Thought experiment: would you mind stepping up in severity?

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Although the queston is theoretically interesting, I can't really answer.I'm a mother. Being lower functioning would make it harder on me and I would be less capable. I often feel like being more autistic, in the sense of indulging in certain behaviors, but I force myself out of it for my children.

I guess my answer goes: if it was only me, I could face being more severe. But since my life and state directly impacts my children, whom I love and am ultimately responsible for, I couldn't afford it.

I do daydream of a slightly more autistic reality though. This doesn't feel entirely natural.

Autie up topic

Not if I had to surrender my rapier wit.

(I am already physically low functioning, what with my co-existing conditions.)

It might be easier for me if I could move either a little higher or a little lower on the spectrum. As I posted in another thread:

"I can pass for NT well enough when I put a ton of effort into it (which has exacerbated my anxiety disorder and has led to my recent burnout, as I've mentioned in other posts). Sometimes I wish I were lower-functioning, because some people don't believe that I am on the spectrum."

Being a little more obviously autistic might mean people would cut me a little more slack and not get angry or exasperated when I screw up socially or when I have to decline an invitation somewhere because I'm just too peopled-out to handle any more interaction. On the other hand, being less autistic might mean that I could go more places and do more things without getting exhausted so easily.

I am classified with "moderate" AS (as opposed to mild or severe). It truly sucks to be so close and yet so far from where I wish I could be. But as the great philosopher Popeye once said, "I am what I am," so I just keep working on ways to accept myself and just be the best ME that I can be!

One more thing: It would also be easier if my intellect more closely matched my degree of AS, whether that meant keeping the autism level I have now and not being as smart, or keeping the same IQ and being higher on the spectrum (or even NT). This feeling of my mind being trapped inside itself is sometimes absolutely intolerable.

I would probably like it better, since I wouldn't care that I don't have any friends.

I am sure my family would not be able to afford a group home, and I would end up having to live with my parents...and as much as I love my parents, the idea does not really appeal to me...I won't go into the reasons why..
As it stands, with what faculties I have and what with the cost of living is today...that would be one of my main options if I didn't have SHFL and I was not lower on the spectrum.

Never really cared about it. I know myself and those labels won't affect me. BTW, I got accused of having paranoid schizophrenia by my classmates because of talking to myself oftentimes.

Well geeze! That makes no sense at all! If a lower-functioning person has a creative obsession, then in theory and with some direction and assistance, they could possibly use it to help earn their living...that's insane that they would stifle people's talent like that...what are they trying to do...completely crush their spirit?

My point was that I would only opt to be "lower-functioning" if I were in an imaginary ideal scenario..where I would be able to nurture my obsessions...but that would be contingent on my still being able to have my obsessions..

Definitely not. I'm already so incredibly limited in my ability to function "normally" that being any worse would be absolutely terrible. Though it doesn't seem, or feel like it, I've made some pretty great strides the past 3-5 years or so & I wouldn't want to go back to that level or worse. I can barely handle life now.

well a slight inclination of the cranium is as adequate as a spasmodic movement of one optic directed toward an equine quadruped devoid of it's visionary capacity.

(a nod is as good as a wink to a blind mule)

No.

I want my brain the way it is. Not neurotypical, and not some other kind of autism. Being more autistic wouldn't be me any more than some theoretical NT self would be.

That, and it wouldn't be safe. It's not the increase in "severity" that would be the problem. It would be the extreme vulnerability that came with it. I'm already just barely able to live on my own; and I'm not in a situation where becoming unable to live independently would be at all safe. Most likely, it would shorten my life considerably.

There are lots of people who are in that exact same situation. It's dangerous to be disabled. Your life isn't considered to be worth nearly enough. People want to take your rights away so you'll be easier for them to handle.

This is why we have to fight for the rights of ALL autistic people--not just Aspies, and not just people who can use language. And, for that matter, not just autistic people. Disabled people in general have this problem, whether it's physical or cognitive or psychological or all three. Disability shouldn't be an excuse for people to treat you like dirt, but it is; and until we solve that problem, it won't be safe to be autistic.

Sometimes I wish I was more LF so I didn't have to care about socializing, look for work or try to become more independent. But then my mum and siblings would just get so stressed with me. I can see my dad (R.I.P) giving up on me completely and my mum pulling her hair out and my siblings yelling at me and calling me stupid.
I knew some kids with a disabled brother and they were always telling him to shut up. I felt like punching those little sods. I think he was autistic. I'm not sure which end of the spectrum he was on.