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To what extent do you feel people care when you tell them you have ASD?

pietro_21

What I mean is that I have had quite mixed responses. In different contexts. I am not sure to the general public pupoluation whether it means much the same, or as it did to me before I knew I was autistic. By 'care' I mean when people genuinely seem to want to understand how that is, feels, or try to empathise with you.

I'm not sure what kind of resonse I am looking for when I tell people. Or if I should expect anything at all.It seems like public understanding is a massive issue, or the ways autism is understood varies greatly from person to person. 

Sorry if this is triggering to anyone. I am interested to know this not so much of your experience of telling close family members, more outer circles and aquaintances.

I may rephrase this question. But keep a record of the original in the description.

Parents

  • I'm totally "out" with being autistic, some people shy away, other's just say "oh" some give me the "we're all on the spectrum somewhere" line. I see it as a way of filtering out people who can't, won't or don't want to understand, my friends are used to me phoing them in a flap to appologise for something I feel I've said that might upset them, and then I find it hasn't, which actually helps a lot.

    Apart from doctors and the like I don't really expect understanding on any deep level, just for them to be aware that I get social stuff wrong every now and again. Most NT's can't understand what it's like to be me and I can't understand what it's like to be them, but then the same can be said about so many things, I don't understand what it feels like to be male, or to be a sibling, I just try not to allow autism to take up to much bandwidth of my time with other people.

Reply

  • I'm totally "out" with being autistic, some people shy away, other's just say "oh" some give me the "we're all on the spectrum somewhere" line. I see it as a way of filtering out people who can't, won't or don't want to understand, my friends are used to me phoing them in a flap to appologise for something I feel I've said that might upset them, and then I find it hasn't, which actually helps a lot.

    Apart from doctors and the like I don't really expect understanding on any deep level, just for them to be aware that I get social stuff wrong every now and again. Most NT's can't understand what it's like to be me and I can't understand what it's like to be them, but then the same can be said about so many things, I don't understand what it feels like to be male, or to be a sibling, I just try not to allow autism to take up to much bandwidth of my time with other people.

Children
  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Talking to doctors has been quite a pleasant well paced experience on the whole for me. Its not really on a close personal level though. I think these intimate friend relationships are the ones we seek, or are unable to rekindle and remember regretfully because they are much rarer and more limited for us to find.