This discussion is now closed.
Check out other Related discussions
- Opinion on Autism diagnosis
- Is ‘humbled’ a compliment or a put down here?
- Displaying symptoms of being neurodivergent?
- Rochdale sixth form college (RSFC) or loreto Manchester?
- Dropping out of University in Third Year
- How can I be more patient and caring towards my sister?
- Free GCSE English Oral Speech.
- What support do students with SEN get at NTU (Clifton campus)?
- Help with dissertation survey participants
- A-LEVEL AQA Eng Lang Coursework ideas???
- What support do students with SEN get at NTU (Clifton campus)?
- Disabilities and Drama School
- What support do students with SEN get at NTU (Clifton campus)?
- What is sex like for the first time?
- time management in a levels
- Is the reading I do bad for Oxford PPL?
- Is playing with a guy's adams apple an intimate move?
- Studying for exams with unmedicated ADHD
- Need advice (I think i might have autism)
- Advice on pictures being exposed that I didn't consent too
Do neurotypical people feel threatened?
I get people treating me different to others and think I'm bad when I'm the complete opposite just mentally ill. I don't understand why this is and lowers my confidence even more. Anyone get treated the same way? Do neurotypical people feel threatened by autistics and see them as bad people when there the complete opposite just mentally ill?
Hi, I'm autistic too (very recently diagnosed)
I can completely sympathise with your experience of being treated differently, that's something I've experienced all my life, as with most, if not all autistic people too - so you certainly aren't alone. It really can mess with your self esteem, especially as people don't have a specific reason to treat you badly - you haven't done anything wrong yet people treat you as if you have done so.
Although for me, I wasn't diagnosed until I was 18 so for a lot of my life I had no idea why consistently people everywhere I went saw me as different and treated me differently. It was only when I received my diagnosis that I finally understood. For me, my diagnosis made everything better as I knew that there was nothing wrong with me - I am not inherently flawed or a bad person etc. I was just different. Having the confirmation that I was autistic, for me, made me stop caring that people were unkind to me as I know deep down, I'm not doing anything wrong - I am simply existing the way that I am.
The way others treat you tells you a lot about the sort person they are, and is not a reflection of who you are.
Obviously, I'm not neurotypical so don't know, nor can I speak for others on why exactly some of them treat us this way. I would really recommend you watch Yo Samdy Sam on YouTube, she is autistic and makes many really useful and insightful videos about autism (particularly being an autistic adult). If I can remember correctly she has mentioned her suspicions on why exactly others treat us differently, linking it to the concept of the "uncanny valley".
I would like to add, politely, that autism is not a mental illness! We may have comorbid mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, OCD etc. but these are not because we are autistic. Often, the two can be linked however. For example, masking (hiding your autistic traits to fit in) is extremely mentally and physically exhausting and damaging to your sense of self, so can lead to the development of mental health conditions etc.
I have recently been reading an excellent book written by an autistic girl herself (The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic by Siena Castellon) which I really recommend you read! In one part of the book she explains that autism is not an "accident" or "genetic mutation", but is something which is beneficial to society and is what helped us to evolve as a species.
To quote:
" There is an implication that because our brain deviates from the norm, our brain is somehow faulty or inferior. What if this isn't true? What if nature designed the two brains to be different for a reason? The neurotypical brain is optimally designed to facilitate socialisation. It allows neutrotypicals to interact socially and communicate with ease. It gives neurotypicals the ability to read body language, understand facial expressions and subtle fluctuations in tone of voice, understand different points of view, hidden messages, innuendo and other forms of communication. On the other hand, the autistic brain is optimally designed to focus on the physical world in much greater detail, to recognise patterns and shapes, to be logical, analytical and focused, to develop areas of expertise and to focus on understanding the world around us. Although these two brains serve different purposes, they complement each other. Neither is better or worse. The neurotypical brain is designed to facilitate the development of communities and civilisations and to collectively coordinate human behaviour, whereas the autistic brain is designed to allow us to analyse and systemise, and to discern details and patterns that enable human being so understand how the world around us works. This knowledge has been used to advance the development of society, some of the worlds;s most famous scientists are thought to have been autistic - scientists such as Einstein, Darwin and Newton."
Essentially, there is nothing defective about us, we are just a different "type" of brain. We have our difficulties, but so do neurotypicals. There are things neurotypicals can do that we can and things they can't do that we can. It's just that since the neurotypicals are the majority, the world is "designed" for them, so their difficulties are eased or supported much better systematically. We are only disabled by our society which doesn't effectively facilitate our needs in the best way. (If you are interested by this, the concept is the social model of disability vs the medical model).
I can completely sympathise with your experience of being treated differently, that's something I've experienced all my life, as with most, if not all autistic people too - so you certainly aren't alone. It really can mess with your self esteem, especially as people don't have a specific reason to treat you badly - you haven't done anything wrong yet people treat you as if you have done so.
Although for me, I wasn't diagnosed until I was 18 so for a lot of my life I had no idea why consistently people everywhere I went saw me as different and treated me differently. It was only when I received my diagnosis that I finally understood. For me, my diagnosis made everything better as I knew that there was nothing wrong with me - I am not inherently flawed or a bad person etc. I was just different. Having the confirmation that I was autistic, for me, made me stop caring that people were unkind to me as I know deep down, I'm not doing anything wrong - I am simply existing the way that I am.
The way others treat you tells you a lot about the sort person they are, and is not a reflection of who you are.
