Idk why I hold it so close to the point. I’ve just always done it

This keeps happening and it is the most confusing encounter one can go through. Especially with working, like I always make sure to ask questions and get 100% confirmation that this is how I should do it... And then they act like I've lit their car on fire or something. I wasn't aware that I was supposed to read your mind beforehand to know what to actually do.

I'll go first, I lime to listen to kenshi yonezu (hachi) from time to time because I like his voice and his music slaps

6 sweaters, same size, model ect, just different colours. I don’t wear one on Saturday, cause I wear my hoodie.

I took these cool pictures today, and I'd love to see your cloud pictures. (Because they're freaking cool!)

If I get one more weird squishy in my otherwise firm soup, I'm gonna boycott Campbell's

I just started promoting my art on social media outside of Reddit in February. Friday, April 3rd I had my first official art show and a business that is promoting my art and selling it. I’m so happy right now.

Like omg look at them!

I finally cleaned my room and set up a chores/goals and reward system! I struggle a lot with cleanliness and taking care of myself, but I’m hoping that this system will help with motivation! (I live with my parents and am a minor, so that’s why it has nothing about keeping a house functioning)

Hey all. I’m an autistic adult, out and proud, and I wanted to share a bit about my experience because I know there are others out there like me — navigating a life that from the outside might look “put together,” but with a very different internal experience.

I’m a parent. I’m married to a neurotypical partner. I’ve got a professional career, great friends (mostly NT), and I’m really mindful about taking care of my mental and physical health. These days I’m open about being autistic in both my personal and professional life. It’s honestly only benefited me — the more I embrace it, the more capacity I have for authenticity, connection, and advocacy.

But it wasn't easy getting here.

Like a lot of us, I masked hard for years. I burned out more than once. My support needs vary a lot — sometimes they're pretty light, sometimes they’re heavy. And just because I’m "doing well" doesn’t mean it’s always easy. I still have intense sensory days. I still need recovery time after social situations. I still hyperfixate. But now I know what it is, and I’ve built a life around supporting myself instead of shaming myself.

I’m also very aware that I have a lot of privilege — being in a position of power in my career, having a stable family system, being believed and respected. That’s why I’m fiercely committed to using that position to advocate for other autistic folks who aren't given the same grace or accommodations.

If you're someone who relates to this experience — navigating “mainstream” spaces while still needing a different rulebook — say hi. I see you.

And if you’re curious about what it looks like to live like this, AMA. Happy to talk about anything: burnout, parenting while autistic, relationships, disclosure at work, managing meltdowns in a professional setting, whatever.

Let’s normalize more versions of what being autistic looks like. ✌️

yeah basically the title :)

My wife and I are autistic and we both are easily startled. We sometimes sneak up and startle each other for fun but it doesn’t take much. I wonder if it’s part of sensory sensitivity to sounds: “BOO!”

i'm currently 21, and i started driving when i was like 18 or 19 but i stopped for about 18 months in between. i used to have such bad driving anxiety, but i was encouraged by my therapist to keep at it and use my coping tools. now my anxiety is mostly gone, simply out of exposure therapy, but i still don't think i should be driving.

i don't enjoy driving, but that's not really the problem. i'm actually just terrible at driving. i'm not good at the necessary multitasking involved, and i'm easily distracted and have very poor impulse control. i genuinely believe that i am unsafe to drive, but i can't afford to not drive. and i know i'm not the only person with this problem.

(it's also frustrating because i've seen people online vent about driving problems, particularly related to neuroatypicality, and receive the response "you're being selfish, get off the road". like yeah, i would LIKE TO. CAN YOU PAY FOR THAT SHIT?????)

i'm going to look into bus routes in my area since that's the only other affordable option. it's probably going to offset my daily schedule by several hours to and from destinations, but after almost having a potentially detrimental accident today (one of many close calls) i know that i simply can not keep doing this. it's not a matter of what i need to do to be able to drive, i can't drive. and it honestly frustrates me that no one accepts that answer. i'm also going to look into government transportation assistance, but i don't imagine i'll qualify since im L1 and am able to work.

anyway i kinda wanna cry now and life sucks uwu but lmk if y'all relate at all ig

When I was five, someone asked me:
"Do you think my new clothes are pretty?"
I looked. I thought.
And I honestly said: "No."

