The Authentic Eclectic
End of Act One
Navigating unrecognised neurodiversity as an adult
We’re all weird in our own way. At least, that’s what I’ve always been told when I’ve attempted to articulate difficulties with things people around me seem to find effortless, like a basic exchange in conversation with a stranger or embracing a hug from a friend.
I hate to admit that the first time someone suggested I show traits of Autism, I was offended. That was years ago, and when I was younger, neurodiversity wasn’t understood nearly as well as it is now. The kids I knew to be autistic at my school were severely impacted, so I immediately thought of it as an awful affliction that couldn’t possibly apply to me.
I left it to sit and simmer in the back of my mind for a long time, and mostly I dismissed it. But then, something would happen, a social faux pas or misunderstanding, and I’d notice how actively I had to resist the urge to respond how my instincts were telling me to. Instead, I’d push them aside in favour of a more acceptable response, something that made me appear more ‘normal’. Which I suppose, in my mind, is a word I’ve always associated with the people whose seemingly effortless ability to navigate life leaves me envious.
