• Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 31 subscribers
  • Views 1087 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

How to embrace your own neurodiversity

Ellie

Hi 

My name is Eleanor, and I am a woman in my twenties diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. I am currently on a personal journey to "unmask myself" and embrace my neurodiversity. Any have any good advice. Please let me know.

Sorry don't know what else to write. Wrote some stuff earlier when I was at a low point but I am in a better place. But I think writing is one way that could help me.

Thanks

Parents

  • Welcome to the community. Connecting with other autistic adults on here is a great way to embrace your autistic identity.

    I am on a similar journey after being diagnosed much later in life. Is your diagnosis recent?

    Masking behaviours that have started in childhood can be harder to identify and 'unmask'. They may have become automatic responses that are ingrained. Discovering the real self underneath is actually quite difficult. It can result in a sort of identity crisis, whereby you don't know who you are anymore.

    Post diagnosis I found that my anxiety around talking to people actually increased, which was the opposite to what I was expecting. My theory is that I had become more self aware and was starting to notice and think more, in a conscious effort to identify where and how I was masking. 

    In my experience it is a gradual process and will take time.

Reply

  • Welcome to the community. Connecting with other autistic adults on here is a great way to embrace your autistic identity.

    I am on a similar journey after being diagnosed much later in life. Is your diagnosis recent?

    Masking behaviours that have started in childhood can be harder to identify and 'unmask'. They may have become automatic responses that are ingrained. Discovering the real self underneath is actually quite difficult. It can result in a sort of identity crisis, whereby you don't know who you are anymore.

    Post diagnosis I found that my anxiety around talking to people actually increased, which was the opposite to what I was expecting. My theory is that I had become more self aware and was starting to notice and think more, in a conscious effort to identify where and how I was masking. 

    In my experience it is a gradual process and will take time.

Children
  • in reply to Autonomistic

    Thanks I was diagnosed when I was about 7 I think? So I've known a long time about my diagnosis and how it affects me. But for a long time I have had to hide the "symptoms" or quirks that come with my Asperger's such as talking to myself, stimming, how I conduct myself in public etc. Slowly but surely I have been trying to unmask myself and accept the quirks, as I say, of my diagnosis even if others might find it off putting. As you said, you're right it will take time for me to do this and will be a long process. But I'm somewhat I will be able to do it.

  • in reply to Autonomistic

    This is the part killing me as it seems my truth is relyung on others and just being a waster