They got mad. I got sent to the hallway.
And my brain went into a full kernel panic — a loop I would replay endlessly, trying to understand what went wrong.

That moment was the start of my introspection engine, and the first line of what would eventually become my internal "social software package".

I’ve started writing down these early “crash logs” as a blog series called Kernel Panic. This is the first one. It’s honest, funny (in hindsight), and very, very autistic.

🔗 Kernel Panic #1: The First I Know Of

Would love to hear if others had moments like this — where a simple question somehow led to social disaster and years of internal debugging.

I(23M) really can't stand them. They're boring as hell to be around. They never understand "NO" for anything the first time like if I want to eat anything.

Nothing about them is at all engaging to me. I hate being asked about myself by them, having to give the same stupid responses every time.

Everyone welcome to join the discussion, I would enjoy hearing as many perspectives as I can! Also I don't want this to come across as rude, so for the sake of clarity.

I don't have anything against anyone who cannot mask, or refuses to mask.

I saw a post recently explaining that it's not uncommon for "types"/ symptoms of autism to clash.

To clarify a few before entering the body of my discussion-

• I am a high masking autistic, I cannot/ rarely can unmask and when I do no one likes it. Someday hopefully I'll find someone actually chill with it, but It's essentially not possible for me to unmask around anyone anymore. I used to have a VERY good friend who could unmask around but then they got annoyed about it so I dropped them- but unfortunately I cant unmask anymore after that it seems.

• I enjoy masking, it keeps me safe and I've leaned how to socialize almost normally because of it

• I also realize not everyone can, and for most it is extremely exhausting

I stumbled on a comment on another site of someone mentioning that they can't get along with many other autistics, because when other autistics dont follow/cant follow social rules/norms it makes them panic/annoyed. In a "You're not following the rules!" way

I realized that this is exactly how I feel, although I understand its not a "reasonable" emotion.

Heres a metaphor, imagine you had spent all your life learning the rules to a board game, how to play, and the strategy. Suddenly, theres a new player! But they dont follow the same rules as you, and it turns out they literally CAN'T. How do you play the game?

Thats sort of how it feels (?)

One can't (shouldn't) judge others on how someone else can or can't do something, so I dont judge.

But I also cannot be around someone that's being socially unaware/ actively visually unmasked. It sends me into a borderline state of fight or flight in a "you're putting a target on our backs for harassment!!!" Way.

I just wanted to know if there was anyone else who's high masking and could relate/ start a discussion.

Also absolutely nothing against people who are higher needs or low/no masking. I just wanna start a discussion about some experiences I didn't think anyone else had until today.

THIS WAS ALL TO BUILD MOTIVATION TO GO FISHING RAHHHHHHHH

People said they'd pay $20 bucks for smth like this :0

Now I think they lied cuz if only I got commissions T0T

none the less..

YIPPIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

I keep saying "it's peam" to myself. "peam" is a misspelling of "peak" and has become a meme, usually accompanied by a gif of a man shaking his head. the internet has given me lots of vocal stims. same with the infamous r/BatmanArkham with "is he stupid?" "is there a lore reason" "jonkler" "officer balls" and "aslume"

A few days ago, I tried to explain to my 9-year-old son (verbal but not good at communicating and has never had a friend) that he was autistic.

I had handmade a short picture book detailing the skills he excels in, the challenges he faces, and examples of famous autistic people, etc. However, within seconds of sitting him down and telling him that the doctor he sees has informed us that he was a "rare type" (an expert suggested to us that we use this term because it's apparently a Pokemon term that kids like) and his brain is wired slightly differently, he screamed "WHY? NO!", proceeding to tear the book apart, scream excessively, and locking himself in his room.

Most people on this sub seem to agree that parents should inform their child of their autism as early as possible, so I had been wanting to tell him for a good 5 years now (my wife was against it), but now I'm not sure if he was ready to have the talk.

So my question is the following:

1. Did any of you here have a bad experience when discovering that you were autistic? If so, what did it take to accept that you were autistic?
2. How long should I wait until I try to have this conversation with him again?

PS: He goes to a local inclusive school and spends about half of the day one-on-one with special ed teachers, but there are very few experts available for us where we live, so that is why I'm desperate for any input from you guys.

Mine's a bit stereotypical, but Star Wars. Yesterday, I ordered an autographed Thrawn Funko Pop by Lars Mikkelsen, and it's arriving in 1-2 days !!