To me to say I have creativity or I am creative say the same thing To say I have autism or I am autistic say the same thing or do you think people hear it differently? Neither way does it imply that being autistic is all you are, at least to me. But it gets tricky because although I can say I have ADHD there isn't a form for ADHD where I can say I am ADHDistic Oh well--not sure of the point I am making
This was interesting for me to read. Many of the things you listed would be reasons why I say I'm autistic rather than I have autism. But I'd also say I am creative. I am full of integrity. I relate to claiming these things as part of my identity instead things that might come.
I also think that we all have full rights to think of ourselves, and express who we are, in the way that makes sense to each of us. I don't believe there is a right and a wrong in this conversation. 😊
Your interpretation of Buddhism and the other things that you mention are completely valid for you. I would just interpret them differently for me. The same things would bring up something different for me than it appears they do for you. That's all. I see autism as one of the ways I explain the way my brain functions. The fact that there is some kind of ebb and flow to certain things doesn't change, for me, the belief that this is my identity rather than something that occasionally comes upon me. If I say I have something, I feel that that means it can be taken away from me. If I say I am something, then that can never change. I don't personally believe that I can ever not be autistic, or that any change to my circumstances will take away being autistic. For me, I say I am autistic because autism and I are one and the same thing. ADHD and I are one in the same thing. Dyslexia and I are one in the same thing. All of it mixed together is who I am. These are the reasons I see the world the way I do, the reasons I respond to things the way I do, process things the way I do, and feel the way I do. There are things that have been added to me, like PTSD. So I don't say I'm PTSD. PTSD is something that can be changed and even removed. Autism isn't. It is now, always has been, and always will be who I am at my very core.
To me to say I have creativity or I am creative say the same thing To say I have autism or I am autistic say the same thing or do you think people hear it differently? Neither way does it imply that being autistic is all you are, at least to me. But it gets tricky because although I can say I have ADHD there isn't a form for ADHD where I can say I am ADHDistic Oh well--not sure of the point I am making
I know a multitude of people who hear it differently, to the point of being defensive and arguing that my perspective is wrong.
This was interesting for me to read. Many of the things you listed would be reasons why I say I'm autistic rather than I have autism. But I'd also say I am creative. I am full of integrity. I relate to claiming these things as part of my identity instead things that might come.
I also think that we all have full rights to think of ourselves, and express who we are, in the way that makes sense to each of us. I don't believe there is a right and a wrong in this conversation. 😊
Can you explain why what I've written reinforces calling yourself 'autistic'? I'm very curious about that.
Your interpretation of Buddhism and the other things that you mention are completely valid for you. I would just interpret them differently for me. The same things would bring up something different for me than it appears they do for you. That's all. I see autism as one of the ways I explain the way my brain functions. The fact that there is some kind of ebb and flow to certain things doesn't change, for me, the belief that this is my identity rather than something that occasionally comes upon me. If I say I have something, I feel that that means it can be taken away from me. If I say I am something, then that can never change. I don't personally believe that I can ever not be autistic, or that any change to my circumstances will take away being autistic. For me, I say I am autistic because autism and I are one and the same thing. ADHD and I are one in the same thing. Dyslexia and I are one in the same thing. All of it mixed together is who I am. These are the reasons I see the world the way I do, the reasons I respond to things the way I do, process things the way I do, and feel the way I do. There are things that have been added to me, like PTSD. So I don't say I'm PTSD. PTSD is something that can be changed and even removed. Autism isn't. It is now, always has been, and always will be who I am at my very core.
I hope that answers your question.
Got it 👍