Why High Masking Autistics are Misunderstood: Double Empathy and Autism

[@ChrisandDebby]

When have you experienced being misunderstood because of a different communication style? Do you have any tips to help with communication? Share some of your experiences of Double Empathy so we can all can learn together!

[@BorksmithandTheBeef]

You might be interested in the Ask/Guess communication style. Guess being where you do not ask for things or do things until you are sure the answer will be yes, and asking if the answer might not be yes is considered rude. Ask just...asks. It's madness to assume I know what someone else is thinking or feeling, and is exhausting to try and figure out what someone is thinking/feeling.

[@DarrinDickey]

Your video made me wonder for a moment how a NeuroTypical person would handle it if they were in a predominantly NeuroDivergent world. But then I realized that they actually got a very small taste of that during the Covid pandemic. Many places had lockdowns. People were stuck at home, couldn't go in to work or large gatherings, had to keep their distance from other people outside of immediate family. They had to find new ways to communicate and they were struggling because they often lost the ability to see the faces and/or hands of the people they were talking to. So, body language and facial expressions were difficult or impossible to read. Many, many of them did NOT do well at all with this. A lot are still angry and griping about it. There were reportedly suicides and an increase in depression and other mental problems due to the isolation and communication difficulties. I wonder how they would feel if their whole life had these communication and interpersonal challenges. I'm not sure they would fare better than a lot of NeuroDivergent folks.

[@robtooley4002]

I have a couple of pre-set conversations I use for small talk. Pets is one. Travel frustrations, weather things like storms, and some light family things. Nothing deep. Just a couple of funny stories. I think of them as the stories that make me seem "normal." Then I let others do most of the talking and when they stop talking, I use one of my presets. I can add a new pet story, e.g. over time. So I get by with people thinking I'm a bit of a crazy cat lady vs rude and cold. I used to do scripted animals shows with question and answer sessions and came off as friendly. When I would go behind the scenes, I was exhausted and would just be quiet until I had to go back out. A nice security guard said to me one day " peopke think you are snobby. You are all nice out there, but you don't even say hi to us behind the scenes". I felt bad, because this person really meant it in a helpful way and was genuinely a nice person. So I realized I had to be "on" whenever other people were around period. So I put together my pre-sets and that helped a lot. I learned to go to "check on animals" (e.g. the osprey or turtles) which meant I would go clean tanks or feed critters in areas where only one person really went at a time and I could just unwind a bit on my own.

[@annahannabanana]

I'm often misunderstood throughout my life. whether I get diagnosed with autism or not, being INTJ seems to make me, by default, neurodivergent; so I had to learn to mask by the time I was in my teenage years. I ask a lot of questions when miscommunications arise, seeking clarity, but still get misinterpreted as judgmental, as if many of my questions are posed rhetorically or sarcastically/satirically when they are genuine inquiries. I learn to beat around the bush more, only with people who don't already understand my communication style (straightforward and efficient communication can always get misinterpreted as impatient, condescending, and haughty). my trick to tapping into empathy (my blind spot): 1. make exclamatory remarks to parrot back their emotions and make them feel heard: "wow, that's great!" or "what, that sucks" 2. ask for more information: "tell me more" 3. acknowledge their feelings and validate them so they feel understood: "how does that make you feel?" 4. call for action (I do this after I've already addressed their emotions to reregulate/calm them down, even if my weakest love language is words of affirmation; they may not be on the same page if I skip the validation steps and jump into solution mode right away): "is there anything I can do?"

[@tomh5094]

One thing I saw elsewhere that helps me is to think of small talk like stimming for Allistic folks. It's functionally useless but they need to do it to feel comfortable and as a way to express feelings. I like the theory that autistic folks are much more inclined to have the following priority; information > Social > Feelings. Whereas allistic folks are basically the opposite; Feelings > Social > Information. Communication problems are because we're actually speaking in completely different languages with different meanings, principles and priorities. So, for example: When someone autistic starts with information the allistic can't cope because we've bypassed their requirements which is communicating feeling (through small talk/hugs etc). They need to feel a connection to be open to receiving information whereas an autistic person can connect with other people just over information.

[@heatherrussell8255]

Trying to jump in in a multi-person conversation is my biggest issue: either I'm too slow and someone else cuts me off, or I'm too quick and cut off someone else before they've finished. It's incredibly frustrating. I can NEVER seem to come in at the right microsecond.

[@mmut8602]

Same! Same! Or people just ignore me entirely. Yay.

[@Dancestar1981]

Me neither

[@quali-vd3ud]

A lot of the time I end up just sitting in silence, completely ignored. It's why paradoxically I find large groups of people to be really understimulating

[@arab6745]

There's also knowing when I can change the subject lol

[@JennyBerrill]

Your content on double empathy is great BUT your delivery pace for me is TOO FAST. This means it is a big effort to keep up! What about autistic slow processing? Jenny, Oxford, UK.

[@annap62407]

“How do you think that would make them feel” makes me so mad bc no one has ever cared how they made me feel. Like I’m supposed to care about everyone else’s feelings but my feelings & needs aren’t valid bc they may be different than the norm

[@shellieperreault6262]

THIS

[@hedwigwendell-crumb91]

I don't give a f how they feel. F them.

[@MartinMCade]

I learned, almost 30 years ago, not to try fitting in by imitating funny, popular, or sarcastic people. I had friends who could say insulting things or call people names, and everyone understood it was friendly and not serious, and they would give it back. I tried copying that behavior and I ended up insulting people when I was trying to be funny. I think I drove away a girl who was interested me at the time. Lesson taken. Don't try copying someone else's behavior. Be myself.

[@SerenityForschen]

I have been there too. Trying to poke fun but then strike a nerve. I have mostly stopped doing anything like that because its backfired as a kid and adult. I also have a very long fuse where I will take a lot of teasing until I snap and say something horrible. I will give ample warning, asking them to stop. And of course the people teasing never apologise its always the person who finally gets tired of the ribbing. This is also why I do not like practical jokes. Its not funny to me.

[@EastElbow]

Been there.

[@LinzDubNZ]

Me too. And I know instantly after I've said something like that, that I got it wrong and just screwed my life a bit more. Sometimes I don't even say what I intended to say , some other words come from somewhere and usually they are just dumb, but other times quite insulting. It's worse when I'm pressured or stressed in some way.

[@iluvyunie]

Oooh yeah. I have been there. I nearly lost a job because I worked with a group of waitresses that liked to make weird jokes all the time about their chests.

[@elizabethivy1337]

Oof, I can definitely relate to this. It’s one of the few types of humor that I have never really tried to do. I have never been able to figure out what will be perceived as ‘fun banter,’ or a ‘playful insult,’ versus what will be perceived as mean-spirited. I don’t know how others manage to make this work.

[@TyWorth]

I've lost track of how many times - due to always being misunderstood as a kid - I've very, very carefully chosen my words to convey *precisely* what I mean... and it still gets totally misconstrued due to assumptions on the NT persons end. It's frustrating, even if it's understandable.

[@free-rangeandroid833]

I can't stand when people use a word, term or phrase wrong and it takes all my might to not correct them which I learned long ago was a bad idea.

[@nettorak]

And if you use too many words, just to be extra precise, they get annoyed as well, right? You start wondering how to put the essence of your thought in a short sentence - which will lead straight to the start of the problem. That's how it goes for me.

[@embertheelder]

Or if precision drives one to expand one's vocabulary in order to be extraordinarily precise, then one is often misunderstood due to lack of others' comprehension of said vocabulary. One can also be accused of considering oneself 'above' the current company. And one might need to attain an additional 30 years of living in order to learn to dumb down a conversation... Uh, not that I know from experience or anything.

[@psyhense]

I've found a lot of the time they don't want to understand, as they won't ask any questions to convey their own area of misunderstanding. At that point, I treat it similar and don't put anymore effort in.

[@nettorak]

@@embertheelder Exactly! It often puzzles me how easily people get triggered. A child asked me why their half eaten apple gets brown. I said it oxidates due to the oxygen that's in the air around us and waited to see if the child was interested enough for follow-up questions. But the person next to me lost their sheet about how I just wanted to sound extra smart and that the apple just gets brown because it lies around. Period.

[@peacefulpossum2438]

Double empathy makes so much sense. My mom once told me that I can be difficult. I could have easily said, “That makes two of us,” but of course, she assumes I’m the problem, not that it’s an equal problem with communication.

[@Imblessedandhumbled]

idk though @peacefulpossum2438, that may just be a MOTHER thing!! hahahaha.

[@manuproulx2764]

​​@@Imblessedandhumbled Not funny. Her/his mother sounds like a huge jerk.

[@darkydoom]

It's funny now my mum is outnumbered HEAVILY by the amount of ND in the family. Growing up I thought my dad was the problem, but now I'm more comfortable in my ND self I realise, oh no, I'm just like my dad, I understand why he was so frustrated by her logic, she's not one of us lmao. Me, my brother, my kids, why are we getting labelled with the mental illnesses when we make total sense to eachother and having a great time. My mum's social normative NT way of thinking doesn't jive with us, oh dear ❤😂

[@lisasophierb735]

I relate to this so much!!

[@canUfeelMYface]

How do you double something by splitting it in half or dividing it in two? I'm begging you. Please someone tell me how.

[@aumazing]

When I was a kid, knowing that people were waiting for me and getting impatient was a terrible but common feeling. I have gone through life planning ways to be as efficient as possible so no one has to wait for me like a ticking time bomb as I’m trying to hurry. Knowing what I will order before I get to the restaurant. Reading about a movie before seeing it. Practicing the drive to a place before I plan to go there.

[@EastElbow]

Same. I talk fast for this reason too.

[@bes03c]

I also hate waiting for other people. Feeling their impatience is excruciating. When I am forced to make others wait because of factors outside my control, I find it extrenely distressing.

