Arid Talks Autism

@aridthecat | 24 | #ActuallyAutistic furry | Tweets about autism with some other mental health mixed in? | Diagnosed at 3 but not told until 15

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

How do furry and autism relate?

-Fantasy and/or escapism of being another creature
-Alternate mode of self-expression
-Hugs, cuddles and affection for those who are largely starved of such
-Fursuits as a method of unmasking
-Fursuits for their textures
-Special interest groups

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@Autistic_Lauren Yes, at least nowadays

[Libriscent @libriscent]

Person: “You’ve always been so independent.”

Autistic person: “No. I just learned not to ask for help.”

Person: “Why?”

Autistic person: “Because needing support was treated like a character flaw.”

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@Autistic_Lauren I completely lose my mind when this happens!!

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@libriscent Growing up, "just talk to people" always either didn't work or made things worse for me

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@Autistic_Lauren For the longest time I've been doing just this

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@Human3Billion @Autistic_Lauren Neurotypical communication is often so aimless and counterproductive. It's exhausting

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@Autistic_Lauren Always hated when we're supposed to "just know" when a question is rhetorical

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@be_like_ice Things not going 100% to plan
Spilling a drink
Not getting a direct answer

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@Autistic_Lauren I had what I believe is a fairly common autistic experience. I wanted friends, but couldn't make them as a kid or teen as I was clueless on how to interact with my mostly NT peers
But now as an adult, I've explored myself, found my niche and made plenty of genuine friends

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@AutisticCoach_ And it can be so so hard when we're taught that our needs aren't important, are childish, selfish, burdensome to others, and that's what gets internalized over many years. And that feels near impossible to shake off
But so rewarding when you've worked towards it

[‏ً @omgsidewalks]

i think autistic people are often mistaken for being argumentative and needing to be right, when in reality, it's more about needing the information to be CORRECT... because we get overwhelming anxiety when we're convinced that it isn't.

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@Autistic_Lauren Not that I recall, but the fear of exactly this is why it rarely happens

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@Autistic_Lauren About 9 1/2 years

[No Nonsense Neurodivergent @NoNonsenseND]

The autistic experience of treating people like adults when they are children

[luc@ @cisnistr]

autistic people be like "i know a place" and it's their own bedroom

[Libriscent @libriscent]

The autistic realization that you can’t do anything with people around because being watched even casually feels physically unbearable.

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@Autistic_Lauren Yes

[Arid Talks Autism @AnAutisticFurry]

@NoNonsenseND This but in my case, having the diagnosis hidden from me until 15