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I wish non-autistic people understood that when I am stressed, to them my voice sounds "defensive" or "aggressive," when what I really am is absurdly anxious, stressed out, and out of my element.
I feel like esp. when I'm vulnerable with people, they think I'm attacking them 1/8
I feel like esp. when I'm vulnerable with people, they think I'm attacking them 1/8
When you are stressed out and being vulnerable with someone, you don't feel like you're in control of the situation. You don't get to decide how they react. I think it's part of the reason why it's so easy to knock down an autistic person's self-esteem. 2/8
When I try to reach out and ask for help, though there are some truly receptive people, other people perceive me as arguing or attacking or complaining. So the one moment when I need support, instead I get told I'm being abusive for being honest, for saying true things. 3/8
It's one of the most horrible feelings, when you're at your most stressed out and at your limit, to be told that you are somehow being mean to someone by stating your literal feelings. It makes me feel so small and insignificant. 4/8
It's no wonder particularly autistic people have such mental health problems. So many people perceive us as a difficulty, as inappropriate, as misbehaving. And I'm really fucking tired of it.
Non-autistic people need to treat us like human fucking beings. 5/8
Non-autistic people need to treat us like human fucking beings. 5/8
They need to treat us like human beings ESPECIALLY when we sound defensive, upset, aggressive, because that means we are done. That we've reached our limit. I have generally been well-supported in life compared to others but I'm barely above water in academia right now. 6/8
The worst thing you can do, especially if you're in a position of power, is tell a person who's struggling that they're not behaving appropriately, or that they're being mean. Second worst is to straight up ignore their struggles. 7/8
And just a reminder to any non-autistic person who's reading this.
WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC. WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC. WE ARE IN AN ACTUAL PANDEMIC. THIS IS NOT NORMAL.
I cannot be expected to act like I was a year ago. Don't hold us to NT pre-pandemic standards. I'm done. 8/8
WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC. WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC. WE ARE IN AN ACTUAL PANDEMIC. THIS IS NOT NORMAL.
I cannot be expected to act like I was a year ago. Don't hold us to NT pre-pandemic standards. I'm done. 8/8
This is a very accurate thread showing how this dynamic plays out, especially with people in authority: https://twitter.com/felthams/status/1338883909728301056?s=20
