![]() Note- the DSM ONLY indicates impairment when it affects other people or jobs, but not when it's a daily issue that we learn to live with.Į- It's not due to intellectual disability. ![]() Sometimes, they only show up when we're stressed and let our guards down.ĭ- These traits cause other people distress. For instance, we might go outside without a coat because we're too focused on the mission at hand.Ĭ- We're born with these traits, but learn how to mask them. This is an phenomenon called Monotropism, an intense focus that’s common for autistic people. Sometimes, however, we may feel things less intensely because we tune them out in favor of other stimuli. It's a level of enjoyment that neurotypical people cannot experience due to the lack of connections.Ĥ- Hyper or hyporeactivity to stimuli- Again, due to hyperconnections, we feel things more intensely. Routines and expectations give comfort to overwhelmed autistic people.ģ- SPecial INterests (SPINs)- Due to hyperconnected brains, autistic people feel more passionately about what we love, so when we have a special interest, we tend to fawn over and fixate on it. Autistic people do not have a sensory filter, so the world is perceived as a constant state of chaos. *Note- this criteria is reversed scored at Comic-Con, in a comic shop or gaming store, or when around other autistic people.ī) Repetitive behavior or interests as evidenced by at least two of the following:ġ- Stimming or engaging in echolalia (the repetition of words or phrases found interesting and quotable by the autistic person)Ģ- Security in routines. So, with that said, I'll break down the DSM criteria into more neurodiversity-accepting language:Ī- DIFFERENT social communication and interaction as evidenced by the following:ġ- Differences in communication, tendency to go off on tangents, tendency to talk passionately about special interests, and tendency to not engage in small talk.Ģ- Differences in nonverbal communication, including stimming while talking, looking at more interesting things while talking, and being bored in conversation because we'd rather be doing something else.ģ- Due to the above differences in communication, autistic people tend to be shunned by neurotypicals and therefore are conditioned to believe that we're somehow less social. ![]() We have way more synapses than neurotypicals, and it influences EVERYTHING. ![]() The DSM is problematic in that it's ableist, and vaguely describes autistic traits.ĮVERYTHING about autism comes down to neurology- we have hyperconnected brains. I thought it might be an idea to discuss further how the DSM criteria differs from the autistic experience. I do psychological evaluations, consults, and therapy with autistic people, because I'm autistic, myself. ![]()
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