Obviously, I'm not neurotypical so don't know, nor can I speak for others on why exactly some of them treat us this way. I would really recommend you watch Yo Samdy Sam on YouTube, she is autistic and makes many really useful and insightful videos about autism (particularly being an autistic adult). If I can remember correctly she has mentioned her suspicions on why exactly others treat us differently, linking it to the concept of the "uncanny valley".
I would like to add, politely, that autism is not a mental illness! We may have comorbid mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, OCD etc. but these are not because we are autistic. Often, the two can be linked however. For example, masking (hiding your autistic traits to fit in) is extremely mentally and physically exhausting and damaging to your sense of self, so can lead to the development of mental health conditions etc.
I have recently been reading an excellent book written by an autistic girl herself (The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic by Siena Castellon) which I really recommend you read! In one part of the book she explains that autism is not an "accident" or "genetic mutation", but is something which is beneficial to society and is what helped us to evolve as a species.
To quote:
" There is an implication that because our brain deviates from the norm, our brain is somehow faulty or inferior. What if this isn't true? What if nature designed the two brains to be different for a reason? The neurotypical brain is optimally designed to facilitate socialisation. It allows neutrotypicals to interact socially and communicate with ease. It gives neurotypicals the ability to read body language, understand facial expressions and subtle fluctuations in tone of voice, understand different points of view, hidden messages, innuendo and other forms of communication. On the other hand, the autistic brain is optimally designed to focus on the physical world in much greater detail, to recognise patterns and shapes, to be logical, analytical and focused, to develop areas of expertise and to focus on understanding the world around us. Although these two brains serve different purposes, they complement each other. Neither is better or worse. The neurotypical brain is designed to facilitate the development of communities and civilisations and to collectively coordinate human behaviour, whereas the autistic brain is designed to allow us to analyse and systemise, and to discern details and patterns that enable human being so understand how the world around us works. This knowledge has been used to advance the development of society, some of the worlds;s most famous scientists are thought to have been autistic - scientists such as Einstein, Darwin and Newton."
Essentially, there is nothing defective about us, we are just a different "type" of brain. We have our difficulties, but so do neurotypicals. There are things neurotypicals can do that we can and things they can't do that we can. It's just that since the neurotypicals are the majority, the world is "designed" for them, so their difficulties are eased or supported much better systematically. We are only disabled by our society which doesn't effectively facilitate our needs in the best way. (If you are interested by this, the concept is the social model of disability vs the medical model).
Original post by Anonymous
I get people treating me different to others and think I'm bad when I'm the complete opposite just mentally ill. I don't understand why this is and lowers my confidence even more. Anyone get treated the same way? Do neurotypical people feel threatened by autistics and see them as bad people when there the complete opposite just mentally ill?
Hi, I could be wrong but I don't think they are threatened, it's more the fear of the unknown, if someone doesn't understand or even try to figure out what's going on in an autistic persons life, so they either can be rude, patronising or just nasty! Not everyone is like that, try and ignore the people who are rude to you!
Original post by Abzzz57
Hi, I could be wrong but I don't think they are threatened, it's more the fear of the unknown, if someone doesn't understand or even try to figure out what's going on in an autistic persons life, so they either can be rude, patronising or just nasty! Not everyone is like that, try and ignore the people who are rude to you!
Here we go with this "Fear of the unknown." propaganda.
Related discussions
- Opinion on Autism diagnosis
- Is ‘humbled’ a compliment or a put down here?
- Displaying symptoms of being neurodivergent?
- Rochdale sixth form college (RSFC) or loreto Manchester?
- Dropping out of University in Third Year
- How can I be more patient and caring towards my sister?
- Free GCSE English Oral Speech.
- What support do students with SEN get at NTU (Clifton campus)?
- Help with dissertation survey participants
- A-LEVEL AQA Eng Lang Coursework ideas???
- What support do students with SEN get at NTU (Clifton campus)?
- Disabilities and Drama School
- What support do students with SEN get at NTU (Clifton campus)?
- What is sex like for the first time?
- time management in a levels
- Is the reading I do bad for Oxford PPL?
- Is playing with a guy's adams apple an intimate move?
- Studying for exams with unmedicated ADHD
- Need advice (I think i might have autism)
- Advice on pictures being exposed that I didn't consent too
Latest
Trending
Last reply 5 days ago
My friend might be getting extra time and i hate it.Last reply 5 days ago
Just found out about UCL stat test but can't afford to sit itLast reply 5 days ago
I tried to apply to Disabled Student’s Allowance but…Last reply 1 week ago
For harrasment does someone get a warning first or no warningLast reply 1 week ago
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Work Experience - ACCOMODATION (harwell campus)Last reply 1 week ago
I think I’m decently pretty but I don’t get asked out …Last reply 3 weeks ago
Please help I accidentally ran a red and am terrifiedTrending
Last reply 5 days ago
My friend might be getting extra time and i hate it.Last reply 5 days ago
Just found out about UCL stat test but can't afford to sit itLast reply 5 days ago
I tried to apply to Disabled Student’s Allowance but…Last reply 1 week ago
For harrasment does someone get a warning first or no warningLast reply 1 week ago
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Work Experience - ACCOMODATION (harwell campus)Last reply 1 week ago
I think I’m decently pretty but I don’t get asked out …Last reply 3 weeks ago
Please help I accidentally ran a red and am terrified
