Do you ever feel ashamed of being autistic?

Hi,

I know it sounds like an awful thing to say and I'm sure it will spark controversy but this is just a question I have never felt able to ask other autistic people and tonight I just thought, "Why not? People are welcome to disagree with me if that's how they feel."

Anyway, I've been having a rough time lately and feel very ashamed of a lot of things. One thing I'm certainly ashamed of is being autistic. Everything about it feels like a threat - a threat to my femininity, to my appearance, to how others will perceive me. It's hard to put into words but it's almost as though the symptoms don't worry me (I don't actually have a great deal of symptoms, really; not nowadays anyway) but the label itself is damaging me more and more every day.

I feel so guilty for feeling like this but I don't want to wonder anymore. Does anyone else feel like this?

Thank you,

LivAgain 

Parents
  • Hi, I cannot pretend to know in any way how you are feeling, I have a young son with autism and when I read this my eyes pricked with tears and my heart stopped at the thought he could feel as you do. Don't ever be ashamed, you are perfect as you are. even "normal" people have these feelings. Talk to your family, tell them how you are feeling. You should be proud of yourself everyday for all the small successes you have x

Reply
  • Hi, I cannot pretend to know in any way how you are feeling, I have a young son with autism and when I read this my eyes pricked with tears and my heart stopped at the thought he could feel as you do. Don't ever be ashamed, you are perfect as you are. even "normal" people have these feelings. Talk to your family, tell them how you are feeling. You should be proud of yourself everyday for all the small successes you have x

Children
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