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#Autism #Neurodiversity #ActuallyAutistic
Twenty-one Awesome Symptoms of Autism 🎉
Many things in life can be super-hard if you're autistic... but, maybe surprisingly to many people, there can actually be good things about it too!
A thread.
🧵
Twenty-one Awesome Symptoms of Autism 🎉
Many things in life can be super-hard if you're autistic... but, maybe surprisingly to many people, there can actually be good things about it too!
A thread.
🧵
Awesome symptom no. 1
Hyper-sensory experiences
Hyper-receptivity to sensory input can be difficult, as the chances of frequent sensory overload are high.
But with it, we might also be aware of ambient nuances, beauty, and subtlety. And we may notice in time if the house is burning down (autistic people are often highly sensitive to smell)!
#Autism #Sensory
Hyper-sensory experiences
Hyper-receptivity to sensory input can be difficult, as the chances of frequent sensory overload are high.
But with it, we might also be aware of ambient nuances, beauty, and subtlety. And we may notice in time if the house is burning down (autistic people are often highly sensitive to smell)!
#Autism #Sensory
Awesome symptom no. 2
Unusual empathy
For people, animals, and even objects!
This empathy, when felt and shown, can be very democratic, i.e., it doesn't exclude people/creatures who don't appear useful; who perhaps haven't succeeded well in life & who many would judge and write off.
#Autism #Empathy
Unusual empathy
For people, animals, and even objects!
This empathy, when felt and shown, can be very democratic, i.e., it doesn't exclude people/creatures who don't appear useful; who perhaps haven't succeeded well in life & who many would judge and write off.
#Autism #Empathy
Awesome symptom no. 3
Unusual perception
Differences in ways information is processed, combined with heightened levels of perception in some areas (e.g. when it comes to details and/or patterns), can lead to a lot of creativity, and unusual talents.
#Autism #Creativity #Perception
Unusual perception
Differences in ways information is processed, combined with heightened levels of perception in some areas (e.g. when it comes to details and/or patterns), can lead to a lot of creativity, and unusual talents.
#Autism #Creativity #Perception
Awesome symptom no. 4
Feats of memory
Autistic people are often capable of remembering a vast amount of information on a topic of interest.
Note: the topic could be literally anything. There's no hierarchy! An in-depth interest in (and knowledge about) e.g. Pokemon or Avatar's world is just as valid as an intense interest in quantum physics, or Baroque composers.
#Autism #Memory #SpecialInterests
Feats of memory
Autistic people are often capable of remembering a vast amount of information on a topic of interest.
Note: the topic could be literally anything. There's no hierarchy! An in-depth interest in (and knowledge about) e.g. Pokemon or Avatar's world is just as valid as an intense interest in quantum physics, or Baroque composers.
#Autism #Memory #SpecialInterests
Awesome symptom no. 5
Hyper-focus
The capacity to focus on a single topic with all of one's mind/attention, and be practically un-distractable from it!
This ability to hyper-concentrate can lead to a high level of productivity, and even to new ground being explored.
#Autism #Focus
Hyper-focus
The capacity to focus on a single topic with all of one's mind/attention, and be practically un-distractable from it!
This ability to hyper-concentrate can lead to a high level of productivity, and even to new ground being explored.
#Autism #Focus
Awesome symptom no. 6
Perseverance
The ability to keep on at a specific task for extended periods of time... as we often have a great capacity for perseverance when working on tasks of interest to us.
Though these periods of hyper-activity generally need to be alternated with some proper down-time - something I call 'vegetation'. 🌿
#Autism #Perseverance
Perseverance
The ability to keep on at a specific task for extended periods of time... as we often have a great capacity for perseverance when working on tasks of interest to us.
Though these periods of hyper-activity generally need to be alternated with some proper down-time - something I call 'vegetation'. 🌿
#Autism #Perseverance
Awesome symptom no. 7
Interesting reading and writing skills
Some autistics can read very fast, or very early, and/or in quite unusual styles.
