5 reasons autistic people are seen as selfish and self-centered, when really it’s just our brain wiring...

1. We’re too distracted by things that are making us physically uncomfortable to focus on anything other than making ourselves... less uncomfortable 😬

2. We can’t stop thinking about, and therefore talking about, our special interests. We’re usually not talking about ourselves, just topics we’re passionate about. But many people don’t see those as different things (when clearly they are 😅).

3. We miss social cues. So, when someone isn’t interested in what we’re talking about, we might not notice that and continue talking. This can make it seem like we don’t care about the other person, but really, we’re just not picking up on their lack of interest.

4. When things aren’t exactly the way our brains need them to be, we can’t think about anything else. For example, I once got the wrong drink at Starbucks, and it nearly ruined my entire day. And believe me when I tell you, I would have given ANYTHING to not have cared.

5. In a study conducted in 2014, fMRI scans found that autistic brains generated up to 42% more information at rest compared to nonautistic brains. This explains why so many of us feel like our brains are constantly on. And what do we think about when our brains are on? Everything I just mentioned.

If you’re autistic, does any of this resonate with you?