Not sure who else feels this way, but growing up I was taught to hide my autism, that it was a ‘problem’ And that I had to be as ‘normal’ as possible. Can anyone else relate? I can’t hardly disclose my condition to anyone, and when I do I feel this immense shame for sharing my ‘weakness’ and making myself vulnerable. How do you handle shame, how do you get the courage to openly say “I have autism” as though it’s not one of the worst things that could come out of your mouth?

Sorry if this offends anyone, I’m working on my self acceptance and is genuinely perplexing to me when I see an autistic person own their condition. Like how do you not fear that everyone who hears you isn’t just going to beat the living crap out of you for being different?