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Here's a hard lesson I had to grapple with as a autistic person during a pandemic:
Autism makes you feel like you want to be alone. For some, that can manifest in aggressive ways when we're tired.
But the reality is, you don't want to be alone; it's more complex than that.
>>> https://twitter.com/Grey_IsTrue/status/1348317103493812226
Autism makes you feel like you want to be alone. For some, that can manifest in aggressive ways when we're tired.
But the reality is, you don't want to be alone; it's more complex than that.
>>> https://twitter.com/Grey_IsTrue/status/1348317103493812226
In actuality, while being alone for long periods is survivable for autistic people, and can restore some social energy, other needs are being neglected, and that can cause mental health damage.
Really, what you want is not to be alone, but with someone who respects your needs.
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Really, what you want is not to be alone, but with someone who respects your needs.
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This is easier said than done, I know.
But the healthiest disconnect involves still maintain social engagement while exerting virtually zero energy.
For me, that's going non-verbal for a while as I spend a few days merely observing the social interactions around me.
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But the healthiest disconnect involves still maintain social engagement while exerting virtually zero energy.
For me, that's going non-verbal for a while as I spend a few days merely observing the social interactions around me.
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This can be done by people-watching.
Or having a small discord circle off to the side of social media where you can fall out for a while.
Or having a friend or family member around who knows how to acknowledge you without requiring direct socialization.
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Or having a small discord circle off to the side of social media where you can fall out for a while.
Or having a friend or family member around who knows how to acknowledge you without requiring direct socialization.
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The point is...as much as your brain says otherwise...to avoid long periods of isolation.
Pull back on the things that cost social energy, but stay involved in the world around you.
Not only is that less depressing, it helps you hold onto social energy longer after recharge.
Pull back on the things that cost social energy, but stay involved in the world around you.
Not only is that less depressing, it helps you hold onto social energy longer after recharge.
When you're autistic it's best to think of isolation like any other self-medication drug.
It can help occasionally. But it's important to be aware of addiction and the cost in damage to other factors.
Many of us tend to exhibit addictive personality, and this is no different.
It can help occasionally. But it's important to be aware of addiction and the cost in damage to other factors.
Many of us tend to exhibit addictive personality, and this is no different.
