Why NT's May Struggle To Understand Autism.

Post Reply New Topic

I am speaking generally here, and I am introducing the subject from my own understanding which maybe different to others, because I don't know if I am autistic or not, and it is quite recently that I have been finding out things about myself as before that I just didn't know what was going on except it was rather like living as an adults life as a child? What I mean by this is not that I am childlike, but cast your days back to your childhood when you were in school, and one teacher would come in to speak to your teacher, they would purpously talk quietly when children were around... I often get this as an adult. My youngest brother even does this to me and has done among his friends for many years... I don't really mind, but I get the feeling that if I had a definate NT character I would be included in conversations. But because I have autistic traits or maybe I am just different (?) I find it is as if I am treated as a child in this way even though I am an adult for many years. It is as if NT's who are socially normal believe I don't understand or see that I don't fit in and therefore communicate among themselves without thinking that people like me are also wanting to communicate?

Now another big aspect as far as NT's are concerned who were brought up in my generation were that we rarely knowingly come into contact with anyone we knew who were classed as autistic as anyone autistic were whisked away to special schools (Which is understandable as I know full well how difficult my schooling was... Trying to cope etc.. Trying to sit there with my hands over my ears when the teacher left the classroom and all the children became noisy.... and many other similar situations).... Well... Somehow in life, even me who does not fit in society but for nearly all my life didn't realize I had autistic traits.. Well. We would only really notice the most severe cases, where one would have a mindset automatically assuming that everyone on the autistic spectrum is the same.

Also, generally, I believe people in general tend to think of a condition as a single condition in their minds? They don't think "Spectrum". This can cause frustration from those with various conditions, where they may not be obviously struggling?

Now a month or two ago we had visitors. The wife is a teacher. Now the conversation came up where I mentioned about the mind and while I didn't directly imply I may have autistic traits, I did say a few things and eventually said I am on a list to be referred, and though she has not met me before, as it was her husband I met... It was the first time I met her. And she said "You are not on the autistic spectrum. Autistic people are dissabled. Her perception about autism is like mine had been up until I had met and dated my last girlfriend (Who was classed as having asperges syndrome (High functioning autism?)) when I realized that there was more to the autistic spectrum then the most severe cases.

Now this is the problem. Because not many NT's and undiagnosed autistic people know much about what autism actually is, and even if one watches a youtube video, they may relate to either a severe case, or one persons experiences of having the condition (Which maybe completely different to the experiences of many others on the spectrum (Which is why for ages I believed I was likely to be classed as sitting on the fence between not being autistic but not classed as an NT either, but with all the recent pressures I have been through I have been rather fragile of late, so my view of myself is that I am likely to be on the spectrum, especially as I have been examining my life in the last few weeks...)... So it is never easy for someone to know what autism actually is, especially from the point of view of someone who does not have it. It can be hard enough for the undiagnosed autistic people to fathom out where they stand.

So very briefly, from what I have learnt, what is autism? How do I define it?

[Now this is from what I have learnt through my recent zeal to find out all about the subject].

Autism is where a conection or many connections in the brain do not work, and therefore one has issues in certain areas of ones life, and for most people, the brain has compensated through these lack of connections where the brain then develops very strongly in other areas... It is the reason why some people can struggle to look after themselves and yet could be a complete genius in other areas... I say could... Not all on the spectrum are ultra intelligent in specific areas, and many maybe well below average intelligence in all areas etc.
While most autistic people (Asperges is classed in with autism these days so when I say autism I am referring to both conditions) have been autistic since birth whether they knew it or not, some people can end up autistic after an accident where some of their brain connections have been effective.
Now add to this, that due to these missing connections, or maybe altered connections, in certain situations in life ones brain may have such a difficulty in coping that it will start to overload and this can cause meltdowns and shutdowns in their various forms.

I think of meltdowns as the brain can't take any more and screams out for help! "AHHHHHHHHH!"

I think of shutdowns as the brain cant cope and starts to switch off systems be it in one or two areas, or even decide to switch them all off, which can look like a faint where ones body has simply shut down.

(Both meltdowns and shutdowns come in various forms).


Now my above descriptions may not be entirely the whole picture, but I hope it is along the right lines so any reading this who may not know, can begin to understand the gist of what autism actually is.