What it Feels Like to Have...Autism

 

Yesterday I talked about what it feels like to have ADHD. Today, I want to share what it's like to have autism. Before I begin, I want to be clear that this is just my experience. Autism is a spectrum for a reason, and each person experiences it differently. My hope is that people can relate to or learn from what I share.

If you’ve been following along with my journey, you probably know that I’ve only known about my autism for about three years. That means I’m still fairly new to the autism community. Even so, I’ve been researching and learning as much as I can so I can better understand myself and become a stronger advocate for people like me.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects about 1 in 31 people in the United States, not counting many others who identify as self-diagnosed or haven’t received an official diagnosis yet. It’s called a spectrum because it shows up differently in everyone.

Since I didn’t know much about autism growing up, my perspective might be a little different. But now that I’ve learned more, I can look back and recognize moments in my life where my autism really stood out.

For me, autism feels like being socially awkward and not always knowing what is okay to say. I’ve had many moments like this, and sadly, it has made it harder for me to make friends at certain points in my life.

Autism can also feel overwhelming when I’m burned out and end up in a crowded space. Most of the time I can handle crowds, but when I’m drained, I lose my ability to deal with all the noise.

Even with the struggles autism can bring, it also empowers me. People who don’t have my brain can’t always understand what it feels like when I get excited about one of my fixations. It’s like being on cloud nine.

Autism is many things, but I honestly don’t mind having it sometimes. Is it perfect? No. But I can still grow and improve with it. That’s true for anyone on the spectrum. Having limits doesn’t mean you’re limited. It just means you do some things differently, and that’s okay.

What does autism feel like to you? Comment below!

If you liked this blog post, PLEASE comment down below what your favorite part was, share with your friends and family, etc.  Have any comments, questions, etc. about what you were reading? Reach out to me by messaging me on Instagram or TikTok @neurospicyblondie or email me  alyssa.onthespectrum@gmail.com.  


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