I'm wondering, what is the best/desired reaction to the disclosure of one's autism. I found quite much in the internet about how to NOT react. And I agree, telling someone "you don't look autistic" annoys, saying "we all are a little bit autistic" is also inappropriate, comparing someone to someone's nephew is also annoying and doesn't make any sense. Here the best answer would be in my opinion: "no, I'm not LIKE your nephew, because I'm NOT your nephew". Comments like "omg I'm so sorry" or "it must be terrible" - I red, that some people reacted this way, shows a huge ignorance and is also inappropriate and annoying.
I agree, all this is a NO. But what would be a "yes" reaction? I myself must admit, maybe I myself am guilty of reacting wrong to such information. I had two such situations with someone's disclosure (I had no idea about autism at all at that time).
First one was my colleague at work. He had the Asperger Syndrome diagnosis. We had fun during breaks together with our Invented word game, related to our special intrests - his Japanese, mine Russian. Nobody else wanted to have breaks with him, but managers quickly noticed that we get along well, so I had breaks with him quite often and was happy about it. I even fantasised about going for coffee with him, but was too shy to ask. Anyway, he told me once that he has a diagnosis, Asperger Syndrome. My automatic reaction was overshare for over share, so I said "aha, OK and I have Tourette Syndrome". At that time thst was the diagnosis I had, turned out wrong. And that colleague said "yes, we with syndromes get along better" and then we kept talking about our beloved languages.
I remember wondering, what kind of psychiatrist would give a Syndrome to someone who us exceptionally normal. But thank goodness I kept that for myself.
Then I also remember sitting once with a colleague and waiting for our German lessons, she took her son with her. We talked something, the boy threw his toy away, so I picked up and tried to give him, but he didn't want. Then my colleague told me, that he has autism. My reaction? I just nodded and gave her that toy instead. And then I don't remember, I think she started talking something else. I observed that boy for a moment and had impression, that he was like me when I was that age (toddler). But also said nothing.
I hope this thread will not become an argument, does anyone have suggestions or ideas, what kind of reaction would be the right one? Or is there any desired or right reaction? Everyone us different...
I also remember that moment of my self realisation. That was the interview between David Grusch and Joe Rogan and Grusch mentioned being high functioning autistic. I stopped the video and got shocked and intrigued. I thought: "That guy speaks and behaves normal, actually seems more normal than me" but I recalled him saying 'high functioning' so then I googled that immediately to find out what is that. And this was the moment that changed my life.