For example, mirror writing and reading/writing upside down are among the interesting skills that can be sometimes seen in autistic people (these skills, when seen in more prounounced ways, are known as hyperlexia).
#Autism #Hyperlexia
@autismsupsoc
Interesting reading and writing skills
Some autistics can read very fast, or very early, and/or in quite unusual styles.
For example, mirror writing and reading/writing upside down are among the interesting skills that can be sometimes seen in autistic people (these skills, when seen in more prounounced ways, are known as hyperlexia).
#Autism #Hyperlexia
@autismsupsoc
Awesome symptom no. 8
Attention to detail
Autistic people might pay a lot of attention to details, sometimes to the point of not seeing the whole at all (or at least not in the same way as others).
We may take longer to process things, but we're a bit less liable to quickly generalize things, when information is lacking, to come to a possibly-inaccurate conclusion.
And we may notice things other people don't (while maybe not noticing things other people do!). So when we all work together, it can be amazing!
#Autism #AttentionToDetail
Attention to detail
Autistic people might pay a lot of attention to details, sometimes to the point of not seeing the whole at all (or at least not in the same way as others).
We may take longer to process things, but we're a bit less liable to quickly generalize things, when information is lacking, to come to a possibly-inaccurate conclusion.
And we may notice things other people don't (while maybe not noticing things other people do!). So when we all work together, it can be amazing!
#Autism #AttentionToDetail
Awesome symptom no. 9
Looking for the 'why' of things
Autistic people may have a strong tendency to try to figure out *why* things might be as they are. And then to creatively imagine how they could be changed!
Autistic people of all ages may strongly wish for social justice and fairness, and be upset at seeing exploitation of the vulnerable, including cruelty e.g. to animals.
#Autism #SocialJustice
Looking for the 'why' of things
Autistic people may have a strong tendency to try to figure out *why* things might be as they are. And then to creatively imagine how they could be changed!
Autistic people of all ages may strongly wish for social justice and fairness, and be upset at seeing exploitation of the vulnerable, including cruelty e.g. to animals.
#Autism #SocialJustice
Awesome symptom no. 10
Non-conformism
To an autistic person, 'because everyone else is doing it' is not a good reason for doing something! We tend to lack that sort of 'herd mentality', usually entirely.
I see this as a positive - a safeguard against bullying and mob mentality, as well as an avenue for creativity, positive risk-taking and celebrating our differences.
#Autism #NonConformity
Non-conformism
To an autistic person, 'because everyone else is doing it' is not a good reason for doing something! We tend to lack that sort of 'herd mentality', usually entirely.
I see this as a positive - a safeguard against bullying and mob mentality, as well as an avenue for creativity, positive risk-taking and celebrating our differences.
#Autism #NonConformity
Awesome symptom no. 11
Doing things because they're important, and not to look good!
We're unlikely to feel much of an urge to adhere to group code (not voluntarily, anyway, i.e. if we are not 'masking').
This lack of care for social norms can provide truthful and insightful answers where others fear treading.
On the downside, we often don't achieve much success and recognition for what we do, as we don't prioritize our own success and status... or...uh... 'networking' 😳
#Autism #Networking #Social #Success
Doing things because they're important, and not to look good!
We're unlikely to feel much of an urge to adhere to group code (not voluntarily, anyway, i.e. if we are not 'masking').
This lack of care for social norms can provide truthful and insightful answers where others fear treading.
On the downside, we often don't achieve much success and recognition for what we do, as we don't prioritize our own success and status... or...uh... 'networking' 😳
#Autism #Networking #Social #Success
Awesome symptom no. 12
Unusual visual-spatial skills
Some autistic people may enjoy modelling, or imaginatively laying out gardens and interiors, or making intricate paintings/cartoons/embroideries, or drawing out maps, or even (for some) making and fixing things.
For example, I'm rather good at putting together IKEA furniture (even if, ahem, I might not manage to go to IKEA to buy it)!
