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Neurodiversity.. the good stuff...

Autism_at_40

I recently saw something about there being a cure for Autism (not sure I believe it btw), but it got me thinking...

I know we tend to talk on here about our many troubles and struggles with being neurodivergent and subsequent problems but I thought it might be nice to maybe say what we like about it, I for one wouldn't want to be cured, despite how hard it can be.

I'll start…

I like how honest I am, it makes life easier and people have told me they like it (not everyone).

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rubin16

I don't know how you'd cure it to be honest. It feels like its just me and apart of my soul, if I was to be cured I don't think I would be me anymore. Theres a few things I like with having autism, theres mostly negatives but there are some positives in having it.

One of the first things I like about it is I question everything and don't just follow like sheep, I research everything and come up with my own solution to things. Another thing I quite like now and then is the hyperfocus I get sometimes when doing a task. If its my special interest or something I like then I am 120% into it and won't stop till it is done. However this is mostly followed by a burn out, but I do like the initial obessiveness when I am hyperfocused.

Another positive is I am nice to everyone, always pleasant. I am always the same mood (as I don't regulate emotions or understand emotions very well) and I never ever swear (which some people find bizarre) but I do say other words other than swearing that are not swears like "frizzle sticks" haha. But a bad side to this is I get took advantaged off alot of time as I am too trusting of people, and it has landed me in some risky situations.

Autism_at_40

Well, that's how I look at it too, that it's a part of who I am. There's some bloke who says it's caused by toxic heavy metals, but I'm not convinced.

I have always questioned everything and not followed like sheep either, I didn't actually realise that was a neurodivergent thing..

I'm the opposite, I swear all the time, it's part of my stimming.

Jimm_Alumni

I'd sort of ask, what is there to cure? Autism is just one way of the brain working differently to "neurotypical" standards. You can do things, and perhaps take things, that help someone with autism cope better in our neurotypical world and society, but that does not 'cure' or get rid of the autism.

Because diagnosis knowledge is far better than decades ago more people are being diagnosed with autism. Before these people would have just been missed entirely. Some people see this increase and determine there must be an outside factor causing this increase, not just that we have more knowledge about it and thus are better at diagnosing. There have been so many conspiracy theories about it…

Autism_at_40

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/919100#Comment_919100

I feel like I hit a nerve. I understand what you're saying and that's my take on it too… However, there are people out there who say you can cure it. I'm not saying they're right, because I believe I was born with it and it's integrated into the fibre of my being.. you don't have to defend it in that way to me. This is part of what I saw a while back, but I have seen other things pop up too.

The point of this post, was not about that. I was merely trying to say that we struggle a lot, lets highlight what's good about it, which you seem to have completely missed.

Jimm_Alumni

I think I maybe got across the wrong tone with that previous post sorry @Autism_at_40. That post wasn't directed at you, it was more just tackling the things brought up that I know you are also disagreeing with. I'm sorry if it felt like I was trying to correct you, I was meaning to agree with you 😓.

I'm also sorry I missed the point of your post. I think yesterday I wasn't in a great place for positive thinking. Honestly, positively thinking about my ADHD is something I have struggled with ever since I knew I had it. So I'll give it a go now.

I like the passion that both I, and other neurodiverse people, display about the subjects or topics they enjoy. I love hearing about other peoples interests and learning new things. That desire to learn new things is really something that keeps me going in life.

Albus_Alumni

I've seen a lot of people claiming they can "reverse autism" and other such things. I won't lie, at times I have cried and wished I wasnt autistic, but then I realise I'm not the problem, the world is just designed by neurotypicals. But it's becoming more neurospicy friendly as the years go on. 😊

I love my hyperfocus, it's led to me to some amazing places in life, from getting to help name a species of praying mantis, to meeting some amazing people through my youtube channel.

And I like to think my ability to see things from other peoples view, in a compassionate way, helped me get (and keep) this job. 😊

I think all facets of life come with pros and cons, but I agree we should focus more on the pros. 😁

dkb123

I never knew it existed until ten years ago, and I am now 67, so there is not much to do about it

Autism_at_40

@Jimm_Scope It's ok. No problem.

@Albus_Scope I didn't realise that seeing things from other people's point of view was an Autistic trait, I thought it was just a me thing. Good to know.. Thanks. Neurospicy, I like that!😃

I'll add another one.

I like how very aware I am (I think that's the Autism - and different to yours), although it can be a blessing and a curse.

Wibbles

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/919996#Comment_919996

Yes - you did !!

If you had done basic A level chemistry, you would have remembered that Heavy metals are so called not because of their density but because of their atomic structure

There is no consensus on the definition of a heavy metal. It is either a metal of high density or a toxic, relatively dense metal.

Examples of heavy metals include lead, mercury, cadmium, and sometimes chromium. Less commonly, metals including iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, beryllium, cobalt, manganese, and arsenic may be considered heavy metals.

Autism_at_40

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/920066#Comment_920066

Did you get that information from a website? Cos it looks like a US one, as we say Aluminium not Aluminum.

I think anything can be, copper, you mentioned, but people swear that copper is good for health. There's copper contraception too….

Again, though @egister @Wibbles @Nightcity you've all completely missed the point of this post. It was meant to be a positive and uplifting post and literally all but 1 person has turned it into a negative one!

Wibbles

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/920216#Comment_920216

Aluminum is the American way of pronouncing aluminium

And yes it.is a heavy metal

As I said it is down to atomic structure rather than physical density

Wibbles

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/920153#Comment_920153

I agree with you

Egister is always posting incorrect advice as well

Albus_Alumni

Let's just draw a line under that there and carry on with the positivity.

Here's another positive one; Our sense of justice. Many neurospicy people fight for others rights and we're often the loudest supporters. 😊

Autism_at_40

I give up….

WhatThe

I like how honest I am, it makes life easier and people have told me they like it (not everyone).

I do too. Critical thinkers like egister don't offend me. Translation through google isn't perfect either.

The good stuff is discovering we share remarkable characteristics with complete strangers.

WhatThe

Don’t give up - one of the most amazing qualities, in my opinion is tenacity.

👌 spot on.

I quite like the vocabulary which still feels new to me after 8 years.

Tired atm but this is a good thread. Good threads seem to disappear so quickly in Scope's new format though 🤨

WhatThe

my extreme loyalty/honesty/sincerity and how extremely observant and sharp I am when people try take me for a fool.

Yes.

WhatThe

vikki, yes but no but yes.. 😊

Nightcity, we don't/can't fool ourselves. I don't understand how or why most people do but that seems to be a survival mode.

WhatThe

Yeah but no but yeah days can certainly pay off 😄

Rock-steady in some aspects post-diagnosis for sure. It's a strange discovery late in life but a brilliant one.

WhatThe

Sometimes I feel I need it tattooed on my forehead 🙄 AUTISTIC

(go away, be quiet, no! 😆)

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