• Have you ever been told you ‘can’t be autistic’ because of something you can do or have achieved? I’ve had people say I couldn’t be autistic because I managed to hold down a teaching career for 12 years. But all those years of masking at work took a massive toll on me, and I gave up teaching twice - both times due to clinical depression (the second time, in 2015, was for good). I’m so much happier now - I’m self employed and to a large extent I get to choose if and when I interact with people! 😊 #autisticmemes #autisticadults #autism #autisticteacher #actuallyautistic #aspergers #aspergirl #womenonthespectrum
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    Have you ever been told you ‘can’t be autistic’ because of something you can do or have achieved? I’ve had people say I couldn’t be autistic because I managed to hold down a teaching career for 12 years. But all those years of masking at work took a massive toll on me, and I gave up teaching twice - both times due to clinical depression (the second time, in 2015, was for good). I’m so much happier now - I’m self employed and to a large extent I get to choose if and when I interact with people! 😊 #autisticmemes #autisticadults #autism #autisticteacher #actuallyautistic #aspergers #aspergirl #womenonthespectrum
  • Who else is frustrated by being deemed to be (or actually diagnosed as) ‘high functioning’? My official NHS diagnosis says “...at the higher end of the spectrum”. Which presumably means that because I’ve got a reasonable IQ and I’ve been able to achieve certain things (a degree, full time employment, marriage) my autism doesn’t look ‘that bad’ to NT professions. But it doesn’t say anything about the masking, the exhaustion, the burnout or the endless struggle just to do things that NTs consider normal/easy/part of life... #autism #actuallyautistic #femaleonthespectrum #womenonthespectrum #femaleautism #autisticmasking #highfunctioningautism #functioninglabels #functioninglabelsareuseless #nothingaboutuswithoutus #aspergers #aspergirl
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    Who else is frustrated by being deemed to be (or actually diagnosed as) ‘high functioning’? My official NHS diagnosis says “...at the higher end of the spectrum”. Which presumably means that because I’ve got a reasonable IQ and I’ve been able to achieve certain things (a degree, full time employment, marriage) my autism doesn’t look ‘that bad’ to NT professions. But it doesn’t say anything about the masking, the exhaustion, the burnout or the endless struggle just to do things that NTs consider normal/easy/part of life... #autism #actuallyautistic #femaleonthespectrum #womenonthespectrum #femaleautism #autisticmasking #highfunctioningautism #functioninglabels #functioninglabelsareuseless #nothingaboutuswithoutus #aspergers #aspergirl
  • How much do you mask? Like many autistic women I’ve been masking my autistic traits my whole life. I’m honestly not sure where the masking ends and I begin! It’s automatic. The only place I feel truly myself is at home on my own, and with my wife, where thankfully I’m 100% supported and there’s no need to mask or pretend. But I know that masking in public and in social situations takes a toll on me - and means that my autism usually isn’t recognised or taken into account. Makes every interaction feel exhausting! Do you find this? #actuallyautistic #autisticwoman #aspergirl #aspieproblems #aspiewomen #autism #adultautism #autisticmasking #femaleautism
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    How much do you mask? Like many autistic women I’ve been masking my autistic traits my whole life. I’m honestly not sure where the masking ends and I begin! It’s automatic. The only place I feel truly myself is at home on my own, and with my wife, where thankfully I’m 100% supported and there’s no need to mask or pretend. But I know that masking in public and in social situations takes a toll on me - and means that my autism usually isn’t recognised or taken into account. Makes every interaction feel exhausting! Do you find this? #actuallyautistic #autisticwoman #aspergirl #aspieproblems #aspiewomen #autism #adultautism #autisticmasking #femaleautism