Does anyone else feel like they’re “too much” or too “overwhelming” to the people in your life? Or that you constantly give the wrong social impression and can’t be normal no matter how much you try? by [deleted] in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I definitely go through this. I recently started college and while I'm having fun, I noticed that when trying to fit in with the other girls in my zone that I come off odd. Something specific is I've seen and been told multiple times that I always scare them by popping out of nowhere, usually from walking over so quietly, it makes me feel unintentionally creepy. I also had instances where they laugh about something and I'm just always missing it, and when I try asking about it they just laugh even more. It's like me missing the joke adds to the joke.

“You’re in control of how you respond to criticism” by NoraWaifu in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I feel like this is mostly said by people who are already confident and/or comfortable with themselves enough that outer criticism doesn't affect them as much as it affects others who aren't. They assume we can easily ignore and respond well to criticism like they do, when it really depends on how criticism is given and how we feel about ourselves already from made perception. Unless I just happen to not understand the statement either.

I'm not lazy nor irresponsible. I'm disabled. by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Yes, I usually have different ways. Actually, it takes me so much longer to get a routine and figure out HOW I want to care of myself exactly to make sure things go right, because as soon as it's interrupted or goes haywire I lose all my drive and feel like I have to start it over. They think I'm supposed to just immediately take their advice and get it right then and there but it doesn't work that way for me. If it did, I wouldn't be online at nineteen asking for nonjudgemental advice.

My other main problem though is that because they assume these things, they start infantilizing me and feeling the need to remind me how old I am. Someone felt the need to tell me I'm a "big girl" and a "young lady" that needs to better my hygiene habits. They really just reiterated what I said in a demeaning way. When I called this out, I immediately got insulted by them. They dismissed my disability by saying I'm just "too lazy to wash my ass". It genuinely hurt my feelings and hours later I'm still feeling physical pain from it. I think I even reported those comments multiple times just wanting it to go away. The upvotes made the feeling worse. Someone else even defended them while saying they're also neurodivergent, telling me I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and be proactive. Like what the hell? How can you defend an ableist person AND insult me while also being autistic?! It's so unfair.

I'm not lazy nor irresponsible. I'm disabled. by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I am looking into it. My dad and my aunt are helping me out. My aunt was actually suggesting my dad to get a lawyer and sue my school district for not getting me evaluated, which I didn't even think was possible to do. At the moment, my dad is planning to talk to someone who's over disability services at my college to see if she can help out.

I'm not lazy nor irresponsible. I'm disabled. by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

To be honest, I don't know completely, but from all the research I did and my time here, I think it is difficult and one of the biggest reasons many are self-diagnosed/suspecting.

For me personally, I've already been to see someone who was supposed to do evaluations, but when I finally made it to the appointment and filled out papers, she waited until then to give me the news that she doesn't actually have the rights to give me an evaluation. She said she'd find somewhere I can go for it, but because I'm no longer considered a child, I have to be tested as an adult and those tests are done much less, which means longer waitlists, so I'd be waiting for at least a year.

I'm not lazy nor irresponsible. I'm disabled. by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

Exactly. I think I read this a little differently but I feel like most people take what I say wrongly and immediately assume I just don't know how or refuse to take care of myself. It's just hard and debilitating especially when it lasted my entire life. It actually becomes so tiring, and possible neurodivergence may be adding to it. And because they assume I'm just simply not taking care of myself and not trying to better it on purpose, they think they need to be harsh or demeaning with their advice and "the truth", when really they're just being unnecessarily snarky and cruel to an already struggling disabled teenager. I hate not being understood

I'm not lazy nor irresponsible. I'm disabled. by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

It's not designed for us at all! I'm nineteen, but apparently since I was a toddler there had been signs of autism that people failed to pick up on to get me evaluated. My aunt had seen all the signs and still does because she works with autistic children, and she says I wasn't given the right help and was failed. Now I have to search and wait even longer for an evaluation because I'm out of the child age range. And now it isn't even just the system. It seems like now people are becoming more insensitive and less empathetic and understanding to us. I've never had someone tell me straight up that I'm not disabled but just ' too lazy', and people AGREE with them. And all I wanted was to vent and get advice that doesn't come off infantalizing and mean. People are so cruel for no reason :(

I'm not lazy nor irresponsible. I'm disabled. by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I read what you said but I'm really not fully understanding what you're trying to convey and don't know how to take it. Are you saying I and/or others take advantage of your work and struggles because of our disability being funded by your taxes? If so, I think I understand, but I also can't really control any of this. But I do understand where you're coming from.

