Struggles that I still have as a low supports need autistic
Being a Low support needs autistic isn’t an “immunization” towards struggle with autism.
Problem of overlooking low support needs autistics
It irks me that low support needs autistics are repeatedly overlooked in terms of getting support and help. I don’t think this is done with malicious intent as it’s easier to focus on support for medium and high support autistics who do need more support. I also don’t want to diminish autistics who do need more support than I do. There’s many autistics who won’t be able to do things like work a job, drive a car, or live on their own. There’s even some autistics who are nonverbal and need things like an AAC device to communicate. All autistic experiences are valid.
I am very privileged to be able to work a job, drive a car, and live independently and there’s many autistics who can’t do these things. However, this doesn’t mean that I still don’t struggle as an autistic person. This doesn’t mean that I don’t have unique needs or areas I need support in as an autistic person.
Doctors or support workers can unintentionally gaslight lower support autistic and assume they don’t need any help. This is a harmful assumption to make. There are many social issues that many low support autistics still face such as bullying and social exclusion, substance abuse, and mental health struggles. If you want to learn more about the different social issues faced by autistics, check out my recent post Substack linked here.
The X-Factor: Autistic Masking and Life Circumstances
I also wonder since I’ve spent a good portion of my life masking how this plays into my support needs. In my schooling years growing up, I was a pretty high autistic masker. I still heavily mask my autistic traits in many different situations such as the workplace. I’ll admit since I’m so used to masking, it’s not easy for me to even be consciously aware of when I’m wearing the mask versus when I’m not.
The main way that autistic masking plays out for me includes: hiding strong interests, pushing through sensory discomfort, and suppressing stims. There’s probably other ways masking plays out for me too but those are the most obvious examples I can think of. I do wonder if I stopped masking, would I suddenly have more support needs? Therefore, not just being a low support needs autistic.
Also, life circumstances can change support needs or levels of engagement. For instance, when I had an autistic burnout about two years ago now and needed to work from home. I had to reduce a lot of responsibilities, social time and rest when I wasn’t working to allow my body the time that it needed to recover from burnout.
The main point I want to make here is that support needs can vary for autistic people due to life circumstances . I don’t believe the majority of autistic people will fit cleanly into the categories of low, medium, or high support needs.
My personal struggles related to autism
Oh man I had quite a lot of background to talk about before sharing my personal struggles related to autism. I think it’s important to provide context to being a low support autistic and to show that’s not black and white. Alright if you read this far, thanks for waiting for me to get into my personal struggles. Without a further a do, here are my personal struggles related to autism
Difficulty understanding sarcasm
I find it difficult to tell if someone is being genuine with me or is joking around. I can even find it hard to tell if someone is mocking me.
I find it hard to understand what isn’t being said in conversation.
Difficulty reading people’s intentions towards me.
I can find it hard to tell if someone is being manipulative. I don’t enjoy dealing with subtle manipulations
I also can find it hard to read someone’s emotions if they do not directly express their emotions to me.
Difficulty changing bad habits.
I can hold on to bad habits for longtime do to rigid thinking and difficulty seeing alternatives.
It can also be hard for me to move on from bad situations as well.
Difficulty engaging in conversations that aren’t related to my interests (some ADHD in here as well).
I can naturally zone out from uninterested conversation.
This also has to do with my comorbid ADHD in having difficulty paying attention to things that I’m not interested in.
Struggle to maintaining friendships (also some ADHD as well)
Okay I can struggle to maintain friendships due to having difficulty staying in touch.
It can also be hard for me to read the nonverbal cues people give off as well.
Due to ADHD as well, I can get bored very fast and forget to maintain touch with current friends in my life.