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breaking out of internalised shame

aurelis

Something I realised is that I made my life harder than it needed to. I was diagnosed from the age of 3, and for my whole life I felt in myself that autism was something to be ashamed of, and grew up trying to catch up with everyone else, rather than accept myself as who I am and work from there. No one taught me to be ashamed, I think I internalised that my meltdowns and my slow processing was a negative thing.

Although life has been good (and a massive thanks to my mom for understanding my autism and really supporting me), I think that it could have been easier if I had given myself space to catch up in my own time rather than trying to catch up to be like everyone else.

However, from now on especially, I’m going to work within my capabilities., and allow to accept myself as I am instead of trying so hard not to be autistic. Just a reminder to myself and whoever reading this that autism is nothing to be ashamed of. 

where is everyone in their journey of acceptance?

Parents

  • Hello aurelis, have you worked on your shame with a therapist at all? 

    I worked though this with mine using techniques like accepting my failings without judgement and building self empathy. While it was not a magic cure-all it certainly was very effective in sending the shame scampering off into its corner.

    Some things are incredibly hard to work on alone so I can recommend getting professional help.

  • in reply to Iain

    I think as an autist I often find I have so much empathy for others it can be hard to have self empathy snd I guess when some autists show little self empathy maybe it’s the case they have the self empathy I lack?

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