[@bes03c]

It wasn't until I was diagnosed that I learned that most NTs do not mentally script their orders at restaurants before the server comes. I live outside my home country and have to speak in the local language. That makes me script even more.

[@Art_by_Nicole]

I can relate to that and it’s really tiring

[@gzoechi]

They only talk in prepared statements, so it's no surprise they don't need time for a response. Nobody cares if the response provides any insight. I guess they just evaluate how close the response is to what they had said.

[@scottfw7169]

The most inane thing I ever heard from an NT was, _"If you'd just decide to not be autistic you wouldn't have those problems."_ 🤔🙄

[@BorksmithandTheBeef]

Reminds me of when people tell me it's all in my head. Yes, that IS where my brain is, thanks for noticing!

[@SuperGingerBickies]

If that NT decided not to be a loo-laah and take their head out of their poop hole ... That inane remark sounds like something my family would say.

[@DWSP101]

lol I love that it’s real lol

[@nettorak]

Imagine waiting for them to just not get something, then leaning forward to them and saying: "Have you ever tried just getting it?"

[@thefuturist8864]

I’ve had people say a similar thing, but I think it’s important to remember that societies don’t teach people about neurodiversity and as such they can’t be expected to grasp it. In many ways it’s like expecting them to understand schizophrenia; while autism doesn’t belong in the same bracket as schizophrenia, most people don’t realise that it’s something that can only be understood by experts.

[@rosannatufts855]

One helpful trick I've learned, when eye contact gets to be a little too much: I turn my head slightly to the right, and say "I'm turning my *good* ear toward you" -- that way, they know I'm still paying attention. (This has the benefit of being true: I really do have mild hearing loss on one side.)

[@rigelestbit]

I hate when a request is implied. When i lived with my mom she would often say something like "is the trash bin filled?" And expect me to know that was a cue to take out the trash, even if it wasn't full, even if i had a routine of taking out the trash everyday when i went to school. Things like "ohh potato puree would fit well with this lunch" are meant to imply a request. Ask me directly instead of going through hoops to ask me for something!

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@rigelestbit respect her authority

[@jeffkunce8501]

Mine would say things like "Wouldn't you like to take out the trash now?” Of course, I would annoy her right back, "No, of course I wouldn't like to take the trash out, but I think you want me to do it, so I will." 😅

[@rigelestbit]

@@canUfeelMYface Dude, I'm a grown adult. I don't live with her anymore, I share my house with someone who tells me straight up whatever they want me to do instead of going in metaphorical circles

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@rigelestbit you're doing it again.

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@rigelestbit this is why she kicked you out

[@greenliter1]

I was always deemed “too emotional “ as a kid and when I would have probably a meltdown I would be sent to timeout and would be told I could come back when I had my “happy face” on, then would get bombarded with a huge fake smile on my dads face. It was obviously fake so I felt patronized. I angered my stepmom so much as a kid by not looking at her directly. One time she was angry and talking to me and I was looking forward (we were side by side) and she yelled “look at me when you talk.” She turned her head forward and said “do you like it better when I talk to you like this? Does it feel like I’m listening?” I told her yes and she thought I was lying and proceeded to become more angry.

[@vickiamundsen2933]

yep. Intense feelings were not allowed in my family.

[@tg4949]

These adults lack empathy and kindness. I'm sorry that happened to you, you deserved someone who took the time to understand you better.

[@michelledeeney3765]

I find it it easier to listen when not making eye contact as making eye contact makes me think about the eye contact instead of paying attention to what the person is saying

[@redgit9905]

Indeed

[@TheActionBastard]

Too personal to look people in the eyes for long. It's like staring into a light. Too much data, too much intensity.

[@sheridansherr8974]

Me too

[@oliviachipperfield6029]

Exactly

[@lmack6596]

Absolutely. I trained to be a healthcare professional back in the day and we had a whole module on "active listening". It included things like looking the other person in they eye, nodding, mmmm-ing and Uh-huh-ing, reapeating key words back etc. Honestly, looking back it was complete bullsh!t. It took every ounce of my concentration to remember to do all those things to _look_ like I was listening. Much better to use that concentration to actually listen to them!!! 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🙄

[@elvwood]

Well put. It reminds me, I've lost count of the times I've said something that seemed totally clear to me and people have stared at me like I'm an alien, then 30 seconds later someone else has said pretty much the same thing and they've all nodded and smiled and run with the suggestion.

[@mmut8602]

Omigosh! This has happened to me! Truly thought I was in the Twilight Zone!

[@user-pt5fb8tu1u]

Yes! All of the time !

[@carriemorgan9954]

All. The. Time.

[@mindystrouse]

OMG All. The. Time!

[@shellieperreault6262]

Nearly every day of my life.

[@annelogston]

Thank you sooooo much for verbalizing this! I remember Mom and Dad always mocking me: “Oh, Anne’s mad at the world today” when I wasn’t angry or upset at all - until they made fun of me. I was always deeply uncomfortable with my lack of awareness of how I was “keeping my face.” I would seek out reflective surfaces constantly to check “if my face was right.” I constantly struggled with trying to find the right balance of communication, eye contact and honesty for any given conversation. It’s still painful, and I’m on the extreme end of the “loner” spectrum now at 62.

[@talscorner3696]

And, let's face it, the world seems to be doing its damnedest to get us to be mad at it

[@jimwilliams3816]

The criminal justice part is SO real. I sat for jury selection a couple months back, and they had an introductory film on implicit bias. It was actually pretty interesting, but all they focused on was protected classes. I sat there and thought about all the other types of implicit bias. Then selection began, and the prosecutor kept asking how, in a disputed situation, people could tell who was telling the truth and who was lying. A former sheriff in the pool answered confidently that he was able to do identify lying by things like not making eye contact or appearing nervous. This was a Friday, and I had to report back on Monday. Over the weekend, a family member who has problems with panic attacks was pulled over. They explained this to the police, who paid no attention, and wrote up several things that were a result of the shutdown as other things. In the US at least, police culture is often focused on being tough and in control at all times, and there is often little understanding of either neurodivergence or mental health problems. (That’s not true across the board. I actually had an encounter with a state police officer when I was in a poor state, a few years ago, and she was excellent.)

[@haineko1989]

Oh, the police and everything you describe here is so wild in the US. On one hand I could see you are years ahead of us in research and popularizing images of mental health issues, neurodivergence, systematic bias and cultural differences, on the other hand the majority of police or judiciary system images and daily news on "Florida man shoots child" stories show an astounding number (and severity) of violent authoritarian encounters with biased judgement from organizations and self-proclaimed militia wannabes. The duality of this has been blowing my mind for years now, and it hits really different when you realize I am as old as our true democracy and those 35 years ago the level of knowledge here in many areas like psychology as well was closer to 1900 than 2000 👀

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@jimwilliams3816 maybe someone will read all that

[@JodyBruchon]

And this is why I'm libertarian and want police to be aggressively held accountable. Abusers need to be held responsible.

[@FlamingCockatiel]

@@canUfeelMYface I did.

[@NorthshireGaming]

NTs rarely understand how frustrating and difficult it is being autistic because so much of our mental processing is spent trying to make sure that despite all the excess mental processing that's going on for us, we don't let it slip out of our headspace and into their perceptions of us. It's like feeling that need to vomit all the time, but just constantly reminding yourself, "Now's not a good time." It's a constant struggle at my job, I work a lot, 6 days a week, and while I sometimes need to remind my superiors that I am autistic, it doesn't mean anything to them, it's just a descriptive adjective to them, and I do not have the time, and they don't have the patience to afford me the luxury of explaining further. There's nothing that makes me recoil more than when I'm deep into burnout as my workday comes to a close and everyone keeps asking me if I'm okay. By that time my masking efforts are in vain, I can't process speech fast enough, I can barely vocalize my thoughts to my team, and my thoughts become increasingly disjointed.

[@mothdust1634]

My coworkers are understanding because I bitch about being tired all the time and not getting enough sleep. "Are you okay?" "Yeah I slept like 2 hours last night and I wanna die, but I'm here" then they laugh. I smile when I say such things so it eases the complaint. My formula is: They ask about me -> I complain with a smile -> they laugh and offer sympathies and leave me alone.

[@vickiamundsen2933]

i was at a party I could not escape recently. About two hours in i was SO done. I sat down on a chair in a nice quiet location where I could just watch the goings-on. A friend asked if I felt all right. I said, "I'm just really overstimulated right now." And she got it.

[@haineko1989]

Sad to hear that. I have chosen to apply for a little less prestigious job with half of the salary of the more interesting and prestigious one because I knew I couldn't do more corporate years in such an environment and keep my sanity - now I have a wonderful company with strong ethics, and recurring "understanding days" one of which was about ND colleagues. The question I hear from my boss when we have reviews or when I told him my diagnosis is "Is there anything else I can do to help you in your work?", and even high level management isn't afraid of taking additional medical leave for some mental or physical issues and/or a revision of workload going forward. I know there are many factors at play when it comes to jobs we have, but I really hope you can find yourself in a position that would be just as comfortable for you too...

[@stevepolek4226]

1:09 That is exactly the look that has me look away. It is like someone is saying to me, "Hey let me shove this USB port into your eyeball so we can connect".

[@dreamscape405]

😅 EXACTLY 😅

[@iNsOmNiAcAnDrEw]

Honestly, it doesn't really bother me if people want to look me in the eye when we talk, but I so often find myself talking with people when there are a lot of other people around, and I just find it easier to not do the eye contact thing because otherwise I'm going to end up hearing someone else too clearly by having my ears pointed away from the person close to me and it's going to distract me and make it hard to hear them. That's why sometimes what I'll do is try to get closer to people but that can make them very uncomfortable sometimes. I'm not doing it to be creepy, it's just a way to maintain eye contact... so it's ironic that eye contact I don't have a problem with, it's the distraction of a crowd that bothers me.

