Why is it bad for us to share our commonalities with each other? Especially when those things we are routinely told aren’t normal or okay. We watch neurotypical people pass us by all the time. I personally missed so many appointments before I was medicated that I had lost several mental health professionals and probably spent around a thousand dollars in missed appointment fees over the years. The whole time it was treated like a personal failing of mine that mysteriously went away once I was properly medicated.
Knowing that other people experience that, that other people know how it feels, genuinely makes it easier. It also spreads awareness like “hey do you constantly miss appointments without intending to whatsoever? Maybe there’s a reason why”. I think that is objectively a good thing.
Sharing commonalities is fine. Sharing common experiences as they related to a mental diagnosis is fine. Saying “that ADHD feeling when you have a 3 PM appointment and check the clock 10 times to make sure you won’t be late!” Is making ADHD out to be something which is just a common real world experience. In doing so it makes a shit ton of people think they have ADHD when they don’t, and it makes it more difficult for people who actually do have ADHD to get appropriate treatment and diagnosis.
Unfortunately, a great deal of people have co-opted legitimate mental illness to essentially either 1. Have something to identify with or 2. Get out of real world responsibilities. “It’s not my fault I failed the test and didn’t turn in that report at work, I just have ADHD! The posts online talking about being nervous for midday appointments said so!”
They’re an actual victim, but they haven’t realized it yet.
They genuinely believe that these things that are torturous to experience are “normal,” and they’ve internalized the abuse they’ve received that these things are normal so hard that they’re offended other people are commisserating over how awful these experiences are, because it implies that they themselves are also not “normal.”
Pity them. They’re white-knuckling their symptoms and can’t even enjoy commisserating with others.
Why is it bad for us to share our commonalities with each other? Especially when those things we are routinely told aren’t normal or okay. We watch neurotypical people pass us by all the time. I personally missed so many appointments before I was medicated that I had lost several mental health professionals and probably spent around a thousand dollars in missed appointment fees over the years. The whole time it was treated like a personal failing of mine that mysteriously went away once I was properly medicated.
Knowing that other people experience that, that other people know how it feels, genuinely makes it easier. It also spreads awareness like “hey do you constantly miss appointments without intending to whatsoever? Maybe there’s a reason why”. I think that is objectively a good thing.
I think what he’s getting at is that most of these symptoms aren’t actual neuridivergeance, just people cosplaying to get sympathy likes.
Not saying I agree, just explaining.
Sharing commonalities is fine. Sharing common experiences as they related to a mental diagnosis is fine. Saying “that ADHD feeling when you have a 3 PM appointment and check the clock 10 times to make sure you won’t be late!” Is making ADHD out to be something which is just a common real world experience. In doing so it makes a shit ton of people think they have ADHD when they don’t, and it makes it more difficult for people who actually do have ADHD to get appropriate treatment and diagnosis.
Unfortunately, a great deal of people have co-opted legitimate mental illness to essentially either 1. Have something to identify with or 2. Get out of real world responsibilities. “It’s not my fault I failed the test and didn’t turn in that report at work, I just have ADHD! The posts online talking about being nervous for midday appointments said so!”
You aren’t helping anyone here, you’re just acting like you know better than everyone else.
They’re an actual victim, but they haven’t realized it yet.
They genuinely believe that these things that are torturous to experience are “normal,” and they’ve internalized the abuse they’ve received that these things are normal so hard that they’re offended other people are commisserating over how awful these experiences are, because it implies that they themselves are also not “normal.”
Pity them. They’re white-knuckling their symptoms and can’t even enjoy commisserating with others.