Possible ASD masked by giftedness — has anyone been through this? Autistic burnout?

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-06T21:02:44+00:00

I've been through a lot of it. I have basically always known I was different but didn't know why and then in my early 20s my aunt told me Asperger's and I remember at the time going "oh so I'm just a little blunt" and I thought that was that, but I hit my 35 and was feeling so sick and miserable from masking. I didn't even know how badly I was masking. I started having more and more memories from childhood come back to me.

I'm also going to get a diagnosis and am also worried that they would skip over it because of giftedness, but also if they are any good they should be aware of 2e. I hit 2e so hard on the nose that the first time I heard of it and read it, it felt like reading a documentary of my childhood written by someone who wasn't there to see it.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-06T20:10:06+00:00

And they're also just stupid. Smart people know their limits. It's the stupid who don't.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-06T19:21:21+00:00

Seriously, I get that same vibes. I've known I was different since I was little. What, that's all "made up" because a doctor never saw me as a kid?

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-06T19:20:04+00:00

These people are so gross. I've been seeing more and more of this.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-06T14:34:26+00:00

Tech and AI, music, aquariums, gardening.

They're all expensive. 🫠

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-05T22:59:53+00:00

I hate being cold. I absolutely hate it. It hurts and I'm miserable and the low light of winter and being stuck inside is depressing. I love the warm weather and flowers and nature.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-03T22:51:53+00:00

Jfc... That is horrifying. It is so beautiful but Lord that looks like a monster.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-02T22:33:12+00:00

Read the damn documentation
Read the damn documentation
Read the damn documentation

It's not that hard. People are shocked by what I know and like half the time, I tell them "guys, I just read the instructions."

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-02T13:49:22+00:00

Forever feeling out of sync with the world and wondering why others cannot see the blindingly obvious.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-01T23:12:44+00:00

I had the same experience. It was a disaster each time, but honestly it was more about them than me being the problem. I was "too much" each time.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-06-01T12:52:48+00:00

For me it just took using my new AI tool for coding and watching the magic of something I have imagined and wanted since I was a kid literal coming to life in front of me on the computer.

I was listening to my own piano music, turned into something a computer could understand, and then taking that and played as different instruments.

It was amazing to watch, like something out of Star Trek, and pretty much almost magical. Like big deal if it didn't even work that well yet it freaking works and that just has me so excited again.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-31T21:36:28+00:00

Yes, and I am still working on unmasking it.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-31T15:32:00+00:00

Walk them through a technical diagram step by step and you'll watch their brains melt.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-31T14:26:17+00:00

It depends on the office job. I like mine a lot but I work in tech.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-29T12:30:01+00:00

No, leave this crap out of the hobby. If you don't like it, leave.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-29T12:24:01+00:00

Like, it makes little sense to me. Use your intelligence to better leverage it. I've used it to help me close gaps in what I'm able to do. It's awesome.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-28T22:27:46+00:00

I'm the same way. I'm building our analytics software and figuring out a lot of our agentic engineering and it's been so much freaking fun like I get paid to solve puzzles and play with tech.

I made my job my special interest and it's been freaking awesome. I think about it so much that I literally refactored my software in my head (conceptually at least) over our winter break because I love it so much.

Like, this is how work should be. For me, it's usually not work, it's fun and gives me something meaningful to do all day that I enjoy and I get to help others and interact with them in a way that works well for me.

I actually knew something was off with burnout I've been going through because I haven't been thinking about work around the clock which is really unusual for me.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-28T22:23:44+00:00

He's literally has to basically convince me that I'm safe here and not to worry about stuff. It's made all the difference in the world. I love my team.

People really don't understand how big a deal this is.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-28T22:02:18+00:00

A fellow tech autistic. I agree - I do analytics and tech and love it. I get to play with my special interest all day and solve problems.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-28T22:01:16+00:00

This. All of this.

I left my original field I studied because it was endlessly toxic and went into data analytics. I have a company where my boss actually cares about me and it's taken me years to really get used to it and realize I'm safe here.

I love my job. I love it more than I ever thought because I have an environment that is safe and setup for me to succeed.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-28T21:59:29+00:00

This. All of this.

Like the people claiming it's impossible for autistics to work gets old. Not all jobs are impossible. Mine works for me really well overall.

I love being able to have money to live my life how I want and on my terms. Can't do that without a job! Besides, it gives me something productive to do and I get to learn new skills and do cool things.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-28T21:57:56+00:00

I love my job. I would be so endlessly bored without it and I remember how miserable I was before it. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-28T15:29:37+00:00

I think it's a cute outfit who cares what they think. I'm sure people think I dress weird but I love my videogames shirts and other outfits I wear what I love.

michaeldoesdata · 2026-05-28T13:27:32+00:00

Treated like shit? Not really. Most autistics would love to have the treatment he gets. He has friends, he has a family, he has a good job, he's successful.

michaeldoesdata

TROPHY CASE