[@Jae-by3hf]

😂 LOL! This is exactly what it is!

[@Art_by_Nicole]

Haha! I laughed out loud for that analogy 😂 Love that

[@Keyan9]

I literally had to look away. So uncomfortable.

[@brickellvoss7739]

There have been a few times at work where I disclosed being autistic when major communication issue occurred. The issue that most often seemed to come up was when people said I was not kind yet I never would call people names or yell at them or talk about them behind their backs. Being blunt and honest I think were the traits that got me viewed by some as mean. However when I would tell them that I'm not being mean I'm just saying exactly what I mean and there is no hidden meaning behind my words I was not believed or told that because I was autistic it was my responsibility to change. This was very insulting because I had already been doing so much to be able to fit into these world easier. After learning cognitive behavioral therapy, I think what is going on a lot of the time seems to be emotional reasoning. Since the communication isn't 'normal' to them it makes them feel awkward and when that happens they don't seem to understand its because they are meeting a communication issue instead they put those feelings onto the autistic and assume: I feel weird it must be because you are bad. I think we need to teach emotional intelligence to our children. Because the blame shifting onto the 'other' (in thee cases the autistic) isn't a healthy method and causes more issues down the line, it teaches people that the minority is the issue and it is their responsibility to fall in line and become like the 'norm' for the area. Instead of promoting inclusion. Teaching children to first regulate their own emotions when nothing is actually being done to them outside of them feeling uncomfortable. Its just teaching children that things aren't their fault and that they don't have much control but somehow need to try and force it from other by telling them how to behave. Really shows low frustration tolerance. Great video!

[@nettorak]

I think one of the reasons people struggle with honesty so much is that their parents, when they were a child, couldn't stand when they were crying. I witness this a lot. A child stumbles, cries, the parents proceed with blaming the path, for tripping the child and the more furious the path is blamed, the sooner the child stops crying. Is this madness? This is how madness looks, right? So the child learns that if something happens that's unpleasant, someone has to be blamed. I think the child should instead be told stuff like "Accidents happen. You want a hug? It passes eventually dear, come here." What has helped me were books on non-violent communication. Though I have to reread them often, because I always fall back to default mode - honesty. People do not like that. But I noticed that whenever people face a dire situation, they often search for me. One time, I even got a call in the middle of the night because a colleague had a situation and they didn't call an ambulance - they called me. That's how safe and reliable I feel.

[@eh1702]

“Teaching children to first regulate their own emotions when nothing is actually being done to them outside of them feeling uncomfortable.” I think you have put your finger on a reason why a lot of kids bully whoever is different.

[@carolinejames7257]

​@@eh1702Not just kids, but yes, I agree. It seems highly likely as a trigger for bullying. Noone likes to be uncomfortable, but we're expected to tolerate it non-stop, every day of our lives so the NTs feel comfortable. But they often won't tolerate it even occasionally or short-term. So, really, they're the narcissistic ones, not us. 😉

[@rikorobinson]

I am so glad I work for myself now. I had an interview once where one of the guys just kept getting angrier and angrier. And after I answered a question, he called me arrogant. Just flat-out said it. I had no idea I was autistic at the time, so even though I think I may know what was happening now, it was so friggin' confusing back then. I have been called "arrogant" my whole life just for being honest about things and despite not really vibing with what that emotion is supposed to feel like. But BOY do people not like being told the truth while believing in their heart-of-hearts that that's ALL they want. I don't get it...

[@adrs1380]

That happens toe all the time. I get frustrated when people don't understand me, and I have to repeat the same thing three different ways and then they called me arrogant and rude. Mostly, nowadays, I just think "whatever" to myself and walk away, and don't try to explain anymore. And get called arrogant and rude for that too. I just hate talking to people.

[@susanrobertson984]

M’y experience as a neurotypical is that some folks on the spectrum decide what is true and then refuse to acknowledge that they may not have all the facts and given they miss all the non-verbal cues they missed half the information presented. That is really frustrating for me.

[@rikorobinson]

@@susanrobertson984 Then you know how we feel 100% of the time.

[@susanrobertson984]

@@rikorobinson fair enough

[@brunoborce8951]

From a psychological perspective, the text highlights a common issue for individuals with autism: misunderstanding social norms and communication. The label of “arrogance” likely stems from the interviewee’s directness, which may clash with typical social expectations. Autistic individuals often struggle to navigate these subtle social cues, leading to such misunderstandings. It's crucial to differentiate between autism and personality disorders like narcissism. Narcissistic traits involve a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy, while autism primarily affects social communication. Consulting a mental health professional can help clarify if other issues are present. Improving social skills and adapting communication to different contexts can help mitigate conflicts and misunderstandings. Awareness and adjustment in how truths are communicated can enhance interactions and reduce perceived arrogance.

[@BiddyBiddyBiddy]

You're wife is so cool to work as hard as she does to bridge the gap. "I'm not sure what you mean," is a common phrase from me when someone asks a question and my mind perceives it with uncertainty or too many potential meanings for me to guess at the correct connotation. Great video!

[@LinzDubNZ]

I always find people from other cultures much less stressful to communicate with. I know a few people with ASD tendencies and several have non-Caucasian partners, as do I. I think I understand why this is now - that in-built strange skill with interactions that NTs seem to have, I think is not necessary when I'm talking to, say, an Asian person.

[@ScottJohnson-tk7ql]

How serendipitous you posted this today, because today I learned from someone else what the ineptly named "Double Empathy Problem" meant, and now you have refined the concept for me to something I have recognised for about six years now, since about six months after I got my diagnosis. The thing I recognised is I am like a foreigner to my own countrymen, and I suffer all the normal cultural shocks and barriers trying to get along with them, in addition to being constantly mistaken for a knowledgeable local, and then judged for not acting like it. I have thought of myself as belonging to a culture of one for a few years, now. I went as far as adopting an alternative to the traditional western handshake which I have never liked since I neither like touching nor being touched by strangers. My status of being anonymously foreign to my peers wasn't an issue when I met actual foreigners like exchange students and emigrants. As a student of several foreign languages I was naturally attracted to the idea of practising my languages, but I must also admit I was attracted to the kind of people who didn't treat me like a weirdo. This has been a steady pattern in my life since at least High School, and I'm 61. So to sum up, most of my friends, and all of my Best friends, save the one I married, were foreign, Black, or queer. I figure these people didn't have the same expectations of me that other white Americans did.

[@kq7913]

This is wild because I’m Black and barely fit in with my own people. Labels in school: stuck up. Know it all. Oreo (because of how I speak-became an English professor lol). And I love traveling. I guess trying to be understood in a foreign place is…familiar 🙃🙃🙃

[@juliemorcate3820]

Thank you for including the criminal justice system topic. My youngest brother has severe autism and one time ran outside onto his backyard, which doubles as a soccer field sometimes, during a game. So some parents called the cops on him, but luckily the officer that attended the call was trained on ND and didn't try touching my brother, which would most likely have resulted in him lashing out physically, and was able to guide my brother off the field. It ended well thank goodness. That all transpired while my stepdad, my brother's full-time carer, was in the shower for just 15 minutes. Officers and judges being trained on ND can save lives

[@Liliedugg]

This. I get nauseous thinking about how many autistic and/or adhd people have had their lives destroyed because they're treated like they are criminals, just because they're different. I don't have to try to imagine how it must be like, nor do I have to ask myself if I really believe this to be the case, 'cause I've lived my life, and I've experienced that kind of treatment as long as I can remember. I got my adhd diagnosis two years ago, and have understood I am also autistic. In a few days I'm 46, and I finally know why I've been singled out and stepped upon, or just plainly attacked out of nowhere, my entire life. I feel that it was *a bit* late, as I'm totally unable to trust anyone, just as unable to work - for the exact same reason -, I havent had a girlfriend in 16 years even if every girl I meet who is willing to spend more than two minutes talking with me clearly likes me - because I don't even trust myself anymore.

[@sanjaymatsuda4504]

Was your brother naked or something like that? To my knowledge, interrupting a football match is not a crime, so there's little reason to call the cops over just that.

[@stoverboo]

I can look people in the eye for limited periods, but it's always a struggle. My son and I hand out by doing errands together, because we can talk better while my eyes are on the road.

[@JoMcD21]

I'm glad you've found a way to work around things. Sharing your methods can definitely help out other people too! Thank you!

[@Railuki]

I once worked with a young man, you needed to wait at least 5 seconds for an answer because it just took him longer to process. The problem would only come if people would pile on questions and concerns while he was processing. Giving him those 5 seconds to process and not caring about eye contact was all it took to have effective communication. I would assume that the issue is with the world for not accepting that some people take longer to process, that it doesn't indicate a lack of understanding or attention.

[@wizardsuth]

Part of that time was probably spent figuring out how to express his ideas so that you would understand him.

[@talscorner3696]

Some of the brightest people I know take a bit to answer questions. They're rarely wrong.

[@brandyballoon]

Taking longer to respond usually indicates a greater depth of understanding because they are processing a lot more stored information in order to formulate their answer compared to neurotypical people who sometimes don't think at all.

[@FlamingCockatiel]

Did a lot of people think he was dishonest because of it? I read a lot about people equating hesitation with dishonesty. I sometimes think expectations of human processing speed have been unduly and unfairly influenced by high speed internet.

[@free-rangeandroid833]

I'm always looking around or focusing out the window when I'm discussing things with my wife. She sometimes looks around and says, "What is it?" as if I noticed something important happening outside. I have to explain I'm just thinking and I can't stare her in the face when I'm trying to think through something. It's only recently I started realizing why this is. It's tough to pull myself back from thinking to refocus on the person or explain why I'm looking away, and I often lose my train of thought. And around and around we go!

