Now I am just going to write a small list about myself and list how a person, if they did actually like me should behave with me and what they should expect. I am not writing this as some desperate plea for attention, or to attract girls but more of a information card type list and writing this is I suppose is a way for me to apply counselling to myself at the same time.
The Basic Facts
I am an adult with autism who was diagnosed late in life which explained all the struggles I have had my whole life.
I am 47 years old, 48 in April.
I have two grown up children, one girl aged 19 and a son coming up to 22.
I am on year 25 working for the same company where I have done many jobs including higher level paid jobs.
I am single and have never been married but engaged to be married twice.
How To Get To Know Me And What To Expect
Just talk to me like you would talk to a normal human being. I may be shy at first but the more contact you have with me the more open I will be.
Don’t expect me to approach you and talk to you if we have barely spoken much, if you want to talk with me it is best you make the effort more with me as I can struggle to approach people.
Don’t expect me to behave or talk the same as other people and sometimes I may say the wrong things. I am me but autism can effect my social interactions and all I can ever do is be myself.
Never expect me to want to talk in the middle of a group of people or at big social events. I love one on one chat and can handle small groups as long as I know them.
Always show respect to me and never try to manipulate me, play games with me or talk down to me.
I am far from stupid so don’t treat me like I am. I love a good intelligent conversation but be warned sometime I can go on a bit too much especially if its a subject I like. If I talk too much then do feel free to tell me that I am going on.
I can get all a bit silly, and random at times so never expect that I won’t just come out with crazy silly things as this kind of fun thing is in my nature.
I am not really into lies and gossip, so if you are going to tell me some gossip then please try and at least have some facts and truth about what you are telling me because I will see right through it and think worse of you.
I am not very good at reading a person’s facial expressions so if I am talking to you then can just just be honest with me and tell me if you don’t want to talk at that current time. I am not very good at reading a persons feelings and I may appear a bit insensitive at times. I do not mean to be.
I am a very good listener and you can talk away to me and ill do my best to understand but also I will give you my honest opinion which may or may not offend. I feel honesty is important and should be valued. I would rather be honest than just say something that wasn’t true.
I have a lot of empathy and the closer I am to someone the more I feel and care about them. When you make friends with me my loyalty will build up and I will care more about you.
I do not need stress and anxiety. I have a general anxiety issue as it is like most autistic people do so adding to that anxiety is not something I desire. I do not like conflict and arguments.
I am not very good with physical contact so please do not touch me unless I have known you a while. I am not very good at the basic social physical contact that non autistic people do so please respect that.
Do not expect me to get jokes and sarcasm straight away as often it can take me a bit to understand.
I can often appear like I am seeing through you or looking at you, this is because I see more detail in the world and I will often be looking at the background details. I see the world differently than non autistic people.
The Major Things Not To Do To Me
Please do not stare at me as it causes me lots of anxiety.
Please do not expect me to understand facial expressions, hand signals or other long distance communication and if you wish to communicate with me it is best close up in person.
Do not shout me from distance and expect me to know where you are shouting from as I can hear so much noise around me and struggle to block out background noises. I dislike shouting and it causes me anxiety.
Do not go around spreading lies about me as I will dislike you for this and never forgive you.
Taking the piss out of me behind my back will just upset me and give me more anxiety and cause me to hate you.
A Final Note
I am a loving, caring, loyal and a good person. I always have been and I always will be. I may have autism but I am me and I should be respected in the world like anyone else. It is not my fault if people do not understand autism.
A person does not need to even understand autism if they themselves behave in a good way. Its the actions of the non-autistic population that leads to problems with autistic people, not that different from the actions of people that led to racism. Good people will never have a problem with autistic people.
https://paul1576.uk/2024/02/23/me-and-what-to-expect/
#anxiety #autism #autistic #life #MentalHealth #Paul1576 #SelfImprovement