, or thinking that people operate around the time I have mentally in my head. This is not intentional necessarily, although I’ve been more aware of it.

i noticed this today with my therapist saying they can’t keep chasing me up for a time for the next session. I take a long time to decide the time and date and obviously it’s important for them to know. I always feel awful when I realise that I had a lack of communication that causes upset to other people, because I often don’t realise how it affects others. 

I do this sometimes with messaging people late at night (some people get funny with this) or crossing boundaries I didn’t realise to cross. Then you learn about it if they say, or you get used to adjusting to the subtle hints that are said, and feel really bad, take it to heart, and try to be better.

something I also was aware of was making promises to people please, but also doing it because I genuinely imagined it was in my capacity to do so. Now I’m trying to hold back my words because it’s not healthy to lead people on in this way and think that because I’ve adjusted it in my mind of the promise, I think the other person has too.

Its weird, the best thing I could do, in the case of my therapist, is not read the message as angry, but read it as that they need to know for their plans, and try my best to be aware that people have other lives and need to know things. And also to try and write down things I said I’d commit to so if things change I can ensure it’s followed up on. I can’t trust my brain alone. It’s really hard to genuinely see things from others perspective sometimes.

does anyone else relate to this. Sorry I might just be rambling again

Parents
  • I guess if you went by the literal definition of selfish then you could suggest this but for me selfishness has some sort of intention/not caring. This is very different to lacking an awareness. You obviously care or you wouldn't have written this post. Some people with autism do have great difficulties with others perspectives and there's not a magic solution to that. 

    Perhaps you could try to change your tactic to dealing with this and try to be a bit more upfront with people. So with your therapist you could explain that it takes you a while to decide the date and time, could they give you a deadline they need to know by so you're not inadvertently making life hard for them. That way your therapist understands the reasons it's taking you a while and you've got a solid rule to follow. 

    Again with promising to do things. In the moment you say yes you truly feel like you can but it can be hard to follow through. Could you have a little script for yourself that you could use rather than saying yes. Explaining that you would really like to help and if you feel able you definitely will but due to your autism you have fluctuations in your executive function (or whatever it is that makes it difficult) and you don't want to make a promise you can't keep. 

    I obviously don't know you so none of that might work for you but just a suggestion. I know when I've really struggled with some things previously that had unwritten social rules somebody helped me by giving me a rule that I could follow and it made a very big difference for me. It can be hard to explain our needs but sometimes we need to be honest.

  • This is actually incredibly helpful and affirming! I work well with deadlines - besides that I leave things to the last minute (work related) - I'm wondering how I can have more consistent direction towards a deadline that might make it healthy for me. any suggestions?

    THat script sounds really honest. My fear is that if I said that, I would end up being someone who is not a reliable person, and then people won't reach out to me for things (I want to prove that I can be capable and consistent as well). However, I do want to try and give this a go.


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  • This is actually incredibly helpful and affirming! I work well with deadlines - besides that I leave things to the last minute (work related) - I'm wondering how I can have more consistent direction towards a deadline that might make it healthy for me. any suggestions?

    THat script sounds really honest. My fear is that if I said that, I would end up being someone who is not a reliable person, and then people won't reach out to me for things (I want to prove that I can be capable and consistent as well). However, I do want to try and give this a go.


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