[@schwingle17]

What is so much more interesting than our conversation?

[@mmut8602]

I am not diagnosed with anything, but know I have my own quirks. Ironically, my NT husband will do this quite often as a "squirrel!" tactic in uncomfortable conversations so I understand why it can be distracting/unsettling to the one who is talking as well.

[@Dancestar1981]

@@free-rangeandroid833 my mum would chide me and tell me to stop looking at myself in the shop windows and it’s not I’m looking in a different direction to mentally process information

[@Dancestar1981]

@@free-rangeandroid833 also was asking a police officer questions one day to try and find out which roads were blocked in a flood so that I could detour around it and got accused of arguing and it’s no I’m asking you to clarify which roads aren’t blocked and they wouldn’t give me a straight answer

[@NZKiwi87]

I GOT MY OFFICIAL LETTER OF DIAGNOSIS YESTERDAY WOOHOO! 🙌 it feels life changing for me 😊 Your videos have made a huge difference for me, thank you so much x

[@EastElbow]

I'm still waiting for my results. They are taking forever.

[@nickpenney4953]

Congratulations... Most likely plenty of epiphanies ahead. I was diagnosed last year, age 56, and got to re-examine my life through the 'I was autistic, not stupid/useless' lens.

[@nickpenney4953]

Where are you from in NZ? I'm a Wanganui boy, now living in London.

[@NZKiwi87]

@@nickpenney4953 this is it exactly! I feel I’ve shouldered a lot of internal blame over the years for how I am, as opposed to being accepted and accommodated (which I’ve taught myself to try to do for others) and now begins the process of undoing that damaging framework. Congrats to you too - how empowering for each of us in our third age to have this monumental shift 🙌

[@EastElbow]

@@NZKiwi87 I'm trying to rework that as well. The right people will stay.

[@sisterpanic9588]

I'm autistic and my two best friends are ADD and AUDHD. (We weirdly enough knew each other long before we got diagnosed) All three of us were diagnosed as adults and are still learning how to be neurodivergent in a neurotypical world in a way that does not hurt so much. Once a month we meet up, I make food with regards to likes and dislikes or other issues. There is a huge box of fidget toys in the middle of the table and we just talk about our special interests for hours or parallel play with the fidgets or our phones. It is so unbelievably relaxing. No small talk, no polite rules just people who understand.

[@TheFranchiseCA]

You became friends before being diagnosed because you were comfortable with people who behaved and spoke in ways you understood.

[@trwn87]

This is so cool! I wish I had such an experience too!

[@Catlily5]

Same, I met most of my friends before diagnosis.

[@alaskawoolf3737]

When I get anxious because I might be failing at socializing, I remind myself that comunication depends on TWO parts, not just me. I don't usually talk to people, because I always feel like I'm missing all the context and it's frustrating. But one time this guy started talking to me on the street. He had an "Odd" personality, body language and speech pattern which people around us noticed. Once I decided to get chitchatting it was clear we easily understood each other, there was none of that awkwardness or uncertainty. I was left thinking "is this how normal people feel?"

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@alaskawoolf3737 you're free to believe that

[@treeoflife91]

This is so neat, I live in Finland and have noticed the direct, quiet, no-bs and non forceful autistic way of communication is more or less the norm here. I can't work due to severe sensory problems and other comorbid things and executive dysfunction but... I'm generally not seen as "weird" until I either start stimming or get "too excited" about something (typewriters, birds, art stuff etc). I *am* even a bit more quiet than the average finn but so far this is definitely the most autism friendly place I've ever been in. I'm super interested in the ways autism and culture mesh - or don’t. Honestly listening to my online friends a lot of the US sounds terrifying to me with the different social rules and also how (no offense) damn loud people there tend to be. The speech volume of all to my knowledge neurotypical americans I've met is about on par with drunk finnish people. I absolutely adore you people but damn your lungs are built different 😂 Public places here are very quiet compared to every other twentysomething countries I've been to as well because it's considered impolite to "make a scene"... which is where my overexcitement and special interests being seen as SUPER weird comes in. I wonder if these differences contribute to how many people get diagnosed, and whether the criteria should somewhat be adjusted according to culture. Thanks for the awesome video! 😊

[@ChrisandDebby]

Just left Finland yesterday!! I was so sad to leave. Absolutely loved it. The people were amazing. Estonia was also amazing. You are spot on about the volume and style of talking. It was so refreshing. I want to move to Finland or Estonia.

[@moxmox8058]

lol you are right. I am always called ‘quiet’ here in the US but abroad I notice looks for being loud when with other Americans…..

[@catfancier270]

Not everyone in the US is super loud. I live near Seattle and the people I know speak fairly quietly. People in my neighborhood are of Swedish and/or Korean ancestry, so that might have something to do with it. And Seattleites are known for keeping to themselves more.

[@IndridCool54]

I’m 69 and found out that I might be on the autism spectrum a couple years back. I’ve taken many assessments and my scores are always extremely high. The last one I took was 42 questions and I scored a 41. I believe a score of 13 or 14 pointed to autism. I struggle with every aspect of social interaction, especially verbal. I know that I’m often seen as rude or insensitive, but the opposite is true, I’m just autistic. It’s been a roller coaster ride since I first understood and I’ll likely never get a formal diagnosis, but understanding myself is what’s important. ✌🏼

[@canUfeelMYface]

You are not qualified to diagnose yourself

[@beanstheclown]

@@canUfeelMYface My man, the number of "qualified" professionals out there that are still working with outdated concepts of autism is through the roof. I have hardly met a diagnosed autistic person who cares about self diagnosis and a large number of them openly encourage it. You gain nothing but headaches from being autistic. Nobody is going to diagnose themselves with autism cause they think it makes them seem special, and even if they did, so the fuck what? Society is just going to shit on you for it so there is nothing to gain socially from self diagnosis, and there sure as shit ain't anything to gain materially from it.

[@ChalilodimunAngel]

The way I have dealt with being late diagnosed is by ending up thinking that no one means what they say. And that is very problematic because I don't believe anyone and if someone says something nice to me, I'm immediately "well, they're just saying that to be nice, it's not true". It's even more a problem when I was in a relationship with this girl who gave me a clear boundary and in my head I was like "she doesn't mean it" (even though I know the importance of boundaries!). Thankfully I didn't do the thing she didn't want, but not because of her boundary, because I was shy. That's when I realized how dangerous my way of thinking was. I've been trying to change it, but it's not easy.

[@Jamnj1]

Glad it worked out. People don't usually communicate their clear boundaries as a form of small talk. Small talk is when people are less "honest." It's good to believe people when they tell you what they DON'T want you to do towards them. If they say "fine" after you ask how they're doing, they may or may not be fine. But if they say they're not comfortable with something, they deserve to have that honored without being second guessed

[@greenprobe]

Anyone ever reply with "I don't understand. Could you clarify?" or "By that do you mean..." and get hit with a shouted "How could you not understand that?!? Are you trying to be difficult?"

[@wizardsuth]

Its particularly bad when they express something in a vague, ambiguous, or metaphorical way, such that the literal interpretation makes no sense, and they include several unspoken assumptions. How could I possibly be expected to understand a message that lacks real content?

[@theAkornTree]

I've seen neurodivergent people (kids especially) get so traumatised by the isolation of being surrounded by oblivious neurotypical people, or even traumatised by neurotypical authority figures punishing them for what the authority perceives as their failures, that they actually become bad at interacting with anyone, even other neurodivergent people! I was sceptical when I first came across the idea that neurodivergent people weren't bad at social stuff, just different, because I was genuinely bad at social stuff when I was younger. I didn't realise that it was caused by something else, until I had the opportunity to work thru that other trauma and heal from it.

[@wennapeters115]

I hated small talk until I figured out it's all the same formula. Greeting+ asking about emotional state "Hi *name if known* how are you today?" Etc Comment on weather (cultural practice in UK) Ask about their planned activities/destination "Going anywhere interesting/up to anything fun today?" Variations on this for each meeting and you gradually gain information to add to formula, which increases in complexity until it peaks where you no longer have to put as much effort in, because they feel comfortable that you 'know each other well'. At this point minimal conversational prompting is needed and they'll ramble on for ages while you switch off. I always got told I was a good listener and great at keeping secrets, when I was just deploying the formula and eventually zoning out.

[@talscorner3696]

Same here. I do firmly believe in "Your secrets are safe with my indifference and forgetfulness" xD

[@yelodoggie]

😂

[@Lingosel]

lol so true. I once vent with a close friend and just flat out told her I won’t spill people’s secrets because I honestly don’t remember/ don’t care after that insignificant conversation is over. She had a good laugh out of it, but I’m 90% sure she thought I was joking. I was not.

[@Tilly850]

I ABSOLUTELY agreed and was only a minute in. It's always OUR fault and often we are being super clear in OUR way of communicating. I often think that I am not at a disadvantage at all until I am required to act or talk in an NT way. When I am on my own, or with my friends we are fine. Happily weird together.

