Accepting being autistic…knowing the limits are there forever

Hi,

I’m slowly coming to the realisation that no matter how hard I try, I’m never going to get out of being autistic. I wish often that I could get rid of my autism, just so I can function normally. Even if it was to trade in some of my quirky behaviour and uniqueness of me just so I know I could be an adult. It feels like there’s a chasm between me and them, and no matter how hard i try, I can never get there. Even when I’m not hurt by neurotypicals and they’re friendly, I instantly feel inferior because I feel as if they’re normal, and won’t understand my strangeness. 

I sometimes get bursts of inspiration and drive, which last a few months, which give me confidence to feel as if I can compete on the same level as everyone else, and I can show up properly. The pride is from the feeling that I feel I’ve overcome my autism and conquered it. So when I burn out after, I feel despair. It’s like I’m always thinking I’ll hit that one thing that’ll impact me really deeply and change the course of who I am, give me an identity and help me feel a strong sense of direction.

More than anything, I just want to feel like I belong, without feeling that I’m trying so hard to do so. To feel that I can honestly switch off. I wish there was a switch to turn off my autism, so I can see the world for what it is rather than living in my daydreaming…

Parents
  • I could have written this myself. Especially the bursts of inspiration and drive for a few months. I ‘congratulate’ myself on this and then I crash and burn into existential crisis. Repeat. It’s funny to think lot of us feel the same way but still feel alone. 

Reply
  • I could have written this myself. Especially the bursts of inspiration and drive for a few months. I ‘congratulate’ myself on this and then I crash and burn into existential crisis. Repeat. It’s funny to think lot of us feel the same way but still feel alone. 

Children
  • I wonder if it’s because we feel our “congratulations” is due to finally matching up to the social norms that we’ve been working so hard to fit into. Atleast that’s partly my experience. I feel my social battery is very good, there’s enough stimulation to keep me going, and I manage to get through conversations feeling satisfied with how each interaction has gone and how I’ve managed to successfully manoeuvre through them all