Is living 80% in my own autistic world and 20% in the 'real'

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Is living 80% in my own autistic world and 20% in the 'real' NT world, wrong?

I was once told by a psychiatrist, that if what it took to carry on in my life was to live 80% in my own autistic world and 20% in the 'real' world then so be it.

Does anyone else follow this stream of narrative?

If doing that means you can live without seriously hurting others, then I say go for it.

that's a very good question. i guess i'd follow it with a more general question: "what does it mean to live in the autistic world versus the real world?" living in one's own autistic world could constitute any number of interpretations - from hermitic withdrawal and utter disengagement, to something more functional but nonetheless eccentric when compared to the norm... i guess "right or wrong" is less dependent on what the autistic world looks like -- and more dependent on how much integration and connectivity a person desires. for example: if you're someone who really wants to relate, you may not be happy staying home the majority of the time, engaging in preferred interest, romantically uninvolved and with few close friends. on the other hand, that kind of lifestyle (presuming its economically and situationally sustainable) might not bother you. so i guess its entirely up to you to determine what's "right" for your life, as a unique individual with (hopefully) the freedom to choose.

Last edited by shortcircuit3 on 25 Jun 2013, 12:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

If you refer to living in your own self created mental world, then there are many of us who do so. I consider this physical world to be the one true fantasy world and my mental worlds to be the only true, real worlds. After all, life in this so-called physical world really sucks. Who in their right mind would ever want to live in this crappy hell hole of a place? My real world is full of animals and other creatures who have infinately more intelligence than humans!
And frankly, I don't care if this is a "nornal" mode of living or not. I'll do and live as I please. Others opinions mean nothing to me, especially those of the so-called "professionals".

*smiles sheepishly*
Is it such a crime to not like the real world? Especially for us autistics, the world is Heck with a false "Heaven" label plastered all over it. But the thing is, we can sense they're lying to us. We know that this world isn't all it's cracked up to be, so we create our own. And I must say, living a fantasy life is like having a massive boulder taken off your back!

As some of you may have read in the "special interests" thread, I was, at one point, mystified by mermaids. I'm getting back into it, actually. It eats me alive. It started with h2o in 2006, and I can't get over it. It's like a personal autistic fandom gone wrong. I can't get rid of the desire, the hopes, and the dreams it filled me with. I'm asking my mother to get me this replica locket (the exact same one!) from here: http://www.sterlingsilverart.com/exact- ... rmaid.html
For my birthday this year. And she said I might just get it! It fills me with happiness and hope, but there's something dark underneath it. It doesn't go away. EVERY time I hear the word "mermaid" or "hydrokinesis" or even see the cast members, I get sucked right back in. I bought the theme song, AND the more expensive karaoke version, and listen to it on repeat for hours.

I created my own little world, one where I'm a mermaid and I can actually fight back because I have this power over water. And I can sing. Like a siren. Oh, how I love that ability! But it kills me a little bit inside every time I get back into the whole mermaid business. I'm looking to buy or make my own tail this summer, when I get some money for my birthday (not saying that to be snotty, everyone besides my immediate family usually gets me money). But here's the one problem with that: I can't swim. And I want to bind my legs together and put them in a MonoFin. Smart idea? NO.

My world gives me heck every time I go back to it. It follows me. It fills me with dread because I know some day I'll have to withdraw from it, because most people (aside from my friends on www.mernetwork.com) don't want to be around this woman that can't get over her childhood dream. I'll probably be looked at like everyone's always looked at me--the crazy chick that's gotta go back to the hospital.

My autistic world has ruined my life. My sisters make fun of me for it. I have maybe ten drawings in my sketchbook dealing with it. I've tested spells, read books, cried listening to the theme song. It won't leave me alone. But I love it too much to let it go. My dolls have fabric mermaid outfits I've made for them. It...hurts me so much. I can't get rid of it. But it is a beautiful, magical place, and I will never leave.

I just hope your world doesn't affect you the same way. Best of luck. Sorry for my crazy rant.
~SDR

How is the NT world more "real" than the autistic world?

What do you mean the 'real' world?

Since when did autism become the matrix?

Thanks for the condescension, it's really helpful.

Majority of people in this world are NT's than have ASD, that's why.

I work in the NT world.. and am active in an NT chat,,they know im aspie and most accept it, even ask questions and I get to clarify common myths and misconceptions.. At home is my aspie world.. my little retreat,sanctuary where I can be myself, have my rituals and obsessions. IF ur gonna make anything of ur self you have got to be able to function in the NT world as that is what is there. When it get to be to much i retreat to my room,, which is at the back of my place and quiet. Ill never understand how NTs think but i refuse to fall in that,, them against us mentality i see so much of in here.. both groups have things to contribute to society. I accept that they are wired differently and see things differently and so do i,, i learn i hope from them and they learn I hope from me. I do appreiciate my good aspie friend from here,,who i can bounce stuff off of without being judged..

It should be better to define exactly what "autistic world" is supposed to mean. It refers to a real activity, interacting with the physical world, but made alone and in your sphere of narrow interest? Or it refers to a purely mental/imaginary activity?

If it is the first case, can indeed be argued that these world is not the "real" world simply by a question of demographics; but, in the second case, the autistic world is definitely not real, even if 99% of the people were autistic.

your world is the real world

The neurotypical world is the theory and the practice of hell on earth.

My own world is the real world. That social world is rather artificial.

I think it is a world isolated in your own thought processes but very much in the natural world around you, very focused on the detail in your world and thoughts, but not much awareness of or participation in or importance placed on human social interactions.

I live in my own world as well for most of the time and I think there is nothing wrong with that. I don't like the weird environment l live in at the moment so living in my own world serves as a useful survival mechanism in my case. Besides, the NT world has not much to offer me and vice versa. I don't see why I can't live my life the way I see fit, escpecially since I don't bother anyone. I just want to be left alone, that's all. If I want to talk with someone I just talk to my closest relatives, my cat or myself which is more than enough for me and all I can bear.