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@Tilly850 OUR? What about the non-verbals? I think you may have it backwards

[@Irisarc1]

I am an older autistic person (59F) who is newly diagnosed. This means that I have had decades of time and experience during which I have become allowed a master of masking. It's exhausting but it's what I needed to do to get along. I still often have a problem communicating though, because I was taught, possibly erroneously, that one tool of good communication is reflecting. By this, I mean saying to someone, "Let me make sure I understand what you are saying..." Then I try to repeat back what the other person has said in the way it makes sense to me. This tool does work often, but it can get in the way if the person I'm talking to, for whatever reason, is naturally defensive. They will sometimes take my need to reflect as me trying to say they are inferior because they can't even get a simple point across or that I am arguing with them. This is incredibly frustrating. When I am the one initiating the interaction, because I fear being misunderstood and being led down a rabbit hole of trying to repair a miscommunication, I will often make an effort to include all the facts I need the other person to know and why they need to know them, really quickly. It will make perfect sense to me, and often does to the other person, but sometimes, the person I'm talking to will get lost in the overdose of facts coming at them, so down the rabbit hole we go anyway. A good example of this is when I have to call a customer service center. Often this will happen: I will try to get my script straight before I place the call and run it when I finally get to an agent. Sometimes, I get distracted by something in the process and my script disappears. Even if it doesn't, it will often be confusing for some reason anyway, so down the rabbit hole. Through no wish of my own, I will often get passed along to a different agent. This is usually finally productive because the former interaction has given me clues to a script, which is usually effective in solving my problem. Sometimes, the original agent will be so confused about what I want that they will send me to the wrong department. Rabbit hole again. One of the ways I find can work to avoid confusion is reflecting what I am hearing. This can work sometimes. Anyway, personal interactions can be confusing and frustrating sometimes. Even years and years of practicing good communication skills can often make things worse before they get better.

[@JMA864]

Oh boy, same here. I’ve been working really hard lately to edit as I’m speaking-“what is the minimum they need to know to get my point.” Sometimes I even say out loud, “Give me a second, I’m trying to figure out how to tell this efficiently.” Otherwise I talk in circles because the ENTIRE context has equal weight in my brain. Really the only people I can talk comfortably with are other people who think/talk in big loops. Also just learned (after decades) from various channels that some find reflecting with a story of one’s own quite rude. Sigh.

[@Irisarc1]

@@JMA864 Oh, no. By reflecting, I meant listening to what the other person says, then saying it back to them to see if I understood it correctly. I hate that coming back with a story of your own business. My mother used to do that. We all just kind of rolled out eyes when she did that to people. It is rude. It sounds like you are trying to one-up them or something. Mom really was doing that though. Too competitive. In casual conversation, I always have to think about how I respond to someone else's story. Is my related story equal but different, or one-upping, or not interesting, or actually not really related at all. I get it that every part of what you're saying has exactly the same weight. How much is enough or too much?

[@iNsOmNiAcAnDrEw]

I find myself doing the reflecting thing without thinking about it sometimes because I may notice the person I'm talking to might have a problem with communication, it happens fairly often, and I think it happens with autists or non-autists alike. Essentially my goal in reflecting is to confirm what they truly mean because for whatever reason, they didn't say it. I usually open up my interpretation of their unspoken thought as "do you think..." or "do you mean..." and I don't always get it right, after all I'm not a mind reader, but sometimes I get it right.

[@JMA864]

@@Irisarc1 Thanks for clarifying. LOL I thought that kind of reflecting is exactly what “they” say to do-“what I hear you saying is…” But that may be only when there’s some sort of disagreement that one is trying to resolve peacefully? Re. returning story with story, I never mean it to one-up (at least not consciously) but of course some people do. For me, I’ve realized that I’m trying to demonstrate that I have some basis for understanding what the person is going through, like I have to give my bona fides. My extremely awkward attempt to show empathy. Like, I wouldn’t fully trust anyone who says “oh I know how you feel,” when I don’t know if they’ve actually experienced anything similar!

[@victoryamartin9773]

​@@JMA864People like it better when you describe the feeling to them to demonstrate your understanding. They don't care as much for your stories of similar experiences, because those don't guarantee you felt the same as they do or did.

[@nettorak]

What annoys me in communicating with allistic people is, that they often get stuck on disagreements and then blame their negative emotions on me entirely. Like when I ask "Do you want to X" and they say "no" and I say "Okay" and move on, which means I might leave (because I still want to do X). But they feel the need to explain to me in great detail how they just don't want to. I say "Okay" again and try to leave. I think they take me saying "Okay" quickly as sulking. I swear, I'm not mad. Why should we have a conversation about something we already established, why can't we move on and save energy + oxygen. We can do something we both enjoy again some time later. How am I supposed to react to them not liking what I suggested if not with acceptance?

[@foljs5858]

Well, saying ok quickly does sound like sulking. That's one of the things a sulking NT would do in that situation. "How am I supposed to react to them not liking what I suggested if not with acceptance?" suggest something alternative? Make it seem like you don't only hang out with them hoping to do the X thing? Ask them what they'd rather do? Hang out even if you don't do X?

[@nettorak]

@@foljs5858 Thank you for taking the time to answer and think about what I wrote. My Problem is: 1) If _I_ wanted to do something else than X at that moment: yes, I'd ask. 2) If _they_ really wanted to spend time with me, they can suggest something else (but I have to be allowed to say "No" as well!) But if I _want_ to do X, I do it by myself. I don't want to bend my whole existence around making other people feel good all of the time and not do X just for them. It might make us both less happy in the end. It's okay to say no to me. They don't mean less to me for doing so per se. But I will try to alter my voice more, so "Okay" changes in how it sounds. Maybe I'll wait another extra 1.5 seconds before reacting (1.5 seconds in ADHD is a lot). Maybe a light-hearted "Oh well" sounds better?

[@nettorak]

@@foljs5858 By the way, I always assure the people I'm not sulking or mad. That everything is okay between us when I'm quick to say "Okay". It just never sinks in.

[@mothdust1634]

@@nettorak I make a high-pitched "okay" with a smile, and I say "maybe next time" and move on. It seems to get the message across. Smiling tends to soften the blow for a lot of things. At least in the US its like required, but it has helped me a little in europe too. I've been told by my european family that I look stupid when I smile all the time, but at least I'm not accused of being bitch anymore.

[@AlexWalkerSmith]

Run-on sentences are my kryptonite. When someone is unable to speak concisely, eventually I have to interupt them and attempt to summerize what they've said so far. In some situations, I might have to do that every 60 to 90 seconds, which frustrates them. People have said to me "how would you like it if someone did that to you?", and my honest answer is that I would appreciate it. If their summary is correct then they've helped me be more concise; if their summary is NOT correct then they have let me know that I haven't been clear.

[@matthew3774]

The bias for quick processing time is SO REAL. I inadvertently wind up loads of people by not having insta-replies to their questions. Even walking into a takeaway shop nowadays you immediately get stared at as if you're meant to immediately know what you want to order. I don't pay it any attention and just take my time anyway... People will have to learn to deal with it.

[@SteinGauslaaStrindhaug]

I'm an employed (as a frontend programmer) still only self diagnosed autistic, and yes, job interviews were rough. Of course the first job was really hard since my resume didn't get me that many interviews in the first place, but after my first job everyone liked my resume; I got called in to interviews almost every position I applied for; but almost every interviewer instantly hated me; especially if it was they were HR or recruiters. If it was the boss doing the interview they would usually be superficially very polite, in "sales person mode" trying to "charm" me and sell their company and impossible to read; but I guess most of them also hated me. But the very few interviews where they didn't instantly hate me; the interviewer often was a fellow programmer that was almost certainly autistic, ADHD or both; and they instantly loved me and this is the jobs I got. One of the interviews they instantly invited me for a beer down at the local pub after a very short interview. And while I probably annoy a lot of neurotypicals where ever I'm working; after nearly 20 years of experience I'm so good at my job that all my quirks are tolerated; or even somewhat expected since after almost all the "genius programmer" stereotypes are basically just autistic traits (and also some ADHD traits, such as the stereotype of programmers being night owls; which I ironically don't actually fit despite officially having ADHD).

[@SteinGauslaaStrindhaug]

Also being a programmer I need to have very specific instructions, because the computer needs very specific instructions; you can't just give the computer the "gist" of what you want it to do and expect it to just "wing it" with all the edge cases using it's neurotypical intuition, since computers are damned stupid and have absolutely no intuiton. So most neurotypicals understand that or can at least easily be convinced that the reason I'm asking very specific questions is because the programming needs those questions defined. In fact most of the time in programming you are only concerned about the rare 1% or less edge cases, since the average case is so trivial it's the edge cases that takes time to fix; and you can't just ignore the edge cases (like neurotypicals ignore that their communication style doesn't work for us) because the computer will crash or severely misbehave even for the average case if the edge cases is not properly handled.

[@vickiamundsen2933]

@@SteinGauslaaStrindhaug garbage in, garbage out, right? I'd venture to say 90% of programmers are on the spectrum.

[@SteinGauslaaStrindhaug]

@@vickiamundsen2933 that depends on how prestigious being a programmer happens to be in a society, and also how much you include as being "on the spectrum" (e.g. dyslexia seems to be really common among my colleagues. And there's quite a lot of inattentive ADHD'ers). But if you only include the programmers who would have chosen it no matter how good the pay and prestige is, I'm sure those are 90% neurodivergent of some kind.

[@suanach]

Oh wow, I found out I was autistic three years ago (in my 50s!) & have been watching videos by actually autistic KZbinrs ever since, and you're the FIRST one who's ever EXPLAINED the "Double Empathy" problem in a way that I can understand it (you know, as if I were dropped off in the U.S. from some other country or, say, PLANET and didn't already know all the appropriate autistic social conventions). And in less than five minutes!😲🥳 THANKS!!! 👍 PS: I can't believe I only discovered/KZbin only recommended me your channel a week or two ago!

[@Mel-y4l]

Communication: "But what do you say? We figure it out together." I love this.

[@Chris-fn4df]

The fact that one one one conversations with “normies” always end up with that person doing “the switch” where they put their mask back on because their mask makes them feel safe and comfortable. They are terrified of authenticity.

[@PlaySavi]

Thank you so much for making this channel and these videos. It seems like each video is explaining a small piece of my life and suddenly my struggles and challenges start making sense. I really needed someone to tell me all these things, I just didn’t know it! Thank you so much!