#Autism #SpatialSkills #Visualizing
Unusual visual-spatial skills
Some autistic people may enjoy modelling, or imaginatively laying out gardens and interiors, or making intricate paintings/cartoons/embroideries, or drawing out maps, or even (for some) making and fixing things.
For example, I'm rather good at putting together IKEA furniture (even if, ahem, I might not manage to go to IKEA to buy it)!
#Autism #SpatialSkills #Visualizing
Awesome symptom no. 13
Analyzing things
Our absorption of information and often-unusual analytical style may, at times, allow us to spot patterns in things.
We might then see and make sense of connections between subjects encompassing a broad spectrum. This could even mean, at times, making correlations between data sets and coming to a 'new idea'!
It's been said of people who're autistic or ADHD that it's not so much about thinking outside the box... as apparently not even being aware there is a box!
#Autism #Analysis #Ideas
Analyzing things
Our absorption of information and often-unusual analytical style may, at times, allow us to spot patterns in things.
We might then see and make sense of connections between subjects encompassing a broad spectrum. This could even mean, at times, making correlations between data sets and coming to a 'new idea'!
It's been said of people who're autistic or ADHD that it's not so much about thinking outside the box... as apparently not even being aware there is a box!
#Autism #Analysis #Ideas
Awesome symptom no. 14
A capacity for real/loyal friendships
Autistic people often take people as they are, and are not as what the societal hierarchy/social norms, popularity or economic status, deem them to be.
This can lead to having genuine good people in one's life, because of understanding their worth and really valuing them.
#Autism #Friendship
A capacity for real/loyal friendships
Autistic people often take people as they are, and are not as what the societal hierarchy/social norms, popularity or economic status, deem them to be.
This can lead to having genuine good people in one's life, because of understanding their worth and really valuing them.
#Autism #Friendship
Awesome symptom no. 15
Failure to take on others people's ideas about duty
It may sound odd to call this a positive! But, in our world, self-discipline is (illogically) something we impose on kids 'for their own good'. People get bent into the standing rules and norms of our society, and spontaneous joy becomes a guilty luxury, or even a distant memory.
Autistic children often can't be easily made to internalize this kind of 'self-discipline'.
(Could this be, partly at least, why some therapies and programs for autistic children allow for some drastic measures that are no longer considered acceptable in the education of allistic kids?)
#Autism #AutisticJoy #ABA #BehaviourModification
Failure to take on others people's ideas about duty
It may sound odd to call this a positive! But, in our world, self-discipline is (illogically) something we impose on kids 'for their own good'. People get bent into the standing rules and norms of our society, and spontaneous joy becomes a guilty luxury, or even a distant memory.
Autistic children often can't be easily made to internalize this kind of 'self-discipline'.
(Could this be, partly at least, why some therapies and programs for autistic children allow for some drastic measures that are no longer considered acceptable in the education of allistic kids?)
#Autism #AutisticJoy #ABA #BehaviourModification
Awesome symptom no. 16
Resistance to being molded
It's a good thing, in my view, to be resistant to being 'improved' and changed as a person. It is not always a positive thing to fit in – obviously depending hugely what kind of environment you are fitting into and what sorts of compromises it will take to do so.
I see this intrinsic resistance as an involuntary and positive rebellion against excessive conformity.
#Autism #Conformism
Resistance to being molded
It's a good thing, in my view, to be resistant to being 'improved' and changed as a person. It is not always a positive thing to fit in – obviously depending hugely what kind of environment you are fitting into and what sorts of compromises it will take to do so.
I see this intrinsic resistance as an involuntary and positive rebellion against excessive conformity.
#Autism #Conformism
Awesome symptom no. 17
Strong reactions against being manipulated
The reactions vary: the gist is the same. Autistic people, even though we often consciously feel ashamed and self-hating because of it, tend to strenuously resent and resist attempts by other people to manipulate us.
I believe some meltdowns may be due to this. You might be made to feel 'wrong' and badly-behaved, because of the intense pressure on you to conform combined with your inability to do so. You hear the disapproval and censure, and feel both betrayed and manipulated.
