Basic lifestyle

I don’t think it’s generally helpful to compare ourselves to others. Everyone on here has struggles of one kind or another - because you can’t really be autistic and not struggle with anything at all! You might consider your lifestyle ‘basic’ - but we all have a complex inner life that often goes way beyond the activities of our external, day to day life. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. You’re dealing with a lot of challenges - and in some circumstances even getting out of bed can be an achievement. On a really bad day I feel proud of myself for brushing my teeth - and rightly so to be honest! Mental health stuff  can be so damn hard - and I think everyone on here are very mindful of that - so please don’t feel judged or feel like an outsider. No one is an outsider here :) 

I don’t think it’s generally helpful to compare ourselves to others. Everyone on here has struggles of one kind or another - because you can’t really be autistic and not struggle with anything at all! You might consider your lifestyle ‘basic’ - but we all have a complex inner life that often goes way beyond the activities of our external, day to day life. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. You’re dealing with a lot of challenges - and in some circumstances even getting out of bed can be an achievement. On a really bad day I feel proud of myself for brushing my teeth - and rightly so to be honest! Mental health stuff  can be so damn hard - and I think everyone on here are very mindful of that - so please don’t feel judged or feel like an outsider. No one is an outsider here :) 

I don't think any of you are judging me. I've always felt like an 'outsider' from as far back as I can remember. Much of that stemming from a difficulty making friends IRL. I was with an older woman, that I met during last psych admission, for 22 years. Married nearly 19. The last few years of her life she had vascular dementia. I had no friends to go with that. I read somewhere,can't remember exactly, it was a long time ago, that first impressions matter. How you come across within  the first minutes of a social interaction is how you are judged, as to whether you are worth knowing or not. I've failed that unwritten test IRL umpteen times. I do comparatively better, but by no means really well, when it comes to online interaction.

I think I'm somewhat different  from many people in the autistic community, those I've come across at least, in that  I'm far from stupid but my 'daughter' acts as my carer. That's because I struggle when it comes to daily practical tasks most people take in their stride . Adaptive functioning significantly  < IQ.

EDITED - TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY ERROR OF JUDGEMENT

Kate...you always speak wisely and kindly...and with regard to the autistic people here, I am quite sure you are 100% right with what you say here above.

However.....unfortunately, these days, we all need to be aware that AI uses (I would say EXPLOITS) us here too.....so we need to remain on our toes

I am 100% certain that SOMETIMES, SOME OF OUR long, detailed and kindly contributions ARE "extracted" covertly from US by an AI.  This upsets me, because I don't think WE ALWAYS KNOW this...although I DO try to warn EVERYBODY ....whilst also treading VERY carefully in case it is an autistic human in need (and wholly worthy) of OUR kind support.

I will start a thread SOON about this because I hate to see kindness and wisdom wasted on foo king machine learning  OR when AI IS USED BY ASSHATS to trick us IN THE HOPE OF HURTING US!

It's a tricky one for me, but I hope that we can ALL discuss it together SOON, WHEN I FEEL ABLE TO START A THREAD.

FOR NOW....REST AND REFLECTION IS ESSENTIAL.

Yours

Number.