Mastodawn

For people out there who are starting on the "am I autistic" journey, and are feeling the bite of imposter syndrome. Does it help to replace "autistic" with "a person who is allowed to say what their needs are, and claim those needs without having to apologize" ?

You're allowed to do that even if you're not autistic. That doesn't mean it doesn't matter whether or not you're autistic. It does! You need accurate information about yourself. Don't stop that search.

But you're allowed to claim your needs whether or not you are autistic.

You get to decide what your needs are, and who you are. Even if you are not autistic. Even if it's "just" anxiety and depression, that doesn't make you broken or wrong, too sensitive, or too much.

There is nothing shameful about being the way you are, whatever your neuro-status. You are allowed to take up space, and have inconvenient needs, and decide for yourself who you are.

#ActuallyAutistic

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Doggle 1d ago

@Zumbador I'm interested to know if this helps others much because the thing that - after years of telling myself this was true - it was only when I self diagnosed that it really became true for me. That I could begin to see my needs properly let alone accept them. Until then I was stuck in struggling on.

I believe the biggest part of this was realising that I wasn't alone. We're all different here, but I found I related to do many parts of other autistics' experiences.

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Zumbador

@doggle That's why I'm careful to say that this doesn't mean "it doesn't matter whether you're autistic or not". It's still really useful to know that.
But I wonder whether it's possible to accept oneself as not broken for things other than autism.

I think it's a pity if it's only autistic people can have that relief.