@freemo for me it was just the answer to a question "wth is wrong with me". now I know (but not diagnosed, just very strong suspicion) and realized that some my habits are self-found way of coping, knowing the fact just stimulates me a bit to learn better way to be useful member or society, this is basically it. Over-glorifying mental issues lately is... disturbing, but also letting other people know that some problems are not very visible, be kind is good. If being asked, all I say to people "I might have autism, that's why I seem strange", shrug, and change topic

but people, who make whole identity out of some mental disorder or some very narrow interest - this is getting old

@AncientGood A

So to be clear I never judge an individual who claims to have autism to their face, or even in how I treat them. Whether I think you have it or not (or anyone) shouldn’t matter, if you claim you have it and need to be treated in a special way to accommodate that i am happy to do so with no judgement (in the sense that it would effect how i treat or interact iwth you).

The long and short of that is basically, I would find it quite rude if I or anyone told someone who said they had autism that they didnt as an individual. However making those judgements and extrapolating to the general case (and accounting for the fact tha tI may even have gotten a few cases wrong) I have no issue with.

So that said since you did bring it up first I will address some of your points. But bear in mind I am speaking from the perspective of “most people who are high-functioning and claim they are autistic” and not necessarily you…

for me it was just the answer to a question “wth is wrong with me”.

For most people the desire to have an answer, especially one where there is some cause that doessnt blame themselves or others, is a strong desire.

In truth its not an answer at all, but the desire to fool ourselves that it is wins.

now I know (but not diagnosed, just very strong suspicion) and realized that some my habits are self-found way of coping, knowing the fact just stimulates me a bit to learn better way to be useful member or society, this is basically it.

I mean, that can be done without needing to identify as autistic. You notice you have interactions that dont go the way you want, sure adapt so they go the way you want. To me there isnt much benefit to applying a incorrect label to someone to get there.

Over-glorifying mental issues lately is… disturbing, but also letting other people know that some problems are not very visible, be kind is good.

There are two issues being addressed here. One we agree one, one seems we may not. We both agree the gloryfying of the disease is just absurd. But I remain of the opinion that 95% of high functioning people who claim to be autistic are not, and this is likely where we disagree. Nothing wrong with disagreeing though

If being asked, all I say to people “I might have autism, that’s why I seem strange”, shrug, and change topic

While I doubt that the vast majority who would think they have it actually do (and statistically youd be among that group) I can say the fact that you dont glorify it, and that you exhibit doubt in your certainty all points in a much healthier take. My concern is that even with a diagnosis I’d still remain convinced 95% of people diagnosed do not have it (and this comes from a lot of discussion with experts).

but people, who make whole identity out of some mental disorder or some very narrow interest - this is getting old

Agreed

@freemo first of, let me thank you for giving my stupid take your very valuable time, I really appreciate it!

I think I, as always, missed main point of your post

> My concern is that even with a diagnosis I’d still remain convinced 95% of people diagnosed do not have it (and this comes from a lot of discussion with experts).

it reminds me a book? or a story? when guy was reading a medical book and found like hundred different illness and disorders in himself

people (especially youth) are very impressionable, so I like your choice to call it "designer disorder", since is 1) everywhere on social media, 2) fancy and 3) gives you social (victim) points, so a lot of so called people on the spectrum are just lucking social skills (yeah, irony, I think I have more of this than actual problem)

to add something valuable to conversation, I remember recently I was listening to a podcast (Peter Atia? Uberman? or Shane from Knowledge Project? one of these guys) when host had a guest, forgot his main specialization, but he told a story how he had a stroke, and after he found out, that we basically live in illusion, we as humans have multiple systems for reality check, but his stroke disrupted seamless work of them all as one "mind", that was unexpected perspective.. dunno.. to how fragile we are and how our brain does a lot of work to interpret reality

now I regret that I picked math instead of neuroscience, brains are much more interesting

@freemo whoa, now I'm listening! :D

> This is something i can relate to. I practice altered state meditation where I try to learn to control those parts of the brain..

where I can learn more, really curious

@AncientGood

Not really, I am mostly self learned. I was inspired by the advanced technique of buddhist monks and the way they describe various states and then applied that to modern science (I own some EEGs and stuff).

So most of the info comes from a combination of buddhis studies and science about the brain, especially sleep states

@freemo very well then, I hope one day you will find the mood and enough free time to make a blog post about your technique, altering mind state is my new passion (unfortunately, here in Canada I can't legally rely on substances)