[@TheAussieHobo]

Im done with normal, they can have it. It’s funny when you look at it that we run on a normal persons operating system. Look at the state of society and the world. They are doing a great job 😅

[@talscorner3696]

Spot. On. Me and my dad (I'm autistic, he's Asperger's) often have the "Listen to the autistics in your team, for the sake of pesto!" moment xD

[@jennywolswinkel8548]

When I was about 6: Teacher: 'Do you want to help me with this?' Me: 'No' - and walked on by Later that day I was berated by the principal in front of the whole school. Fortunately I wasn't upset because I felt secure in having done no wrong - I jjust stood there, finding the whole situation really odd and unnecessary. As a child I knew the truth - THEY had the communication problem. As an adult I've unfortunately become more apologetic. Thanks for the great video! I loved how you stared at the camera to illustrate eye contact - I find it really hard to concentrate when I'm looking eye-to-eye so that stare was hilarious. I've noticed that the Chinese culture seems more autism-friendly. And in indigenous Australian culture, looking someone in the eye - especially if you've done something wrong - is considered disrespectful. Imagine how that comes across to police officers!

[@wizardsuth]

I wish people would say what they mean. The teacher didn't actually ask for help. Had they said, "Please help me with this" no doubt you would have.

[@markofsaltburn]

I never once doubted the integrity of my autistic friend; in fact, he was so honest and equitable that I felt shamed. What reduced me to tears of frustration was the slow realisation that I would have to do all the accommodating and compromising in our friendship. This is not a moral failing on his part, but the ineluctable reality of autism as it affected him, and nothing can “correct” it. I only have so much to give.

[@rainbowtropolis]

Thank you for this explanation! My boyfriend and I have a terrible time communicating, he thinks I'm stupid, I think he never answers a question directly. He also makes up answers when he doesn't know the real answer, making me feel even more untrusting of him. Not a great combination, but this really explains some of that! I still haven't reached my autism/ADHD screening appointment date, but I'm hoping to get some answers about quite a lot of communication issues, people are so confusing to me!

[@DianeRaines-mo9vx]

Please break up.

[@vermiform]

​@@DianeRaines-mo9vxhow rude

[@EtherealTomorrow]

7:12 is basically how I grow up as kids 🥲 7:26 is how I ended up going to normal public school, noticing my autism at 16, having my mom 2 years later telling me I was diagnosed with autism at age of 2 but deciding that growing me in public school is the way to cure my autism, and now 5 years after graduating from college I REGRET going to school

[@FlamingCockatiel]

Why do you regret school?

[@christalintentions]

So, I’m autistic and I dated a man that is autistic. (We both are clinically diagnosed ) I feel I’m more high masking and more socialized based on my gender. We misunderstood each other all the time. I was more compassionate to understanding and learning when I didn’t understand but he also misunderstood me often. I thought we’d have great communication but when we revisited the situation I would realize that we both missed what the other meant. For context I’m Audhd and he only has the ASD diagnosis. He always voiced when he didn’t understand. At times we both thought we understood each other only to realize that we didn’t. I feel women are naturally more socialized so at times I struggled with understanding that he really didn’t get certain norms but his socialization didn’t look like mine. I was also more emotionally invested and feeling which seemed to jumble up things more. My alexithymia presents more as an emotional delay while his was presented as absent of emotions. I’m definitely more on the highly sensitive part of the spectrum. The miscommunication became exhausting on top of the overly bluntness when I have the ability to consider others feelings. That’s my oversharing rant for the day! 😂

[@jimwilliams3816]

I’m a fellow oversharer, and I really appreciate what you posted. This is something I keep debating, because I have an AuDHD diagnosis, and my wife doesn’t, but we both acknowledge that she has traits. I think we’ve gotten on well because of our similarities, but certain things have always been issues, and have gotten worse - and much of it is the same as you’d expect in an autistic-allistic relationship. Though certain things fit my being ADHD and her being ASD - I’m the compulsive talker that wears her (and everyone else) out. We have a lot in common with you two I’d say. I probably thought of her as being alexithymic before I knew what it was or realized I was too. And our individual presentations break down much like yours. I’m terrible at emotional connection, and that’s hard on her. I’ve seen it said that men’s way of dealing with trauma and depression tends toward avoidance, and that is very much me, and women tend more toward social support to cope, which is more her, although neither of us are any good at making and keeping friends. Socializing has always been hard for her, but she has learned scripts that I either can’t or won’t learn. In the end, I can easily see her as a high masking autistic woman, and me as a PITA male Aspie, but when she feels hurt by me being the way I am, I think about the double empathy studies, and wonder...mostly I think “really? Autistic people always get along? Allistic people don’t always get along.” Feels like it stretches credibility to suppose that autism is enough to consistently bridge the communication gap that often exists between men and women. Still I wonder, so your story offers me validation. My oversharing reply! :)

[@avnas90]

I am highly sensitive as well. I need to date/marry someone who has the same level of sensitivity as me, but also emotional intelligence as well... I have just recently come to terms with the fact that is incredibly unlikely to happen as a hetrosexual woman. So I guess I will remain single till I die😅.

[@christalintentions]

@@jimwilliams3816 Thank you for your transparency and for giving me some validation as well! You said something that I had to come to terms with. “Can’t or won't learn.” I finally had to realize that he had no desire to, and I was doing too much work accommodating, understanding, and excusing a lot of things under the guise of autism because I wanted to be with him. He also was initially diagnosed with Aspergers. The silver lining is, it’s how I got my diagnosis!😅 He became my special interest, and I went down all the rabbit holes trying to figure him out and understand him because he was constantly hurting my feelings and saying it was never his intention. I do believe that he was honest about that however he was making very little effort to mitigate that while I was working extra hard not to be affected and dismissing my own feelings. Anyway, Eventually, I came across how autism presents in women and 🤯! He initially thought I was empathic and a HSP, but come to find out ASD and ADHD. I promise I meant to be short! 😂

[@christalintentions]

@@avnas90 I wish I could be the one who says that's not the case, but I honestly feel the same way. A glimmer is now knowing that I'm autistic; I'm willing to bet that the men I've been in a serious relationship with are most likely on the spectrum. It makes so much sense now, but the problem is that when you get to be my age (40’s) and later diagnosed, I’ve learned/ been taught how to socialize. Men and women are socialized differently, so even though I can recognize that men in my previous relationships were most likely autistic, too, we still struggled. That’s not a glimmer of hope, after all.🥴 At least now, we are better equipped with information and awareness.

[@susanhunter9196]

​@@avnas90there is at least one neurodivergent dating/friend app. It's called Haiki. I haven't tried it. I've been married 3 times and, just recently diagnosed autistic/adhd at 62.😑

[@PedanticNo1]

I wish people wouldn't try to constantly talk to me at the office. If I actually tell people that I'm not interested in their weekend or any other non-work topic while I'm at work, i get labelled as problematic, not a team-player, or otherwise just sidelined for advancement. It's so frustrating! I excel when I'm left alone, but everybody wants to get their pound of socializing because they feel energized by socializing, while I feel drained. Why is it fair that i have to supplement their social needs?

[@Slytherkins]

Also, possibly relevant story: My (now ex) husband was not a native English speaker, and I lost count of how many times he misunderstood something I said because of that. But without fail, he'd instantly jump to the worst possible interpretation. He never gave me the benefit of the doubt, never paused when offended to ask himself, 'Have I misunderstood?' Nope. Bad faith every time. And that's exactly what I see in a lot of interactions between autistic and non-autistic people. NTs will almost unfailingly jump to the worst interpretations of autistic behavior and communication, even when they know the person they are talking to is autistic, when the behavior in question is usually neutral as worst, benign, and (from personal experience) often well intended. It leaves me scratching my head, like...of all the way you could have taken that, you *chose* to take it the worst way? Why? This is exhausting for all involved. You know I'm not a hateful person. If I say or do something that offends you, you should know it was either unintentional or that *you* have misunderstood. Because you know me, you should already know the negative interpretation is the wrong one. Like...work with me here, people. XD Walking on eggshells is so exhausting, just give me the benefit of the doubt.

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@Slytherkins cool story

[@Becktastic01]

I get tired every day. It’s mostly processing so much and trying not to make other people feel awkward. But let’s keep trying, everyone, because autism is becoming more well known. Maybe one day we can all communicate more graciously and considerately (sorry bad grammar). Thank you for this video.

[@canUfeelMYface]

Just about everyone on the planet gets tired every day

[@caraziegel7652]

I dont remember my parents directing me on how to be nice. Instead, they had fancy dinner parties with well educated adults and beamed with pride if i was able to participate intelligently in conversations. i did spend a LOT of time in school trying to figure out how not to get teased or dumped by friends.

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@caraziegel7652 and are you still getting teased?

[@caraziegel7652]

@@canUfeelMYface i'm 59 and mostly work from home in tech or tech-adjacent places. so not much. and yes i've gotten much better at masking. but i still dont really enjoy social situations where i'm constantly hyper-vigilant for doing something inappropriate or even subtly off-putting. wary of judgement.

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@caraziegel7652 dang. I'm sorry man. Thanks for responding.

[@sherry75baby]

My husband totally pinpointed why I love your videos so much, he said you remind him of Jason Sudakis' Ted Lasso character. I'm a bit obsessed with TL, so this definitely tracks. A great comparison!

