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Looking for analogies

Late discovered mum

Morning all Blush

I’m a couple of years in to my autism diagnosis and finally getting some Counselling to help me try to figure it out. Like so many other here I have imposter syndrome (not just in my diagnosis!). 

I’m constantly questioning what autism is, as every human (and animal) is different and unique. Everyone can have any of the autistic traits. Psychologist wonders if I’m trying to get rid of my diagnosis, which I don’t think I am, but maybe… I don’t think so - I love weird people and I am definitely weird!

Anyway. I was thinking it might be useful to have an analogy I could refer to, to help understand that autism is not a weight over my shoulders, but a superpower, as so many people believe. I thought I’d feel liberated after diagnosis: but think I feel like a victim. 

Ive seen comparisons to Apple v PC, which I like, (and Apple has to be ND not NT!)  but do you have any more analogies? 

Wishing you all a good day. 

  • Late discovered mum said:
    do you have any more analogies?

    One I thought of recently is that we are like a space exploration probe sent out with loads of others in the same general direction.

    We all started out with all out sensors, data collectors and material capturers working but somewhere past Mars all the probes were designed to shed this equipment to save energy for the long haul out of the solar system.

    We on the other hand, are still getting all these inputs from our sensors, our processors are working flat out analysing it and wondering why the other probes are doing different things now. Our batteries run down quickly and take a lot of time to recharge with solar panels.

    However when we come across an asteroid or comet unexpectedly (think - special interest) then we are way better equipped to make a meaningful analysis of it and send the data back home,

    I think it shows our developmental differences and suitability in some areas of special interest / processing ability but that we struggle way more in the long term.

  • After spending much of the last year searching for analogies, and thinking of ways to describe autism, I have reverted to the colour spectrum wheel of the style in this pdf. It represents how I feel better than any analogy I have come across. 

    https://the-art-of-autism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/UnderstandtheSpectrum.pdf

    I have an image in my head of what autism is like for me. It involves the wheel becoming 3D, or made into a ball with a surface of multiple strands. It would look a bit like a wool pile carpeted ball except the strands would be made of plastic or some other hard material. Each strand could be pulled out or pushed in to vary its length, according to individual autistic traits.

    Before diagnosis, I felt a bit like an alien in this world. Now, not so much and my ‘Spectrum Sphere’ idea reflects this. 

  • We don't have bog standard brains. Our brains are rare and interesting. Yes we have to work much harder than everyone else in some situations but we have greater abilities in other areas. I always had this feeling that I was different and faced more difficulties than others, so should be proud of what I have managed to achieve in life. Before knowing I was autistic, I would dismiss that feeling as nonsense and convinced myself that I was just a crap normal person. Now I know that actually, I was right about being different. That hasn't immediately got rid of the feelings of inadequacy, I'm still working on that, but it gives me answers that I can go back to when I am feeling bad about myself.

  • Late discovered mum said:
    constantly questioning what autism is, as every human (and animal) is different and unique. Everyone can have any of the autistic traits

    This is correct. I found that the main difference is that the NT mind filters stuff whereas the autistic mind does not. This means we see more details and experience our senses more, but it can cause overload. The book "A field guide to earthlings - an autistic/asperger view of neurotypical behaviour" by Ian Ford helped me understand this.

  • in reply to Stuart333

    My therapist actually mentioned that Einstein quote to me once.

    It really stuck.!!

    It’s such a good reminder that we all have our own strengths and ways of thinking, and judging ourselves by other people’s standards only makes life harder.

  • I like the item from Einstein below. Embrace what you are and find what you are good at. Don't judge yourself by others standards. 

    ****

    Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid". It is attributed to Albert Einstein and highlights that individuals should be evaluated based on their unique strengths, not on inappropriate standards. 

    Meaning: The quote emphasizes that judging someone's ability to perform a task for which they are not suited is unfair and can lead to a negative self-perception.

    Context: It is often used to discuss the importance of recognizing and nurturing diverse talents and abilities, rather than applying a single, rigid metric of success.