A little follow up to yesterday’s piece about the comment “everyone’s a bit autistic” which hopefully might help I will talk more about this on Normally Weird bookshop and library tour Robinince.com - ThreadSky

robinince.bsky.social • 61 days ago

A little follow up to yesterday’s piece about the comment “everyone’s a bit autistic” which hopefully might help

I will talk more about this on Normally Weird bookshop and library tour https://Robinince.com

Comments

georgiasmum.bsky.social•61 days ago

That’s why they call it a spectrum disorder

bramps.bsky.social•61 days ago

I've disordered my spectrum again and will have to order a new one

poumista.bsky.social•61 days ago

Exactly, I like things to be neat and tidy, this is from living in a chaotic household as a child, but it doesn’t leave me anxious.

drewburrett.bsky.social•61 days ago

Gutted that I won't be able to make it through to Edinburgh for the events in May. Any plans to come back to The Book Nook in Stewarton?

robinince.bsky.social•61 days ago

Yes, planning a Scottish tour in autumn

drewburrett.bsky.social•61 days ago

Fantastic! Looking forward to it already!

paul2626.bsky.social•61 days ago

Yeah, "everyone's a bit depressed" sounds like the way to minimize clinical depression by comparing it with normal "being sad" which everyone experiences sometimes.

antsyquark.bsky.social•61 days ago

It also makes it hard for people who do have a real issue to realise it sometimes - my husband has IBS and it was a revelation to him when I told him my standard level of tummy pain is none - we all only know our own internal experiences and the default is to assume thats how everyone is.

bramps.bsky.social•61 days ago

Autism spectrum refers to the part of humanity who are autistic, the people in that group are on a spectrum.
People outside that group are neurotypical.

timclare.bsky.social•61 days ago

This is a great explanation - I do feel it's important not to attack people for a lack of fluency in particular discourses, especially as amongst those people saying 'well we're all a bit like that aren't we' are frequently undiagnosed autistic people who can't understand because it's their normal.

timclare.bsky.social•61 days ago

When I first heard people explaining that they were autistic, my private feeling was 'you're just describing what it's like to be alive' because I was undiagnosed & so of course it just sounded like a matter of fact description of dealing with life. So of course I felt a bit (secretly) defensive.

katiemarsden.bsky.social•61 days ago

This is really well expressed, thank you. I also see a lot of frustration, mixed with love, in situations where folks' families are saying 'but that's just being alive'... And of course, strong genetic link. The 'report from someone who knew you before 12' element is its own issue but adds to this.

timclare.bsky.social•61 days ago

Also describing what autism 'is' is quite tricky, even for assessors. I've had lots of conversations/interviews with researchers & even though you might think 'so what *is* autism' would be a soft opening question it often prompts apologetic laughter because it's not an easy answer.

katiemarsden.bsky.social•61 days ago

And then we get into all the stuff where people with extremely high support needs aren't necessarily visible in representation. And then some of those exhausted, burnt-out, unsupported people & carers saying 'No THIS is the real version' and I get it, but also, the other 'versions' are real too

davegrahammusic.bsky.social•61 days ago

well this has me wondering because I've thought the same thing many times as I've heard more people describe their experiences....but I've never heard anyone sum it as up as you have and it's my reaction word for word. Hmmmm

robinince.bsky.social•61 days ago

I was very similar with adhd

timclare.bsky.social•61 days ago

I bet some of the fiercest pushback you'll get is from people who have struggled their whole life with no community, no understanding, no medication, no narrative that helps them forgive & accept themselves, & it will be very upsetting for them to realize htere's another way.

bluesky133.bsky.social•61 days ago

I struggle with this now. I’m ’high achieving’ and diagnosed 10 years ago. Still feel a bit of a fraud with it as I’ve managed to get by with it for a long time and hide a lot of the things I find exceedingly hard.

timclare.bsky.social•61 days ago

This is partly a result of a culture that says we're only valuable insofar as we contribute to the economy, & that compassion is a finite resource where, if we grant some to one person or group, we must take some away from others. You're not fraudulent - the dominant absurd framing is.

joyousjanet.bsky.social•61 days ago

That’s kind of like telling a person with depression that everyone gets sad…

aethelraed.bsky.social•61 days ago

That is really clear and very well explained.

k2mey.bsky.social•61 days ago

This is so beautifully put. Thank you.

jimjamtrousers.bsky.social•61 days ago

I like this. Perfect and simple way to explain how it can feel to not only hear these phrases but also help others understand a bit more.

danstow.bsky.social•61 days ago

For me, many people using the 'we're all a bit' line often have not seen the full condition in context. They see i'm good at data analysis & if they can to, they are a bit autistic. However, its the bits behind closed doors that make life hard that are the true mark, and people need educating.

daftlass.bsky.social•61 days ago

Perfectly put, thank you. People will tell me I'm just a bit anxious like everyone else, not listening when I say I feel absolutely petrified physically and mentally and emotionally most of the time. They feel safe most of the time but my panic disorder tells me I'm about to be killed any moment.

ockenden.com•61 days ago

I suspect that in a way the word “spectrum” really doesn’t help. Because it’s too vague. Is it a spectrum from one extreme to another, different extreme. Or is it a spectrum which goes from zero to extreme. If people think the latter then the “little bit” actually makes sense.

cwris.bsky.social•61 days ago

I think it's that we're all within the circular spectrum and not along the linear scale.

We're 100% autistic with our own hue.

Not 20% autistic along some scale.

serenitybecca11.bsky.social•61 days ago

Brilliant! Love this too

deputynew.bsky.social•61 days ago

I like this visual although sadly I don't have the credit for it.

catcresswell.bsky.social•61 days ago

This! I see a wide range of behaviors in my family, each person with varying degrees of severity & often dependent upon outside factors. If you live long enough, you get to see in real time the huge role "nurture" plays. There's a weird flow chart in my head lol

untidymusic.com•61 days ago

Look at it like a colour chart then rather than a measurement. It's not a scorecard.

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