What can and can't you do as an autistic?

Post Reply New Topic

Can: smile, manage a bit of eye contact, engage in scripted 'how-are-you-I'm-fine' small talk

Can't: manage small talk that deviates from the expected script

What I can do:
Make money
Go anywhere alone
Stick up for people
Take care of my cats
Play basketball
Golf
Cycle


What I can't do:
Multi-task
Pretend to care
Talk on the phone
Get out of shape
Take s**t from people
Eat cucumbers (I hate the taste of cucumbers)
Find people I want to be friends with who aren't alcoholics (I have bar friends, not real friends)

can do: eat seaweed in various forms
can't do: eat any kinda olives, especially green ones which make me barf

Can:
Write
remember details
focus on what needs to be done (work related stuff for example)
speak publicly
drive
pass as NT slightly, with some eye contact and minor small talk

Can't:
Math beyond the basics (algebra and above)
wear clothing with tags or certain fabrics such as 100% wool.
make friends easily, usually need something like a shared interest first
support myself financially

Have you ever tried any homemade ones?

homemade olives?



what i can do: have autism


what i can't do: not have autism

What I can do:

Ummm....

• Draw

• Play Video Games

• Maintain loyalty towards my friends

• Make it to a higher level of education? (college)

I don't know what else...


What I can't do:

• Have complete control of my emotions

• Feel comfortable talking on the phone

• Feel comfortable chatting face to face (through things like Skype or in person)

• Not sweat when I'm in a social enviornment

• Not have terrible memories populate my mind when something triggers them.

• Not think about suicide

• Keep my appetite balanced when I've fallen into a state of depression. Sometimes I end up losing my appetite to eat and other times I eat more than normal.

• Keep my sleeping balanced when I've fallen into a state of depression.

• Draw when I'm upset

• Not completely stop myself from wanting to hurt myself

• Socialize with people in a one on one conversation - Takes an immense amount of effort (excluding friends.) Hence why I tell people I can't do PMs.

• Feel sympathetic towards humanity

• Have trust in people.

In Turkey we make them at home only with water and salt. Using a hammer or a knife. They're sooooo different than the store bought ones and one of my favorite foods.

all I know is that the olives everywhere here are bitingly metallic-tasting. and SOUR.

Yeah it's the citric acid.
You should definitely try some homemade olives if you ever come across them.

yeah mebbe if the kinfolk ever serve 'em up, I might try one with a whiskey chaser.

^If you can wait for it, I can send you next time when I'm in Turkey.

can:

learn, remember, create patterns and dynamcs
read and feel other's feelings--emotional and physical
intuit how to respond in an authentic situation
tell straight forward truth
get along with almost everyone
care a lot about how people feel physically, emotionally, spiritually
be very comfortable alone in nature
express myself well in writing
email, text, talk in person one on one or lead a larger discussion already thought out


can't:

learn from verbal, cognitive directions
remember faces or visual details
role play for job interviews or school
gossip or do small talk
understand implied intentions
maintain long-lasting friendships. I wish, I have no idea why.
be around people for too long without a break
care about people's stories, thoughts about the non-present
go to ikea, busy grocery stores
tolerate loud, unexpected noises or strong smells
express myself well verbally
use phone, facetime, skype
be part of a spontaneous conversation with more than one person
draw

Everything you can't do, I can't either. You basically described what I can't do better than I did on my own.

I like this thread, it's making me feel much less unique than usual. Sometimes I wish autism was more obvious so we could all just hang out together and have a place to fit in and be okay with how we are.

I agree. So many things are like...yeah, me too! (or not)

Can:

solo canoe into wilderness for long periods of time.
hike in the swamps in water up to my waist and stare down alligators.
advocate strongly and effectively for people with developmental disabilities
Make people feel listened to and heard
Care deeply about others and express it, so long as I am in a particular role.
grow mangos and orchids
be totally honest
See patterns in human behaviors and family dynamics that help me help them.

Can't:

remember faces
be in groups of more than 3 people unless there is a specific purpose to the meeting and I am in charge of it.
Can't tolerate conflicting audio sources
can't tolerate loud noises, bad smells, any clothing except cotton
can't do math.
can't effectively do some basic communication with NTs (in nonwork situations), who for reasons I cannot comprehend, think I am critical or them when I am actually complimenting them.
can't role play
can't do small talk, have no interest in it
can't make significant progress on any of the musical instruments I try to play