If you were honest with yourselves, how many of you hate having this condition?

[Boogs]

Apropos nothing specific, but I also remembered a fascinating piece of research using functional MRI scans of the brain in real time, and found a strong correlation with brain activity of people in love when thinking about their beloved, and addicts thinking of their beloved! The same pathways were shown to be firing through the neurons, and quite distinct from other behavioural cognition patterns. When I thought about the similarities in some behaviours between people in love/lust/w.h.y. and addicts this was a fascinating and enlightening comparison.

So it proves I'm in the wrong job really.

Or, maybe, it proves he is in the wrong job?

 

[Jonn]

Getting physically addicted too is very variable, with some people getting hooked in a few years, others taking decades to get to that point (and I've not even considered the psychological side to it). It seems some people have much better metabolic regulation of alcohol and can avoid more negative impacts than some others.

Racial differences in alcohol sensitivity​

The existence of racial differences in alcohol sensitivity between Oriental and Caucasian populations has been well documented.

Racial differences in alcohol sensitivity - PubMed

 

[Jonn]

But for some of us, autism does suck. Just like anxiety sucks, and depression sucks, and emetophobia sucks. Some people with dyslexia might even feel having dyslexia sucks.

I have dyslexia, and I can assure everyone, it sucks.
I don't understand why some have a problem with others expressing something like that.
Odd.

 

[Jonn]

I often find myself being told off at work for my problem solving skills, as the cleaning job I do is based on precise rules rather than creativity, and my creative mind can't handle that. It's looking for challenges all the time.

Spoiler

ADHD.

 

[Misty Avich]

Spoiler

ADHD.

Definitely. Gotta love ADHD.

 

[thejuice]

I only have internet addictions, where I get a compulsive urge to post what's on my mind and feel better afterwards. Then I melt down at
the consequences, if it warrants negative consequences. Then I do it again. And again. And again. It's not that I "don't learn", it's just addictive behaviour. Not all addictive behaviour necessarily means alcohol or drugs. In the ADHD criteria it mentioned that adults with ADHD can commonly have addictions with things like gambling, shopping and other internet addictions. It can be unhealthy. My posting addiction is unhealthy.

And no, I have no interest in porn at all. It's boring and gross.

Yes I know the feeling of dread of coming back after a posting spree when I was in grumpy bear mode.

You're right. The bell notification system is designed as an addictive mechanism. Every time you reload the page it's like pulling a lever of a one armed bandit. Will I get a notification along with a sweet dopamine hit? The more notifications the bigger the hit. (And confirmation to one's fragile ego of one's popularity, righteousness and general acclaim )

 

[thejuice]

Apropos nothing specific, but I also remembered a fascinating piece of research using functional MRI scans of the brain in real time, and found a strong correlation with brain activity of people in love when thinking about their beloved, and addicts thinking of their beloved! The same pathways were shown to be firing through the neurons, and quite distinct from other behavioural cognition patterns. When I thought about the similarities in some behaviours between people in love/lust/w.h.y. and addicts this was a fascinating and enlightening comparison.


Or, maybe, it proves he is in the wrong job?

So your literally infatuated with your substance of choice? That feels correct, the way alcoholics cradle their drinks like a baby.

The way obsession makes you ignore all of a lover's negative traits. It's almost like an illicit affair, done out of public view. Beauty is fleeting and disappoints you.

 

[FilterFreq]

For me, I really, really, really hate having Autism. Currently writing this during yet another burnout all because of my brain can’t handle literally the basic functions of living. Of course Autism costed me in the social department, but it’s effected majorly in all areas of my life, including employment, education, cognitively, this condition has robbed me of so much stuff and I hate it. I’m just really tired of having to be forced to abide my limitations which keep in me in a horrible standing in life, and if I try to go against my limitations my brain throws up an error. It’s really frustrating and tiresome having this awful condition.

I feel like this a good 50% of the time. I just also like to try and see the upsides, so there's a good 50% of the time that I'm actually really grateful to have it.

I try not to dwell on the, "What ifs" of never having ASD to begin with, but you're not alone in feeling robbed by it, because many of us realize that from a societal standpoint, it's considerably true. As with anything in life, there are a lot of pros and cons to living with ASD, and I hope you discover some of the benefits, and maybe your own special talents and interests as time goes on.

The truth is, a world without us would be really boring, and sometimes embracing what makes you unique can turn everything around and help you to see that there's nothing wrong with being 'different'.

 

[Rachie]

I am generally ok in my autism and it makes me who I am. I prefer it to be in a managed state of course, but see the positives for me as well. I have many moderate areas as well of severity.
My other co condition I think has given me more to manage than autism ever could probably. Comparing like both groups one just fails to thrive really well in life.
I watched Channel 5 anorexic and it made me remember a lot and you see these well are not well off when unwell.

