RelationDigest

Tuesday, 13 February 2024

“I do that, and I’m NOT Autistic!” Are you SURE?

Read on blog or Reader
Site logo image Lyric Holmans posted: " Has this ever happened to you?: You finally feel safe enough to open up to someone about being Autistic and start to explain what it's like to live a day in your head, and the other person responds, "I do that, but I'm not Autistic."&nb" Neurodivergent Rebel Read on blog or Reader

"I do that, and I'm NOT Autistic!" Are you SURE?

Lyric Holmans

February 13

Has this ever happened to you?:

You finally feel safe enough to open up to someone about being Autistic and start to explain what it's like to live a day in your head, and the other person responds, "I do that, but I'm not Autistic." 

"I do that too!" is most likely not the response you were looking for, and it used to be one of my least favorite responses to get from people when telling them I am NeuroDivergent (because of how dismissive the statement can feel). At least it's better than the very similar "Everyone does that!" or "Lots of people who aren't Autistic do that too." It's not much better, but it's still better. 

"I do that, and I'm not Autistic!" and "I do that too" are (in my opinion) better than similar alternatives. Why? 

Sometimes, people who say they "are not Autistic" actually ARE Autistic (but may not know it... yet). They're not trying to be dismissive. These undiscovered Autistic People often can recognize things they experience when Autistic People share what being Autistic is like but will not acknowledge those experiences as being related to having an Autistic mind (because they don't know they have an Autistic mind) and will often chalk their Autistic traits up to other things - creating frustration and confusion when self-aware and unaware Autistic (and other NeuroDivergent) People try to communicate with one another. This phenomenon isn't limited to Autistic People either. 

Undiscovered Autistic and other NeuroDivergent People see themselves very differently than NeuroDivergent People who've had time to grow into (and fully understand and embrace) what being NeuroDivergent means for them. They often don't know what Autism and various brain types are (outside of very narrow medical lenses and common stereotypes). The cognitive dissonance (a NeuroDivergent Person being unable to accept or see oneself as NeuroDivergent) can be even more significant for Autistic and other NeuroDivergent People who stray from common stereotypes compared to those who more closely fit society's common assumptions. 

Undiscovered NeuroDivergent People also don't mean to be rude or offensive when they say, "I do that too!" They are trying to show they relate to our experiences. When they state, "But I'm not Autistic" (or NeuroDivergent), I always add "as far as I know" to their statements in my head.

I've been "that person" - the one who didn't understand my own mind, shackled by years of internalized neuro-phobia and ableism. Doing everything I could to hide parts of me I was groomed to believe were unworthy and pressuring everyone around me to do the same. 

This has been an excerpt from a longer Substack post.

The full post is available on Patreon, Substack, and Facebook (in the top secret subscriber FB group).

READ MORE

To receive new posts (like this one) delivered directly to your inbox 2-3 times each week (and support my work), please consider becoming a subscriber. 

I'm creating a new community on Substack, and I hope you'll join me as a free member (but I also have paid subscriptions that are only $5/month – less if you subscribe annually if you want access to bonus content).

FREE subscribers on Substack get content, too! Everyone gets something (because I believe education should be accessible).

*Patreon members and Facebook Subscribers ALSO got access to THIS post.

In addition to Substack (because I STRONGLY believe educational resources should be affordable), I also offer discounted subscriptions on Patreon. On Patreon, I always offer a pay-what-you-can subscription (starting at $1 a month – less when you subscribe annually).

Both Substack and Patreon offer a free one-week trial on paid subscriptions. If it's not for you, you can cancel at any time with no obligation.

The NeuroDivergent Rebel Blog is a reader-supported publication. Without the help of my readers, free resources LIKE THIS ONE wouldn't be possible.

To receive new posts (like this one) and support my work, I ask that you please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber on Patreon, Facebook, or Substack.

Lyric Rivera, holding up a purple book with a pink brain on the cover (Workplace NeuroDiversity Rising) smiling from behind it.
Lyric Rivera, holding up a purple book with a pink brain on the cover (Workplace NeuroDiversity Rising) smiling from behind it.

If you're low on funds, you can also help support my work by sharing this post.

It would mean a lot to me,

– Lyric

Comment

Neurodivergent Rebel © 2024. Manage your email settings or unsubscribe.

WordPress.com and Jetpack Logos

Get the Jetpack app

Subscribe, bookmark, and get real-time notifications - all from one app!

Download Jetpack on Google Play Download Jetpack from the App Store
WordPress.com Logo and Wordmark title=

Automattic, Inc. - 60 29th St. #343, San Francisco, CA 94110  

at February 13, 2024
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

No comments:

Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Get Help to Defeat the Problem

Listen now (6 mins) | When problems take over relationships, both partners need professional help to form a treatment team that can resist t...

  • [New post] Wiggle Kingdom: April Earnings on Spring Savings!
    Betsi...
  • [New post] L’amour est-il suffisant dans un couple pour être heureux ?
    Lavine Les Mots posted: " Oui c'est le cas. Vous ne pouvez pas payer les factures mais vous avez de l'amour pour vo...
  • [New post] Balancing the ‘E’ and ‘S’ in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) crucial to sustaining liquidity and resilience in the African loan market (By Miranda Abraham)
    APO p...

Search This Blog

  • Home

About Me

RelationDigest
View my complete profile

Report Abuse

Blog Archive

  • August 2025 (36)
  • July 2025 (59)
  • June 2025 (53)
  • May 2025 (47)
  • April 2025 (42)
  • March 2025 (30)
  • February 2025 (27)
  • January 2025 (30)
  • December 2024 (37)
  • November 2024 (31)
  • October 2024 (28)
  • September 2024 (28)
  • August 2024 (2729)
  • July 2024 (3249)
  • June 2024 (3152)
  • May 2024 (3259)
  • April 2024 (3151)
  • March 2024 (3258)
  • February 2024 (3046)
  • January 2024 (3258)
  • December 2023 (3270)
  • November 2023 (3183)
  • October 2023 (3243)
  • September 2023 (3151)
  • August 2023 (3241)
  • July 2023 (3237)
  • June 2023 (3135)
  • May 2023 (3212)
  • April 2023 (3093)
  • March 2023 (3187)
  • February 2023 (2865)
  • January 2023 (3209)
  • December 2022 (3229)
  • November 2022 (3079)
  • October 2022 (3086)
  • September 2022 (2791)
  • August 2022 (2964)
  • July 2022 (3157)
  • June 2022 (2925)
  • May 2022 (2893)
  • April 2022 (3049)
  • March 2022 (2919)
  • February 2022 (2104)
  • January 2022 (2284)
  • December 2021 (2481)
  • November 2021 (3146)
  • October 2021 (1048)
Powered by Blogger.