Positive Thinking!

I personally am glad that I got my Autism diagnosis. Because it explains so much about the way I am and I feel that I am finally free to be 'me'. Yes, of course Autism is a disability and we do suffer from negative symptoms. But, there are also positive sides to our Autism, if we care to look for them. 

I'm going to start. One way in which my Autism affects me positively is that it makes me rather partial to putting organisational systems in place to better manage things at home. Such as the food shopping (most current system that I am updating/slightly hyper-focused on at the moment).

So, please tell me an example of how your Autism/Aspergers affects you positively? What are you able to do that you would not be so good at if you were not Autistic? How does your Autism help you?

Parents
  • I like that I am able to follow written directions. I’m glad I have an explanation why many other people cannot do this via being diagnosed. It has given me more patience. I like sorting out technical stuff. But my good and bad traits are not down to being autistic. They are me. My difficulties might be down to autism, but I am resiliant. I have had to be. I try to be honest, and I am not prepared to change that. 

    I love small details in nature, which could be a trait. I see beauty that many others filter out day to day. 

    To be honest I need to develop some organisational systems. Work in progress. 

  • Written instructions are fantastic! Verbal instructions go in one ear and out the other, that's if they even get as far as getting in one ear in the first place!

    Resilience I believe to be a positive autistic trait! I am also very resilient, a lot of autistic people are. We have to be really, to survive in an environment that can be largely hostile and difficult to navigate! Honesty is also a good autistic trait, I can't understand people who can't handle honesty!

  • And now I have both an explanation for needing things in writing and a reason to give people when I ask for them. 

    I can demonstrate processes to other people on a one to one once I know what I am doing. 

    I think resilience could be due to growing up and aging without a diagnosis. Painful, but it pays off now. Mind you, I was always stubborn! 

    I wouldn’t be able to lose my need for honesty. I now realise most people do lie, but not always maliciously. I like the variety  in life and lives. 

Reply
  • And now I have both an explanation for needing things in writing and a reason to give people when I ask for them. 

    I can demonstrate processes to other people on a one to one once I know what I am doing. 

    I think resilience could be due to growing up and aging without a diagnosis. Painful, but it pays off now. Mind you, I was always stubborn! 

    I wouldn’t be able to lose my need for honesty. I now realise most people do lie, but not always maliciously. I like the variety  in life and lives. 

Children
  • Yes! I actually started a 'communication book' up in my house a couple of days ago due to my needs to process information visually rather than verbally. I also now have a reason why this is necessary. It's good to have a concrete reason for certain needs!

    Do you find that once you 'get' a process, that it sticks?

    Definitely! We have to grow a thick skin (metaphorically speaking) in order to survive!

    Most people do lie, sometimes just to be nice or to appear nice themselves, not always to be nasty. It does make things confusing though!