 

[ManuelXX]

It's the first time I spoke about that with autistic people. Firstly, I think it should be said that every person in the world couldn't know how would be his life without or with different conditions: we can only know what we are living. So I must say that I don't know. But I think that for me is 50-50: there are good things and bad things. The good ones are that I am never bored, because I'm curious, like lots of you, and that I follow exactly the program I prepared for me (I'm studying at university, and I can do the exams early thanks to the habituality which characterize autistic people). Bad ones are that it's difficult for me to accept the unexpected, really difficult, and that I have the generalized anxious disturb and sometimes I make mistakes in the social relationships. Lots of my friends don't know I'm autistic, only my parents and my girlfriend know that (I'm 21), and I see that my friends envy the good points I have which are related with autism, and don't like the bad ones.
Finally, I have to say that my family, my friends and my girlfriend are good people who understand my and I live in a country with a good welfare state also for autistic people: I can imagine that it could be worse for people who haven't these external helps

 

[Jonn]

My other co condition I think has given me more to manage than autism ever could probably.

I'm the same, these days, but I think it depended on my progression through life.

When I was younger, my lack of inherent Theory of Mind drastically isolated me, further reducing my personal development.
These days, all can see my brilliance, and while appreciated, it is a little embarrassing.

My problem now has more to do with my ADHD.

 

[Forest Cat]

Hate is a strong word, I wouldn't say I hate it. Hate should be reserved for things like cold toilet seats. And dictators.

But one thing that has always made me dislike it a lot, is the social aspect. Being around people. Deep down I'm a social type of guy I think, I would like to be around people. But for example when I was in my 20s I was part of a group of people who spent a lot of time in places with a lot of people. And everyone was having a lot of fun, but I always snuck away early, to unwind and just watch tv alone somewhere. Because I couldn't handle everything, it was too much and it wore me out fast. That sucks.

 

[Jonn]

Hate is a strong word, I wouldn't say I hate it. Hate should be reserved for things like cold toilet seats. And dictators...

... and groupthink.

 

[Chimorin]

Hate is a strong word, I wouldn't say I hate it. Hate should be reserved for things like cold toilet seats. And dictators.

But one thing that has always made me dislike it a lot, is the social aspect. Being around people. Deep down I'm a social type of guy I think, I would like to be around people. But for example when I was in my 20s I was part of a group of people who spent a lot of time in places with a lot of people. And everyone was having a lot of fun, but I always snuck away early, to unwind and just watch tv alone somewhere. Because I couldn't handle everything, it was too much and it wore me out fast.

And every knew I would disappear, it became a 'thing', people would say "it's 1am, Forest Cat is soon gone, what's wrong with him, why does he always sneak away?". And I was the only one who did that. That sucks. I would have liked to be one of the people who just had fun and didn't think sneak away to be alone. But hate, I wouldn't say hate. Just very much dislike that aspect of it.

I hate it, I despise what this has done to me. In your case I appreciate you see the benefits, but for me, it drives me insane. I want what I could’ve had, what I was close to having. You only have one brain, and I hate mine.

 

[Jonn]

I hate it, I despise what this has done to me. In your case I appreciate you see the benefits, but for me, it drives me insane. I want what I could’ve had, what I was close to having. You only have one brain, and I hate mine.

We are all individuals...

Spoiler

 

[Forest Cat]

In your case I appreciate you see the benefits,

I didn't really say anything about benefits. I just know hate is a very strong thing and it can eat people up. And hating this condition means I would hate a part of myself. It's not healthy to feel that way. And hate doesn't change anything, hate just wears people out.

 

[Chimorin]

I didn't really say anything about benefits. I just know hate is a very strong thing and it can eat people up. And hating this condition means I would hate a part of myself. It's not healthy to feel that way. And hate doesn't change anything, hate just wears people out.

True that, I suppose you touched on another underlying issue I have I guess lol.

 

[Cutesie]

What I wrote a few days ago isn't being fair towards autism. The conditions that I was hating on are the ones comorbid to it - what I suspect to be Bipolar. PDA sucks badly, too, and that is associated with autism.

The last couple of days, by the way, have been better. Still, I keep waiting for the next mood swing, and checking myself into the hospital in the coming days is a strong possibility.

 

[Chimorin]

What I wrote a few days ago isn't being fair towards autism. The conditions that I was hating on are the ones comorbid to it - what I suspect to be Bipolar. PDA sucks badly, too, and that is associated with autism.

The last couple of days, by the way, have been better. Still, I keep waiting for the next mood swing, and checking myself into the hospital in the coming days is a strong possibility.

I’m glad to hear your finding light in the storm, necessary too if you want to keep your sanity. Obviously I know the storm is a heavy one and still going, but it’s just nice to hear your doing a little better, at least for now. I suppose people feeling better makes me feel better.

 

[Misty Avich]

I don't normally think I hate something or someone unless I really do hate it, and my hate for being on the spectrum is an understatement.