This is a place for autistic people to share stories, seek advice, and just be your excellent autistic self!
How much do you share?
Hey everyone! I was just curious if people feel comfortable talking about how often they share the fact that they are autistic with other people.
Personally it's something I usually keep to myself because most people assume I'm nuerotypical (obviously for some people passing as nuerotypical isn't an option, but since I can do it I sometimes hide behind it a bit) and I get worried they'll think I'm lying if I say anything. The only people who really know are my closest friends and a few others here and there.
How many other people have these same problems? Or are you more comfortable sharing your autism with other people? How have people reacted when they find out?




i tell everyone everywhere because that is who i am, telling everyone everywhere everything. i just can't shut up. so idk. i also have funny t-shirts that allow people to conclude that i am autistic. i like it. if people don't like it they can just leave me alone.
I've gotten more open with people over time, especially with friends and people who also have brain differences. I'd also be open to telling people when telling would explain a difference in my behavior that they might otherwise interpret as being anti-social, rude, or disinterested.
I generally tell people I'm autistic whenever it is relevant. I was more closed off about it until a few years ago, when I started to, idk, see my autism in a different light I guess.
People who have experience with autistic people are generally like "yeah i suspected as much", other people don't seem to really have a response? But I don't know if it's because they are uncomfortable or if it's because they don't really care either way.
Anyone who asks, when they think I have some kind of problem.
I've come to be fine, as I wear it as part of my identity. I think people who can't understand, even if I explain to them don't worth I stay around them. I made thing a lot easier to me once I had my diagnosis.
Most people don't even know what the spectrum is. They know the word because of the slurs/insults. I tell them what it means to me. But I feel like only a very few are able to understand.
I tell people in job interviews (otherwise they just think I'm distant or uninterested, which all but guarantees I won't get the job). It's harder in social contexts - my Facebook friends can probably see I'm a member of a few autistic communities, but I don't know if or when to go out and actually tell them.
In social contexts, I tell people once I'm comfortable enough with them and it comes up naturally in conversation. Most, if not all, of my friends who aren't just casual-group-hanging-out-type friends know. (Edit:) Most of my friends have their own brain stuff going on (mental illness/ADHD/etc), and pretty much once I find that out, I feel comfortable telling them if it comes up.
I used to worry about people accusing me of lying, but the only people who have said "you don't seem autistic" to me were other people in therapy programs with me. Which actually made it feel a lot worse, because it felt like they should know better than to pull that crap, you know?
I was diagnosed about three and a half years ago, so it wasn't a thing I grew up knowing about myself, either. Most of my extended family knows at this point, but it took me a long time to figure out how and when I wanted to disclose to them.
Otherwise, if I need disability accommodations, I'll mention it, but no one else really needs to know.
I usually only tell people if I'm very comfortable with them. I have the same fear you do that people will accuse me of lying. I haven't had it happen yet, though. Most of the reactions I've gotten have been perfectly fine - 'really? Okay, can you explain that a little better to me?' etc. Basically well-meaning attempts to understand me a little better, which I appreciate.
On the flip side, there are certain people I haven't told and likely will never tell. It's people I've been around for a while and I realize that they're not going to understand what it means that I'm autistic. I'm still able to have meaningful friendships with them, it's just not something that ever comes up.
i was diagnosed relatively late after having year and years of problems and even though getting the diagnosis helped me understand myself better i still feel a slight hesitancy to actually tell people. but i recently participated in a project in my community and i told them right away and it helped me avoid awkwardness when i had a couple of meltdowns.