And then, after the anger, comes the shame – as you are brought gently to understand how you, and only you, were at fault. 😢
#Autism #Manipulation
Strong reactions against being manipulated
The reactions vary: the gist is the same. Autistic people, even though we often consciously feel ashamed and self-hating because of it, tend to strenuously resent and resist attempts by other people to manipulate us.
I believe some meltdowns may be due to this. You might be made to feel 'wrong' and badly-behaved, because of the intense pressure on you to conform combined with your inability to do so. You hear the disapproval and censure, and feel both betrayed and manipulated.
And then, after the anger, comes the shame – as you are brought gently to understand how you, and only you, were at fault. 😢
#Autism #Manipulation
Awesome symptom no. 18
Unusual and/or pronounced forms of imagination
Some autistic people have the ability to enter into an imaginary world almost to exclusion of everything else around them, which can lead to astonishing flights of fantasy and detail. This can manifest in areas such as art, writing, or other forms of creativity.
And then there are those with Aphantasia (an inability to form mental images of things that aren't there). People with aphantasia sometimes have sensory experiences instead of remembering objects or people (such as taste, or smell)!
#Autism #Imagination
Unusual and/or pronounced forms of imagination
Some autistic people have the ability to enter into an imaginary world almost to exclusion of everything else around them, which can lead to astonishing flights of fantasy and detail. This can manifest in areas such as art, writing, or other forms of creativity.
And then there are those with Aphantasia (an inability to form mental images of things that aren't there). People with aphantasia sometimes have sensory experiences instead of remembering objects or people (such as taste, or smell)!
#Autism #Imagination
Awesome symptom no. 19
Childlike demeanor
A childlike playfulness can often be found in autistic adults (not to be confused with immaturity!). We might really enjoy the moment, at times, and derive pleasure from the small things.
We might have immediate, genuine, and heartfelt reactions to experiences (whether positive or negative), plus a capacity to be easily amused.
And there may be a natural trust/innocence, retained into adulthood (which can, unfortunately, get exploited in some cases).
#Autism #Trust #AutisticJoy
Childlike demeanor
A childlike playfulness can often be found in autistic adults (not to be confused with immaturity!). We might really enjoy the moment, at times, and derive pleasure from the small things.
We might have immediate, genuine, and heartfelt reactions to experiences (whether positive or negative), plus a capacity to be easily amused.
And there may be a natural trust/innocence, retained into adulthood (which can, unfortunately, get exploited in some cases).
#Autism #Trust #AutisticJoy
Awesome symptom no. 20
Honesty
Autistic people are often disconcertingly honest. Many find it literally impossible to tell a downright lie.
This lack of ability to pretend to others that either you believe something you don't or you feel a way you don't, means that many autistic people learn to keep quiet rather than make any attempts to either pretend, or risk telling the truth.
#Autism #Honesty
Honesty
Autistic people are often disconcertingly honest. Many find it literally impossible to tell a downright lie.
This lack of ability to pretend to others that either you believe something you don't or you feel a way you don't, means that many autistic people learn to keep quiet rather than make any attempts to either pretend, or risk telling the truth.
#Autism #Honesty
Awesome symptom no. 21
Having a strong community
This may surprise some people, as we autistic people are not widely lauded in the mainstream for our social skills!
But with growing online communities, we see autistic people showing significant skills in inclusion, advocacy, and indeed just plain socializing!
(This is not to say, however, that many of us do not feel lonely quite often. High levels of sensitivity and social anxiety (often at least in part caused by negative experiences around being among people) can mean that we avoid meeting people in real life. )
#Autism #Community #ActuallyAutistic
Having a strong community
This may surprise some people, as we autistic people are not widely lauded in the mainstream for our social skills!
But with growing online communities, we see autistic people showing significant skills in inclusion, advocacy, and indeed just plain socializing!
(This is not to say, however, that many of us do not feel lonely quite often. High levels of sensitivity and social anxiety (often at least in part caused by negative experiences around being among people) can mean that we avoid meeting people in real life. )
#Autism #Community #ActuallyAutistic
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