The phrase "burnt out former gifted kid" has always given me the ick, but there are unique challenges/issues/traumas related to that experience that tend to come up in #autistic discussions and I've never encountered a good description.
Proposal for a slightly less icky alternative:
✨ burnt out former high achiever ✨
Trying to talk to someone about something that is obviously bothering you when you’re #masking poorly is the worst. Expressing myself when I am stressing about unrelated things adds layers of complications. If I could only just articulate So #frustrated with myself. :meow_sadreach:
#AskingAutistics (if you are not autistic please don’t comment, read and learn. Yes, I’m fed up to read allistic comments in thread asking input from autistics. And don’t waste your time and mine by trying to argue with me about that I will simply block you)
Why did you choose to identify yourself as #autistic, #Asperger, being on the spectrum, etc. ? Usually from what I read it’s a generational word and/or a cultural one as our #ActuallyAutistic is international and this is too often forgotten
@adelinej I made the move to self-identify the moment I became aware. I’ve been through coming out as #LGBTQ and #BDSM, so I have no interest in further enduring the self-harm of the #closet or #masking.
It's so weird - since I realised I'm #ActuallyAutistic the ways I was masking have become more and more difficult.
I unmask a lot when alone now (cPTSD meant I masked a lot even alone) but I struggle more and more to mask around people too - which I guess is good but feels hard and unfair on them.
@alexisbushnell this reasonates with me. The feelings I’m having while beginning to #unmask feel a lot like #ComingOut. We’re increasingly become aware of all the ways #masking inhibits/ed us and stumbling through how to express ourselves now that we know we just can’t live that way any more. Learning how to clarify our needs with people who mostly never realized how their behavior affected us. #ActuallyAutistic#AuDHD@actuallyautistic
One thing that nearly all #autists have in common is a deep commitment to #honesty! It shows in different ways. Maybe the main way is that we won't and don't lie. If we do (e.g. #masking) it makes us uncomfortable and stressed...
If we put our thoughts in writing, we have more time to examine our words, to try to anticipate the way(s) NTs could misunderstand our intended meaning. It's still v. hard, though... Like #masking, I suppose?