There is so much power in the radical acceptance of these parts of ourselves. I hope the diagnosis is more comforting than it becomes another box. I know personally that a diagnosis tends to do both at the same time. There is a comforting sense that you have a new piece of self knowledge, and that there are many others like you and there is some research available to help you understand your own brain and how to live a better life inside of it. And then there's the narrative that is prescribed to you and enforced onto you by over pathologizing a human life.
It is very, very hard to write about these things and it is good that you are doing it anyways!
That sounds so difficult. Glad you have answers, sorry the people in your life are not capable of understanding right now. I am surrounded by high masking autistic types and I identify strongly (which is why we’re friends/partners I suppose) and admire all the positive qualities I see in them. I try to be the kind of person to be safe to unmask around. But a lifetime of hiding is hard to let go of all at once.
Gosh. I want to give the you, the sister who lost a brother, a big hug. That's a huge loss that you've carried through life. It sounds like you've reassembled all your pieces and found some are missing, and now you've found a new piece of you that needs to slot in somewhere. I hope your diagnosis brings you support rather than burden, and you know I'm here to chat any time. I always feel honoured to receive these very private glimpses into your life and I hope that writing feels cathartic and comforting for you.
There is so much power in the radical acceptance of these parts of ourselves. I hope the diagnosis is more comforting than it becomes another box. I know personally that a diagnosis tends to do both at the same time. There is a comforting sense that you have a new piece of self knowledge, and that there are many others like you and there is some research available to help you understand your own brain and how to live a better life inside of it. And then there's the narrative that is prescribed to you and enforced onto you by over pathologizing a human life.
It is very, very hard to write about these things and it is good that you are doing it anyways!
That sounds so difficult. Glad you have answers, sorry the people in your life are not capable of understanding right now. I am surrounded by high masking autistic types and I identify strongly (which is why we’re friends/partners I suppose) and admire all the positive qualities I see in them. I try to be the kind of person to be safe to unmask around. But a lifetime of hiding is hard to let go of all at once.
Thanks Keira. It takes a lot of self-acceptance to unmask around others!
Gosh. I want to give the you, the sister who lost a brother, a big hug. That's a huge loss that you've carried through life. It sounds like you've reassembled all your pieces and found some are missing, and now you've found a new piece of you that needs to slot in somewhere. I hope your diagnosis brings you support rather than burden, and you know I'm here to chat any time. I always feel honoured to receive these very private glimpses into your life and I hope that writing feels cathartic and comforting for you.