[@dees3179]

If I’m forced to go into a cafe etc there are a couple of things I have found helpful: 1) many places now have their menu online. So if I know I am likely to have to go I will look it up ahead of time and work out what I might want, I always try and pick a few things because the thing I picked always seems to run out. And even if they have changed their menu in the meantime, I will at least be used to reading their house style and have a better chance of making a quick decision when I’m there. Most places won’t change everything in one go. 2) if you do have to ask for a menu change try and be strategic, ask for something that is realistic. Lots of food will come in prepared, they can’t take ingredients out - say onion in the base sauce . But things that are assembled on site they can just leave off the tomato for example. So I save myself hassle by not asking for impossible things when I do have to ask. 3) if I need to I will politely say ‘It takes me a little while to read, can you give me a minute while you serve someone else/get on with something else’ and step out of the way. Then the next step is for them. They would be quite rude to do anything else at that point. You as the customer have released them from the necessity of hovering over you while you dither about. As long as you do make a decision fairly quickly and don’t get distracted this should be a good approach. Maybe one of those might help someone a little feel more confident. I really hate dealing with ordering food, first I have to order it, then I have to eat it, then I have to pretend I liked it, then I have to pay hard earned money for it. All the time while making small talk and trying not to offend someone. It’s a nightmare. I absolutely agree with you that the burden of successfully communicating doesn’t lie solely on autistic people. Those who claim to be so good at it really need to step up and stop being so lazy.

[@NitFlickwick]

Maybe your best video yet. This topic has, of course, been covered by others, but I feel like you really nailed the most important points and how it affects both autistics and allistics, and did it in an easily understood way for all.

[@ritarevell7195]

I didn't realize until I was 68 that I was autistic. This information helped me think about troubled times in my past, and it suddenly all made sense. Rather than being shocked, it was more of a comfort to me. I'm adhd too. So, it just adds to the excitement of being neurodivergent. And when reading the DSM 5, I get so annoyed because their definitions make no sense to me.

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@ritarevell7195 blame it on my add

[@dielekyhn3159]

Flying under the radar and can’t really afford the $950 evaluation. Hate to put it on a credit card, but I do think the validation may be helpful. Your content, along with others, is very validating.

[@SandraT1107]

When there has been a communication break down with my other half, I find it best to wait and once things are calm, explain to the other person what my experience of the failed interaction was. Commonly my other half thinks they have vocalised a message but only thought it, then gets frustrated that I don't do what they expected. Not that I should always have to do what they expected. On my side, I appreciate it when the other person asks if it's ok for us to do something at a particular time. I may well have made other plans 😊

[@chapachuu]

Awesome video, thank you! I’m saving this to show to everyone who will listen. I’m sick of being berated and blamed for communication issues or social differences. There’s nothing wrong with me. We need a lot more awareness and education about neurodiversity in schools and in workplaces. Discrimination is against the law, but find me a single neurodivergent person who hasn’t been discriminated against.

[@rachaellawrence8635]

Eye contract is a cultural thing. I taught in a culture where averting one's eyes was a sign of respect. People who were talking with each other would often stand and look in the same direction rather than at each other. Yet, this gets used as a criterion for assessing one's neurological state.

[@timseguine2]

I find it difficult when I am told to communicate "more clearly", when I already use my language (and body language) way more precisely than most people around me. The potato example you gave is for me a good example of this. I think you were clear, precise and unambiguous. I can understand how your wife misunderstood, but even still in my opinion, the interpretation of you pointing directly contradicts other things you said. I would usually want someone to notice the discrepancy and ask about it. But NTs usually don't notice such small contradictions.

[@talscorner3696]

Ngl, at times resisting the temptation to just reply "I don't have the time to draw you a picture, so this will have to do" is *quite* difficult

[@jacobh9241]

Years ago I had a free "how to find a new job" seminar paid for by the company that laid all 600 of us off at the same time. The instructor was very harsh and insistent that I maintain eye contact during conversation while also maintaining conversational finesse. I can do either or, so I switched back and forth during conversation with her, but every time my eyes drifted so that I could maintain my train of thought, she would criticize me for losing eye contact. Infuriating!

[@jamesmonschke747]

Non-Verbal Communication is a whole field of study and one particular outcome from that research is that the meanings of various forms of non verbal communication vary so drastically across cultures that there is only one recognized non verbal communication that is recognized as universal across cultures and that is raising the eyebrows when recognizing somebody.

[@StuCheeks]

This is easily one of the very best explanations for communication issues I've experienced throughout my life. I recognized the double empathy concept a long time ago because it's always been a pain point being blamed for communication issues, but I didn't know until now that it has a name. I've experienced genuine confusion so many times because someone didn't understand me or I misunderstood something they said. Thank you for making this video!

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@StuCheeks do you have the disorder or is it the other person?

[@HumanStealth]

Damn. I've never felt more validated in my life.

[@seungminmakesmestay]

For real tho. I watched this at work and kinda wanted to cry at the end when he was saying it's not our fault when people don't understand you.

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@HumanStealth saf

[@benpearson49]

02:12 Good grief, I had so many problems with body language growing up. Eye contact and crossed arms especially. "Are you listening to me?", I would then repeat the last sentence verbatim, the I'd have an "attitude problem". Well, I didn't 5 minutes ago, but I do now. Also, "make eye contact", but "It's rude to stare". I failed more than one job interview because I didn't make enough eye contact or I stared into his soul and freaked him out. (Although, my worst interview was with a lady that didn't speak English very well and when she asked "How you come to for help yourself?" I was stumped for an answer.)

[@wizardsuth]

When someone asks, "Are you listening to me?" they don't want an honest answer. It's an expression of frustration because they assume you aren't listening. When you prove them wrong it just makes them angrier. I find this kind of question annoying because its only purpose is to irritate the other person.

[@KFoxtheGreat]

I'm currently in the best relationship I've ever been in and it's with someone from a different country (UK and Denmark) who was raised with completely different social norms than me (raised in US) and I think the main reason is that we're both very open and direct in our communication. I know most of our conversations don't fall in with US social norms and he often jokes that I'm very British/Danish for an American (depending on the topic). All this to say, the comparison of autistic communication to varied cultural communication is accurate based on my experience and I appreciate this video 😊

[@elkeshultz4496]

As a young adult beginning to navigate more complex feelings in my relationships, I began describing our frustrations as a language barrier. I'm ADHD and autistic, most of my friends are ADHD. My assumption is that we would have an easier time communicating but, especially when big feelings are involved, we rarely understand each other. I am rarely understood at all I think. I'll still practice and rearrange words in my head to create presicely what i mean and it usually still fails. C'est Autistic vie.

[@RealBradMiller]

I will be like "So and so makes me uncomfortable, I'm going to remove myself from the situation when it happens." Or "I function in so and so way, and if this is a problem, let me know." And still... People agree, and then are astonished when I do so.

[@mlts9984]

10:30 my wife wanted us to go the therapy to help understand my autism. The therapist supposedly specializes in neurodivergence, but when I said I was worried my wife wants me to mask at home, he told me I should do that because it’s “giving her my best” like I do for my job.

[@heatherlewis4477]

I would beg to differ about autistics not having a problem communicating with other autistics. I have had quite a few problems communicating with certain autistics, especially when they failed to respect my personal boundaries. I let them know verbally when they invaded my personal space, but it seemed to me that they didn't understand that they were too close for comfort. I understand that that some autistics don't understand personal space, but it's extremely frustrating to have to tell someone repeatedly that they're too close to me.

[@TheSaneHatter]

I have endured EVERY SINGLE ONE of these problems, most memorably the problems with police and the "don't want to be here" assumption from my expression (from a supervisor at a badly-needed job where I was busting my ass). In many cases, the NTs I dealt with were so nasty about it, I wondered why I would even bother.

[@canUfeelMYface]

@@TheSaneHatter its everyone else that is the problem?

[@threeoaks8477]

My Yu’pik mother in law couldn’t understand why I freaked out whenever she’d show up at our house unannounced whenever she wanted. I couldn’t understand why she thought that was okay. Once she realized that I was autistic and I realized that in her upbringing in Alaska in the 1940s, you welcomed everyone anytime when they’re able to get out and visit, we got along much better😊 It took a lot of miscommunication before we we achieved more clear communication, like you illustrated in the potatoes-oil-skillet example! Potato, po-tah-toe, we finally got each other ❤️ She learned to give us a heads up call, and when she forgot, I just stayed in the bedroom guilt-free unless I had the bandwidth to socialize.

[@twentynineteen4687]

❤

[@psychonaut689]

When I was in school I remember being stumped in English lessons by the question "how has the author created tension in the following passage?" I would think "well he's got a pen and written some words on paper" knowing this really wasn't the answer but not knowing how to the answer the question, giving up in frustration and concluding that I didn't have the intelligence necessary to answer the question. When I became an English teacher (!) I had to teach myself how to answer the question. So it relates to the author's choice of nouns and verbs e.g. "the door screeched" instead of "the door made a noise", or witholding information about the man in the stort; we don't know who he is, what his name is etc. Simple stuff really when it's explained clearly. So this is what I would do for my pupils - tell them what I was looking for! I think people tend to assume that things like this are obvious - becoming aware of unacknowledged assumptions is important. Sometimes really simple obvious things can be missed. Like people need pointing in the right direction and once they can see what is expected of them they are good to go.

[@zara4529]

This entire video for me was like a "aha" moment. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your knowledge.

[@ChrisandDebby]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@EaselDiva]

I love how you easily list information in your videos.

[@OuchGrouch]

I have been (from the shower-armchair) thinking of the differences in expression and communication as being cultural differences so this is very validating - The thought process started when I noticed many non-native Australians saying they 'do not have a culture' because they simply don't see their own culture and are not introspective about it. I see a lot of these NA communication styles as being endemic to cultural practices (specifically Western cultural practices), but they are part of the unrecognised cultural practices that are assumed to be 'normal' and therefore 'universal'.

[@goatsandroses4258]

As you were talking, I was suddenly struck how culturally specific some of these "norms" actually are. There are countries where smiling is NOT considered appropriate all the time; people would think you are silly or showing too much levity. The same is true of eye contact. In some cultures, I think it can be considered disrespectful to look a superior in the eyes. While not being diagnosed as autistic until my 50s has been hard in many ways, in other ways I never had to be forced into as rigid of a subjective cultural mold or told that these practices were absolutely critical.

