Autism

Well, just the same as everyone else :)

No, seriously: I personally see my autistic traits as a strength and weakness at the same time. Often these traits are incredibly beneficial to me (e.g. how deep I can dive into topics, and that I love working on them and researching them deeply), but also they can be hindering (e.g. how to interact in social situations and/or regulate sensory overload).

For me, a diagnosis provided the framework to sort my life into. I don't have to fake anymore that I'm ND, and frankly speaking I notice myself masking far leas than before. I am learning how to put up boundaries for myself - e.g. how much stuff I do per day, or how much time I see my friends. A diagnosis thus gives me the certainly that it isn't because I'm dumb, I'm just different.

I am in the process of learning how to make my surroundings so that I can flourish. It doesn't mean subjecting people to my will, but instead choosing the people and surroundings which will make me feel good and who will have fun with me. I think for me personally, it helps to recognize that I'm not normal in the sense that I have a different "neuronal code" than the rest of humanity. I'm not good in group social interaction, or dealing with sensory overload, or managing my time. But other humans don't get excited when they see a crow or know stuff about the fall of the Western Roman Empire. So I try to associate myself with people who love crows and the Roman Empire, and less so with people who love going to parties and doing lots of sensory stuff. I think these people are cool, they're just... Different, yk?

Don't get me wrong, it isn't easy in the common sense. I, just like a lot of us autistic people, struggle with mental health and self-worth. But overall, I'd say life is pretty okayish. Lots of cool stuff, lots of bad stuff, and a bit of neutral thrown in between.