There is a saying I’ve been hearing ever since I accepted I’m Autistic, which is that if you have met one Autistic Person that you have met ONE Autistic person.
I really enjoyed this one. I'm sorry you are going through "group growing pains" but I have found that in the aftermath of such episodes, I'm always wiser, more patient, and more compassionate, so I wish the same to you and the rest!
Keep writing. I'm learning, which is my only goal in life.
I am henceforth self-identifying as an Autist. I already identify as an Artist. I am fine with being identified as an Artistic Autist, or Autistic Artist, or Autist/Artist, or whatever, but if I am am artistic, and by extension an Artist, and also am autistic, my internal logic suggests I am an Autist. Capitalization is optional. I'm being quasi-serious, I think.
In your case "Autistic" and "autistic" mean the same thing, so capitalization is optional. 😀
Now..... Autism Speaks is regularly the opposite of (and opposed to) autistic people speaking for ourselves, as it is primarily Allistic people speaking over autistic people, so the capitalization really matters in that case. ☹️
Thanks for pointing that out. I'm a "wordie" so I appreciate having the distinction pointed out. Possibly because I am a Canadian, I had actually never heard of Autism Speaks, yet in looking it up online I also discovered the website for a grassroots publication called Autistics Aloud" which is based in my province, Nova Scotia, and has a core value of "nothing about us without us".
Digging a little deeper I discovered that Autism Speaks had expanded soon after it was created in the U.S. to form Autism Speaks Canada, which no longer has a website as it apparently shut down at the end of January this year after "almost 20 years." I had never heard of it, either, actually. [The implication was that criticism from self-advocacy groups (perhaps mainly in the U.S.) had contributed to the decision to close the Canadian organization.]
I can see I have a lot of research to conduct to educate myself better about autism. Fortunately, I have plenty of time to devote to it, with so much catching up to do.
I have no idea whether it will be of any interest to you or anyone else who is (still?) reading this comment, but I also identify as a (recovering) addict, and am particularly intrigued by the possibility that undiagnosed autism may explain much of my history of self-medicating with various substances and/or behaviours at significantly stressful times in my life, which led me to seek help through psychiatry, religion/cults, and eventually 12-step programs.
I'm currently engrossed in another 4th step inventory, and struggling to tease out actual autistic traits from so-called defects of character. This process has led to some pretty dramatic meltdowns of late, so it's a good thing I have a well-established daily routine of yoga and meditation. I've been noticing a correlation between those meltdowns and missing either one or both of those regular grounding practices before engaging with other people.
Self-medication is unfortunately common. Yes, I'm reading, and I'm glad to be of any help in your journey.
I didn't understand my meltdowns as being meltdowns. I'm not always good at detecting my own emotions.
I've even had panic attacks all my life, but because I wasn't accurately reading my own emotions I thought many were eyesight issues (emotions would be high enough for me not to be able to see). I would just stand somewhere, and wait for my eyesight to return, and continue my day.
... Sharing stories, and not feeling alone, has been extremely important for my mental health.
I really enjoyed this one. I'm sorry you are going through "group growing pains" but I have found that in the aftermath of such episodes, I'm always wiser, more patient, and more compassionate, so I wish the same to you and the rest!
Keep writing. I'm learning, which is my only goal in life.
I am henceforth self-identifying as an Autist. I already identify as an Artist. I am fine with being identified as an Artistic Autist, or Autistic Artist, or Autist/Artist, or whatever, but if I am am artistic, and by extension an Artist, and also am autistic, my internal logic suggests I am an Autist. Capitalization is optional. I'm being quasi-serious, I think.
Thanks for the engagement. 🕺🎨
In your case "Autistic" and "autistic" mean the same thing, so capitalization is optional. 😀
Now..... Autism Speaks is regularly the opposite of (and opposed to) autistic people speaking for ourselves, as it is primarily Allistic people speaking over autistic people, so the capitalization really matters in that case. ☹️
Thanks for pointing that out. I'm a "wordie" so I appreciate having the distinction pointed out. Possibly because I am a Canadian, I had actually never heard of Autism Speaks, yet in looking it up online I also discovered the website for a grassroots publication called Autistics Aloud" which is based in my province, Nova Scotia, and has a core value of "nothing about us without us".
Digging a little deeper I discovered that Autism Speaks had expanded soon after it was created in the U.S. to form Autism Speaks Canada, which no longer has a website as it apparently shut down at the end of January this year after "almost 20 years." I had never heard of it, either, actually. [The implication was that criticism from self-advocacy groups (perhaps mainly in the U.S.) had contributed to the decision to close the Canadian organization.]
I can see I have a lot of research to conduct to educate myself better about autism. Fortunately, I have plenty of time to devote to it, with so much catching up to do.
I have no idea whether it will be of any interest to you or anyone else who is (still?) reading this comment, but I also identify as a (recovering) addict, and am particularly intrigued by the possibility that undiagnosed autism may explain much of my history of self-medicating with various substances and/or behaviours at significantly stressful times in my life, which led me to seek help through psychiatry, religion/cults, and eventually 12-step programs.
I'm currently engrossed in another 4th step inventory, and struggling to tease out actual autistic traits from so-called defects of character. This process has led to some pretty dramatic meltdowns of late, so it's a good thing I have a well-established daily routine of yoga and meditation. I've been noticing a correlation between those meltdowns and missing either one or both of those regular grounding practices before engaging with other people.
Self-medication is unfortunately common. Yes, I'm reading, and I'm glad to be of any help in your journey.
I didn't understand my meltdowns as being meltdowns. I'm not always good at detecting my own emotions.
I've even had panic attacks all my life, but because I wasn't accurately reading my own emotions I thought many were eyesight issues (emotions would be high enough for me not to be able to see). I would just stand somewhere, and wait for my eyesight to return, and continue my day.
... Sharing stories, and not feeling alone, has been extremely important for my mental health.
I laughed and loved this.