I read so much about ND suffering but almost nothing about ND thriving. I don't want anyone to feel pressured to be dishonest or fake positive, but as much as I feel validated when other people acknowledge struggling like I do, I'd also like to know what living well looks like. - ThreadSky

timclare.bsky.social • 57 days ago

I read so much about ND suffering but almost nothing about ND thriving. I don't want anyone to feel pressured to be dishonest or fake positive, but as much as I feel validated when other people acknowledge struggling like I do, I'd also like to know what living well looks like.

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punkyfins.bsky.social•57 days ago

One more. How about joy. How about unironically loving, whatever: pokémon or (as in my case) ancient films. (Sometimes I worry we've internalised that these things are not worthy: tosh). We, at least, are *not* frigging jaded. No-one can do that, like we can: we authentically *enjoy* things.

punkyfins.bsky.social•57 days ago

And there's a lot more. If you feel you can use some warm fuzzies, just holler. Hang in there.

punkyfins.bsky.social•57 days ago

2/2 How about me telling the hairdresser simply that I'm on the spectrum, and her grinning "I thought so! Same." And later, and I quote: "when I reach your age, I hope I'll be just like you" (grin). Look I know I tend to get snippy, I'm sorry. It's a lot, sometimes. But that's not the half of it.

punkyfins.bsky.social•57 days ago

Thing is, mostly those things exist in parallel. How about having superpowers. How about being present. How about being more empathetic and having more grace. These might be small things in a storm. But they're there, and they have value. 1/2

byssh3.bsky.social•56 days ago

I got diagnosed with adhd at like 27, and I’ve literally never had a better life. It’s not all perfect, but I would rather lose a foot than the life I have now. Every relationship I have is better. My thinking is clearer. And I get to show the kids I work with you can be ND, thrive, and be happy.

byssh3.bsky.social•56 days ago

Having the “disability” to tackle four disparate projects at once, half for work and half for myself, has proven to make me accidentally valuable to my job and that’s kind of sick. I’ve leaned into it, full force, and no one seems to mind.

angusdunican.bsky.social•57 days ago

That’s so interesting. I feel like I see a tonne of ND ‘lifestyle’ content these days - talking about their ‘neuro-spicy superpowers’ that comes from a very self assertive position. Maybe that’s more my insta and TikTok

howliet.bsky.social•57 days ago

Same but I end up hiding them all because they annoy me. I feel like the real thing about it is that neither extreme is the whole story? 99% if the time it’s just “I’m autistic” “that’s nice”

timclare.bsky.social•57 days ago

Respect & understand why you'd feel like that. I've definitely felt similar. But I'm often in a place where I really crave some sense that I might one day be able to be less incredibly sensitive, anxious, distracted & sad. I'm not like that all the time but it feels interminable & a bit lonely tbh.

howliet.bsky.social•57 days ago

If it helps, one thing I can say from the experience of many years is that it does get, easier? Different?in the 17 years since I was diagnosed I’ve mostly found it easier to be kind to myself and I’ve developed coping mechanisms like looking around peoples faces to hide eye contact

howliet.bsky.social•57 days ago

Although if it helps I wrote this ages ago, it’s basically sfw https://www.girlonthenet.com/blog/sex-on-the-autism-spectrum/

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