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Anyone want any advice today? #AskMyk is open for business, I'll do my best to speak to your neurodiversity/autism/adhd-related challenges and offer advice from my own life! #actuallyAutistic #askingAutistics #adhd
There are people I feel more connected to and people I feel less connected to. The people in my immediate orbit often oscillate between the two - it can be really frustrating to feel connected one minute and feel alienated and misunderstood the next. https://twitter.com/WarWraith/status/1292449425319579650
But in general I surround myself by people that I understand and who have demonstrated a capacity and a willingness to understand me. It's not worth it to me to maintain any kind of relationships or friendships otherwise.
A couple things I want to speak to here. https://twitter.com/DoctorBeakman/status/1292456740735209473
1. I tell people frequently and early. I get worried about being weird or overstepping or making others uncomfortable, so I find it easier to be upfront. "Hey btw, I'm autistic! If I ever say or do anything confusing I'm not trying to be difficult!" goes a long way!
ASKING FOR HELP IS SO HARD!!! Look, again with the hyperindividualistic society - we're taught that interdependence is weakness, though this cliche is obviously and almost comically wrong on the face of it. The world runs through interdependence. https://twitter.com/inawoodenhouse/status/1292454141177077761
Some of us are less able to function in the world as it is than others. Some of us need more help, whether for core things like feeding ourselves and getting medical care or just for nice to haves like a thriving social life or professional success.
So how do we get that help?
So how do we get that help?
Great question, which is really asking "How can I be believed when I explain that my experience of the world is different than theirs?"
The answer is sadly that sometimes you need to be dramatic. Say "I can't do this" and leave, etc. https://twitter.com/of_adam/status/1292451401994387456
The answer is sadly that sometimes you need to be dramatic. Say "I can't do this" and leave, etc. https://twitter.com/of_adam/status/1292451401994387456
There's a problem in today's hyper-individual society where people assume that if they haven't personally experienced a thing it must not be real. "What do you mean your house is on fire my house is fine!" as I've phrased it before.
You gotta surface your extreme discomfort.
You gotta surface your extreme discomfort.
This is interesting, because I was undiagnosed in college. I just avoided courses where the work was too much, and I overcompensated by double-majoring and double-minoring while skipping most of my reading. https://twitter.com/talkativepeach/status/1292472194078056449
Advice: first, don't be afraid to search out and request accommodations. ADHD is a legit and serious disability, and your school may have programs in place for you. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Second, recognize your own limits. You don't have to be perfect, you don't even have to approach perfection. You just need a system that works for you. Mine was writing all of my papers the night before because nothing short of panic could motivate me. Don't do that, maybe.
Third, understand that there's nothing wrong with you. The work you're doing is hard and is meant to be hard. It's easier for other people, but that's kinda theirs to hold and it'll lead to its own challenges for them down the line. Now is when you learn to carefully push/endure.