[@Nello187]

The examples of me.being misunderstood seem to be practically limitless... The most comkon ones for me are being presumed to be in the wrong or hiding something (in disciplinary settings), to be misunderstood now matter how careful I am with my word choice, to be called rude for what appears to be simply speaking, to be called arrogant/condescending for my careful choice of words qnd likely many more that I'm not thinking of at the moment.

[@RandomAFP]

"Stop arguing and trying to find loopholes in this perfectly clear rule!" "...I literally just asked you for clarification because it's too effing vague!"

[@amblingscout]

When I meet other autistic women, we get along fantastic - because we understand where we're coming from and the reasoning behind it. When I communicate with some NTs, they wrongfully assume that I'm criticizing them when I'm asking for clarification, or think that I'm being passive-aggressive if my tone isn't pitch shifted to the high heavens, despite what my words say. However, when I try to mask and use these NT communication styles, I'm told that I seem "phoney" and "insincere" - so I have no idea.

[@FlamingCockatiel]

Oh, man, I get so sick of people who think only 7 percent of what you mean is the meaning of the words you use.

[@KierenSummers]

Oh god. My biggest moment was a leader at work was very passionately complaining that nobody told him about a problem. I laughed in the meeting because i thought he was joking. Damn he wanted to kill me. I tried to explain that we faced the exact same problem in the same location every few months for the last 4 years.. but i realised he genuinely saw it as a new problem. He thought i was an arrogant d head after that. Edit: I asked multiple people. They all saw it as a new problem. Nobody saw the pattern. I was blown away.

[@bigbojangles4585]

I practice not assuming their intention and asking more clarifying questions myself. Also advocating for the difference and asking others to do the same instead of assuming mine. This video is great, I added it to my saved videos to show people when I need to, thank you!

[@SuperGingerBickies]

Thank you for your videos, Chris and Debby! They are refreshing and accurate. This episode punched me in the solar plexus because it reiterated what my counsellor (who is also Autistic) discussed and explained to me at our recent session!

[@OnlyinLA]

This subject matter is so important, and not discussed enough. I’ve been blamed in so many work situations for “communication issues” that were my fault cause I’m not a normie 😕it’s frustrating and makes me feel ostracized

[@springnicole]

The crazy thing is, If you have been high masking most of your life, you may not understand autistic communication yourself. You may keep trying to fit in and wonder why you can’t. And you may even try to impute wrong motives on another autistic person because of their communication style. This can get be so complex.

[@placeholder24678]

This is a great video, thanks. I'll show it to my wife to help improve our communication. She used to get really frustrated with my lack of communication skills and extended processing time but eventually got used to it...I think. I've only recently realised that I could be autistic and it's good to know that my way of communicating is okay and I'm not necessarily a social failure.

[@animuswonder]

ohhhh man. 11:39” being awkward might not always be the autistic person. have you considered that your attempts at forcing small talk might be awkward to an autistic person?” oh my god. this. this this this this small talk is so hard and awkward and i’m simply not capable of it. i always feel horrible when i’m just in silence with someone and they’re expecting me to say something. it’s horrible.

[@nunyaanderson8723]

I hope someone reads this entire comment.. I'm undiagnosed & videos on KZbin have been" turning on the lights" of understanding myself, like this one, have made me realize I've had this my whole life which is why my life has been so hard. My whole growing up I could've understand why I seemed to be so different. I love finding Chris bc he's so similar to me. Everyone saying you can't be adhd & autistic at the same time so it's awesome to finally find someone who is just like me! (Sometimes i like small talk bc it's an escape from deeper chats about things I'd rather avoid talking about) I'm 55. When you've been brought up in the area &v with the mid century grandparents type upbringing, you don't just learn to mask, it's "learning being normal & the way your supposed to be". There's so much my eyes are open to that if I was capable, i could go on forever about it. I used to excel in language & communication. I was fascinated as one of my special interests, as being taught i should be "well rounded"as a person, I have many, about language & origins of language, learning new ones(I taught myself some conversational German with a teacher edition text book as a kid). Now, I'm finding I'm losing our forgetting some of those "English class skills" I was such an expert at, like catching myself with run on sentences & fixing it so i don't. I do tend to be the opposite, I am picky on specific vocabulary to avoid miscommunication & prefer when I'm able(not in burnout) to build long intellectual debates or chit chatter talks. See? There i go...I digress.. My main POINT, I can't find any place here in MI to GET a diagnosis. I need help to find it & can't get the help either. No one will help or like this comment section, lack of ability to contact to tell me if they did have a suggestion of a place. Thx 4 reading it. Ik it was probably very long or it seems that way when I write something then sometimes I will read it myself too proofread and really wasn't at all. Guess that's autistic traits too?😂

[@nelliebly6616]

I struggle,all the time,to find reasons to go out....I just want to be alone at home...or with my,adult,kids....only shopping for food...

[@bellamango6708]

interesting that a flat face for me is comfort, and smiling is discomfort. I smile and it looks very fake and forced when Im stressed or freaked out or uncomfortable and dont know what to do, its involuntary and ppl misread me a lot and dont take me seriously bc i cant stop. seriously. I'll smile until my face fucking hurts just bc im having to be around someone who scares me.

[@siminarae]

This has been the story of my life, even prior to diagnosis. At work, I get blamed a lot for miscommunications no matter how well I articulate or craft messages. I’m dating a fellow autistic now and find we have considerably fewer communication challenges.

[@fariesz6786]

i'd like to add that your thought experiment about "a country where [autistic behaviours are the norm]" isn't even a hypothetical. for instance: here in Germany, habitually striking up smalltalk with a stranger just _is not a thing._ sure, it _can_ happen if there is something to hook onto, but you usually go months without that happening. plus we are said to be much more direct. many East Asian cultures famously also tend to be uncomfortably direct in _some_ respects (asking for your age, talking about bodyweight or beauty) while they are famously even more indirect than Americans in a lot other respects. some cultures don't value eyecontact at all. there was even this one (CIA?) profiler i once saw (i think on WIRED) saying eyecontact doesn't give you any clues as to whether a person is lying or anything. then again, Germans are even more obsessed with eyecontact than Americans and i often feel like people want to gouge my eyes out with their gaze (i really dislike that). and even they exact way a learnt behaviour is done can vary. of course i was often told to "smile a little more" but still the resting bish face is not uncommon here. and while both Americans and Japanese smile a lot, they come across totally different - at least for me personally the Japanese smile, while i don't "buy" it, doesn't nearly feel as outright creepy as the typical American smile (statistically speaking of course)

[@FlamingCockatiel]

Vielen Dank! So many people here in the US say they're multicultural but never get it through their heads that other countries aren't the US with a different language and can't seem to accept behaviors common in the cultures you mention if they crop up in the US. Ich habe deutsche Vorfahrer. Vielleicht habe ich den deutschen Ernst bekommen...

[@michaelwilliams4840]

OMG, I freakin love this page and am so glad I found you. I was diagnosed with ASD and ADHD last year at 58 years old. Since then, I have immersed myself in everything I can find about both disorders, and your page explains ASD so concisely and understandable, that I am sharing it with my entire family because I can't explain it in a way they get. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@ChrisandDebby]

This comment made our day!!! So glad you found us too and that our content is helpful for you and your family. We're still learning a lot as we go, but your message is a good reminder of the exact reason why we started this channel. Also if there's specific topics you'd suggest that we cover here, feel free to email us!

[@CRF0510]

I’m so grateful for autistic adults like you sharing your experiences and understanding, helps me with my own autistic child and our interactions! The other day he was very direct with his language about telling me how and what to make for his lunch so I was trying to explain how words like I would like or could you please do soften his message and he responded with he never means to be rude but his words always come out that way 💔 so I need to make sure he knows that we understand he’s just being direct with us and not rude.

[@Dracocetus]

I feel like calling it slow processing time is also wrong in a way, because I feel like I just need to process more. So the time to process the same amount might be the same but people with autism might have more factors to weight against each other to figure out what is the right thing to say.

[@jeffkunce8501]

That's a good way to put it: *more* processing. Also, for me, converting it into speech is the only slow part. I'm often way ahead of the other person in processing, but my thoughts aren't in words that are directly connected to my mouth.

[@Dracocetus]

@@jeffkunce8501 Yeah, I feel like that as well 😅

[@AppaStappa]

I’m a successful autistic man, I made it to upper management and on my way to corporate!

[@FlamingCockatiel]

Way to go! Wherever you land, please make sure to get policies in place to help other autistics find gainful employment at your company. The job search is extra stressful with neurodivergence.

[@jennenny87]

To be fair, at least in the US, people 100% DO punish people from other countries for not communicating/interacting exactly how they do. I and every other person who immigrated as a kid has had experiences of being judged, ostracized, bullied and even literally punished (by adults, too, not just other kids) for simply not knowing some completely unspoken "rule" of social interaction that "everyone knows." Even if you figure out what's going on and try to explain why the miscommunication has occurred, many people are not particularly understanding and don't feel that they should have to make any allowances at all for people who are different. Even if they say they're welcoming, their actions often reveal that they expect perfect assimilation and will definitely treat you worse if you can't fit that mold.

[@Cymonie1]

Wow, I don't know where you live, but I've never encountered 100% of people in the US punishing non-native English speakers. There are always some nasty people and I'm sure they do make an extreme impression on a newcomer who is trying their best. I'm sorry you have had such a hard time here. I live in a very ethnically diverse neighborhood and have never seen what you describe. I hope you can find a place where you feel more accepted.

[@orangeziggy348]

my therapist told me she felt i wasnt listening to her simply bc i looked away when i answered her questions. I Told her it actually helped me to think and listen better and therefore answer her better when i looked away.