Re:Why I love knowing I have high-functioning autism
by lfowles on Wednesday November 18, 2015 @09:22PM
(#10592346)
> It's when your behavior is rejected, when you meet with poor results, that you have a true incentive to improve and push yourself forward. It might be painful and difficult, but the end result can be greater than what you would have had if you were born "normal".
Ridiculous. "Just cheer up, you'll see that depression isn't so bad."
Re:Why I love knowing I have high-functioning autism
by irishcoffee on Wednesday November 18, 2015 @09:43PM
(#10592416)
Speaking as a formerly severely depressed person: yes, that fixes it.
I worked hard at it. I wanted to fix it. I didn't take any medications. It was very, very hard. I wallowed in it for a long time. I fixed it.
"Oh you weren't actually depressed then, you don't know what you're talking about." I was (severely), and I do.
Re:Why I love knowing I have high-functioning autism
by mikeash on Wednesday November 18, 2015 @10:19PM
(#10592525)
I'm not going to say you weren't actually depressed, but your experience may not be representative. A broken leg may heal with positive thinking and effort, but most people will still want to get an x-ray and a cast.
Re:Why I love knowing I have high-functioning autism
by irishcoffee on Thursday November 19, 2015 @09:43AM
(#10595005)
It may not be very representative, I agree. I struggle with your analogy comparing broken bones to a broken mind. We have known for centuries how to fix a broken bone. We still don't have a 'cure' for depression. "Here, take this pill and feel numb for a few hours" doesn't really compare to an x-ray and a cast.
Re:Why I love knowing I have high-functioning autism
by mikeash on Thursday November 19, 2015 @10:09AM
(#10595144)
You're right, there's no obvious cure like for a broken leg. Perhaps cancer would be a better analogy. There are various treatments, sometimes they work, but they mostly suck and it's never certain. But regardless, "just don't have cancer!" isn't going to do it.
To me it sounds like the social construct surrounding the truth is harmful. That those with a disability should be coddled lest they offend. That we should be understanding, accommodating, that we shouldn't expect much or worse, that we should medicate them into normalcy.
Bullshit.
It's when your behavior is rejected, when you meet with poor results, that you have a true incentive to improve and push yourself forward. It might be painful and difficult, but the end result can be greater than what you would have had if you were born "normal".
The only thing this environment of diagnosis, acceptance, and tolerance is creating is crippling fear for the parents and an environment that coddles the child's disability, instead of motivating the child to overcome it.