When you are Autistic but also are able to make eye contact
I’m not perfect but I push though when other Autistic people don’t. I’ve learned that often times it is better to be loud and proud as that’s better than hiding long term.
How I felt when me and my SO were travelling and only I spoke the local language
How it feels when you’re all introverted
People are too anxious to order food?? That sounds amazingly miserable.
For a long time I wouldn’t order pizza, I would always make a friend do it. If they wouldn’t, oh well, guess we weren’t having pizza.
I’ve gotten a lot better, my career has basically required me to be able to make and field calls so I can do it now. But I still appreciate places that let me order online through a form, which is thankfully pretty common these days.
Not trying to intrude but in my 20s I had tremendous anxiety - though not about talking to people, just general debilitating nervousness. I started taking community college acting classes in the evening and my anxieties went away almost immediately - the difference was amazing. Also I suddenly had tons of friends and an active social life. I was a full-on theatre guy for years, doing production stuff as well as acting. It directly led to how I got together with my wife, and we’ve been happily married many years. I owe a hell of a lot to theatre and I always suggest it to anyone for getting out of their shell. The first night of class was pretty scary but I was determined to really throw myself into it, and it paid off.
I mean various mental illnesses are involved with anxiety. As a generality say 90% of people are fine 5% can get through but prefer not to 4% prefer help/support but can manage life and 1% need the help/support and probably haven’t difficulty otherwise. The 95% don’t understand and that makes help/support for the 1% often comes from the 4%.
I can’t be the only one here that takes offense being called “mentally ill”
Neurodiversity isn’t a illness and it certainly can not be cured. Everyone is unique and has there own story to tell. Having social difficulties doesn’t mean someone has an illness.
Yeah, mental illness isn’t really the word I’m going for but its the most intelligible one that my brain came up with. Mental “issues” sounds worse imo. I was trying to include people with actual mental illnesses like gAD, depression, etc but I’m not going to write out the whole DSM-V
Indeed. I feel that sometimes being the co-pilot requires stuff and I’m happy to provide. These are all different kind of intelligences.
Sure, anything at the extreme can be a real problem.
Ps. I have tons of anxiety and love theater. Also, martial arts. Both activities help me ;)
Yeah, a lot of people are basically raised by a screen and were never forced to develop enough social skills to function in basic society.
Most humans are born with social skills prebaked into their brains. Almost all of your interactions are handled at a subconscious level.
Then there is the few of us that are Autistic and lack the socializing instincts. We just flounder around and figure things out as we go.
Why do you need to be forced by society to develop social skills? Why isn’t putting your best forward enough? For various real reasons, some people just aren’t able to meet the standard forced upon them.
Trauma plays a big role in some that have trouble communicating. Instead of blaming people for being “raised by a screen”, practice kindness and compassion. Do your part to make this world more inclusive, accessible, and less traumatizing for all individuals, or don’t - up to you.
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Why do you need to be forced by society to develop social skills?
Social skills is another way of saying the abilities required to function in a society. You might as well ask why do you need to learn to swim to get in the pool.
Why isn’t putting your best forward enough?
Often it is, but to stretch the metaphor used above, they are going to be stuck in the shallow end.
Social skills is another way of saying the abilities required to function in a society. You might as well ask why do you need to learn to swim to get in the pool.
Even if one is uninhibited socially, it’s unrealistic to expect them to be able to function how society often dictates or requires.
Last I checked, this world is pretty cruel, especially to those who are vulnerable.
Listen, Im over here wearing my floaties, watching sales people doing a triple gainer off the high-dive. I’m not trying to pretend to be especially good with the social skills. All I’m saying is water is wet. Some people have an affinity to those sorts of skills, some don’t. Some people work at it. Some can’t. Everyone has to at least bathe though. That’s a metaphor, but also not.
Some people need floaties to stay afloat. Some people need a life jacket. Some people need a solid platform to dip their feet in. Some people fucking melt when they touch water. Whatever accommodation they need or whatever their situation, it’s all perfectly acceptable in my book.
We can help them to thrive without breaking a sweat with our empathy, technology, and ingenuity.
You are incredibly judgmental over something you clearly have never experienced. Just because something is trivial for you doesn’t mean it isn’t hard for someone else. Don’t be so quick to judge.