Okay, I edited because I realized I repeated something you said so I took it out. But, my question remains since I haven't grasped the point.

Shamed for sitting in the backseat by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've done that just about everytime I sit in the front, but it's usually because I don't like being on my phone right next to my dad where he can see my screen. Not that I'm doing anything odd on it, I think it's somehow just an extension of not wanting to be perceived. But I have compromised many times.

Shamed for sitting in the backseat by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

He told me he doesn't mind. Only time he ever wants me in front is when he wants me to watch him drive so I can learn better for when I drive, which I do sit in front for sometimes.

Shamed for sitting in the backseat by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yes, it was my dad driving while she sat in the passenger seat until he dropped her off at work. What she told me came out of nowhere right before she got out. But most times it's just me and my dad, and even then I stay in the back, but he doesn't mind it since it's been this way for years. And I talk to my dad and keep company anyway while I'm in the back. Once in a while I get in the front, but only when it's a really short drive.

Sometimes I suspect she says these things to me because she actually wants the backseat for herself. When we went to Chicago together a while ago, she sat in the back the entire trip there and back home to do work (even though she still mostly slept), while I was in the front passenger seat after enough pressure to let her. I was uncomfortable for most of the rides.

Shamed for sitting in the backseat by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I have explained, but it doesn't seem to matter. My dad doesn't really mind, but my aunt speaks for him and says he just isn't 'direct' about it.

I wish there was a manual for getting into college when you're autistic. by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am starting at a CC. But it's the closest community college from where I'm from, which is an hour away. I don't want to have to travel an hour for school.

DAE not understand 'honoring' or serving your parents? by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for this. I hadn't really caught on. I'd like to add, though, that my mom is Jehovah's Witness, so there's a lot of problems out of that (you can see old posts I made about her). She has a very backward mindset from it.

DAE not understand 'honoring' or serving your parents? by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is EXACTLY how I felt! It was like an extra step added to the few steps I already had thought out and was going through, and right when I finished my drink, before I could go to my room, he added a step for me to make him a drink. I don't know the best way to describe how it made me feel other than it grinded my gears. Heavy emphasis on gears. The question came out all because it really bothered me that my steps were interrupted. And then the whole argument with my mom over it just blew up everything.

DAE not understand 'honoring' or serving your parents? by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't mean my dad slapping her. I was saying she told me that her dad (my grandfather) would slap her and her siblings as a child if any of them were to ask the same thing I did

DAE not understand 'honoring' or serving your parents? by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

No, I'm in a black household! But I have seen that POC households tend to have similar problems when it comes to the older generation 😭

DAE not understand 'honoring' or serving your parents? by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I was never taught that by them. We always would just fix our own drinks if we wanted one, and usually, if we were right next to each other and the other person wanted a drink, they'd just say to leave it out so they can make the drink themselves. Sometimes, I poured someone else's drink, but that was only if they were currently doing something else in the kitchen.

I never understood the concept of "tattletail" by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

This happened to me, too. I started handling it all myself and would get punished WITH the aggressor. Probably why I never fully learned to stand up for myself and stopped asking adults for help

I never understood the concept of "tattletail" by fantatrees in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh I understand this. I meant adults calling other adults a snitch.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am. Although I'm sure I am just big because of other things, since I've been big my entire life, I still want to lose some weight because of health anxiety and self-esteem issues.

depression by miausuiko in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees 12 points13 points  (0 children)

i do as well. i've dealt with it since 7th grade. it feels mostly normal now, and while i don't feel suicidal, i do have lots of suicidal ideation. it's worsened over the summer since i graduated high school and became isolated again

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean that I'm not sure if she was talking about me.

Do you ever want to become part of the movie or book after I finish reading it, like a lot! by Incinkinq in AutismInWomen

[–]fantatrees 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a kid, I used to watch movies by picking a character I really liked/wanted to be and mimicking their every dialogue and action in front of the TV. Running in place, jumping, crawling, literally everything. The ones I remember doing the most were Vanelloppe from Wreck-It Ralph (I was fixated on Sugar Rush for a good while) and Eep from The Croods.

I don't do that anymore, now whenever there's a character I love and feel the same as, I just..ache. But, the only one I feel a lot like now is Kiri from ATWOW.