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Happy #WorldAutismAwarenessDay 
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My "official" diagnosis was delivered when my therapist chuckled, "Of course you're probably on the spectrum! Most scientists probably are."
He deemed me "high functioning," so that was the end of the conversation (1/x)
! My "official" diagnosis was delivered when my therapist chuckled, "Of course you're probably on the spectrum! Most scientists probably are."
He deemed me "high functioning," so that was the end of the conversation (1/x)
While I certainly seem to have my life together - I finished my PhD, I pay my bills, I have a stable relationship - there is so much effort that happens behind the scenes to mask and camouflage
Just like this other Jennifer: (2/x) https://www.spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/costs-camouflaging-autism/
Just like this other Jennifer: (2/x) https://www.spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/costs-camouflaging-autism/
Autistic women are especially good at camouflaging and are frequently underdiagnosed. This leads to a lack of resources and support, which can often manifest as anxiety or depression (3/x) https://www.inquirer.com/philly/health/invisible-women-lost-girls-to-be-female-on-the-autism-spectrum-20181106.html
On top of all that, autistic women who mask well also have to deal with imposter syndrome
I hesitated to even post anything today lest I be accused of adopting another "tumblr identity," but anyone who knows me well, especially since childhood (pre-masking), knows how I am (4/x)
I hesitated to even post anything today lest I be accused of adopting another "tumblr identity," but anyone who knows me well, especially since childhood (pre-masking), knows how I am (4/x)
And did you know that autistics are much more likely to be LGBTQ than neurotypical people?
For me this did not come as a surprise, as I find it hard to disentangle my autistic brain from my sexuality and gender identity (5/x) https://autisticnotweird.com/2018survey/
For me this did not come as a surprise, as I find it hard to disentangle my autistic brain from my sexuality and gender identity (5/x) https://autisticnotweird.com/2018survey/
Strict rules about heterosexuality, gender identity, and gender expression always seemed like arbitrary cultural constructs to me
It's why I don't go out of my way to dress by some external rule of "androgynous" despite being nonbinary. I just want to be comfortable? (6/x)
It's why I don't go out of my way to dress by some external rule of "androgynous" despite being nonbinary. I just want to be comfortable? (6/x)
But these are just my views, and autistics have many difference experiences. I hope for #WorldAutismAwarenessDay you take the time to read some of these links and watch some of these videos 
you take the time to read some of these links and watch some of these videos
