WP is filling my head with BS

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I don't think I've gotten worse since finding this site, just slightly more comfortable in reading about other people's experiences and how similar they are to mine.

Spending too long in that comfort zone I don't think is a good idea, but sometimes you just need a reminder that there are people going through the same kind of things, if only to serve as a lifejacket to keep you from going under completely.

Listening to unwell people like me....

I don't think I got worse when I started on WP.
I became more aware of the actions I was already doing. Sometimes, becoming aware of something makes it stand out more, and thinks can seem to be worse when real, there's nothing that has changed.

Another thing is, I relaxed the act. I did what I naturally want to do, instead of pulling it in. When I started that, my suicidal thoughts went away - and people could notice the difference in my face and demeanor.
So yes, in a way, my actions were more intense. For example, I paid attention to my stims and found another one that I like.

Another thing one has to consider is that moods can make behavior change. I have been depressed, so it has been easier for me to be overstimulated, and has made putting on a social act much more difficult.

Lastly, we have to remember that when people get around similar company, they let loose on their behavior. It's natural. It's not pretending - it's assimilating within reasonable bounds to a comfortable level. Since we're autistic, we have no trouble acting that way when we have a community to relate to. Without that community, we tend to hide our behavior.

Those are my theories.

If you let something become your crutch, that would become a problem. Such as, if you're reading this site too much, you start thinking "I can't be emphatic because of AC" or "I can't have a job because of AS." Obviously neither of those things are true, and thus WP has filled your head with b.s. If you ignore the bad, it's fine. Just don't fall into the trap of self-pity and failing to take responsibility for your own life.

And, any site could become a waste of time if you spend too much time on it. Short amounts of time can be informative, whereas hours on end could be a waste. Same with video games. Playing a video game for an hour is fun, but playing a video game 8 hours day is an unproductive waste of time/life (unless you're a video programmer getting paid to test video games all day long).

I can't say for sure that I've gotten worse since I've started visiting WP. I can say, however, that I've become more aware of my behavior and my aspie traits since I found WP, though. It was kind of weird at first, because I was so tuned into my actions that I found it really difficult to focus on anything else. It's only been recently that I've settled back into something resembling normal for me.

All you can do is explain to your daughter the hidden laws of social relating, as you've been doing. If she has a period of time (especially teenage years or mid-life crisis) when she chooses to disregard them, it doesn't matter. The info you're giving her now will be invaluable forever. It's crucial for survival to know the rules as soon as possible in life, regardless of how much she decides to pretend in order to try and fit in with them. If I'd had a mother like you, who had told me the rules, regardless of how much I'd decided to pretend / fit in or be my aspie self, my life would be a million times better. As it is, I was in my forties when I discovered, after giving my whole life to it, the rules I wish my mother had told me at 8. That was after I'd lost many dream-jobs and opportunities in life. I'd tend to believe she'll apply the rules when something important to her is at stake like a dream job. The KNOWING is what makes all the difference, because that's the part we're stupid at. We're NOT stupid as to doing what's in our best interest, rest assured.

I hope I've managed to convey how extremely important and beneficial what you're doing is for your daughter's future, regardless what path she chooses in life and what values. Information like "people don't like it when someone..." or "someone may try to prey on you if you divulge..." change the autistic's life radically. I was over 40 when I discovered that there are unsaid rules of relating among humans, and it was too late for everything for me. That won't happen to your daughter. Congratulations to you.

The reality is that sometimes it can be a bad thing.

Everything could be a bad thing...... me, you, our mothers and fathers, food, sex, spirituality, dogs and cats, you name it, it could be bad

often dependent on user [your doing it all wrong]

I did WP wrong this week....

Following up on my previous post...the one thing I have picked up from WP involves new stims. Like, I flap my hands now. I don't remember flapping before. (If I did, it was a subconscious thing that I wasn't really aware of.)

I remember once I get told I was getting obsessed with WP. When it's the only way you can really share your feelings with people who can relate you tend to want to spend a lot of time on it.

I remember changing my behaviour after I was diagnosed too and it does go and like Callista said, you do fall into a more natural mode. I have had a lot of complications with medication and stress which has set me back a bit. I stim more now and have severe sensory issues all because of anxiety and strobe lights.

I don't come on WP too often because I feel my social skills have developed so much I don't need to be here as much. Sometimes I find I can't be tolerable of those who are still learning.

My parents are fairly supportive of me being on here because they've spent the most time with me and know I'm on the autism spectrum. They knew I was unhappy about being different and not knowing 'why', so they're happy I've discovered people with the same problems. My sister makes fun of it, though, and says I don't have Aspergers. I think she resents me a bit because she doesn't have the same problems and therefore didn't get as much attention when growing up. Sorry, sis.