Does it help to tell people you have ASD?

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Do you think it helps or makes things harder to tell people that you are autistic? For instance, if you are in a conversation and you realize that you are not understanding the vibe or what the other person is expecting you to say, or how to react, does it help to mention something like, "I'm sorry, I'm not good at detecting vibes or nuances, because I'm on the spectrum?" Or something like that.

Or does it not help because people don't know enough about autism to understand what you mean? Does it just add to the miscommunication? Or does it make it worse because they think you're making excuses, or even lying?

I suppose it depends who you're talking to and how informed of autism they are.

In the last few months, I've been saying something along the lines of "I often have a harder time understanding non-verbal cues because I am likely on the autism spectrum [just got the confirmation today!], so if you need something from me and I'm not picking it up, feel free to tell me to my face. It won't hurt my feelings and will make both of our lives easier."

In dating, this has especially been helpful. I recently got a girlfriend and I've found this allows our communication to work in a manner that allows us both to understand what the other wants and needs. I suppose time will tell if this strategy really works, but so far, this is the most connected I have ever felt in a relationship.

sometimes I ask people to explain again using different words and I will say something like "I have sensory processing difficulties sometimes" They might cut me a bit of slack in intense conversations and try again.

I have told people I am autistic sometimes and I get condescended to and pats on the head (metaphorical) from some individuals but after 68 years of constantly being bullied in workplaces and groups, this is almost refreshing, since it comes from attempts to be kind instead of a place of hostility. I find I mind being talked down to or treated condescendingly far less than those who would taunt me, set me up deliberately, mock me, etc.

It usually helps a bit, but it's noticeable that something is "off" about me. Naming it confuses people less and makes them seem to act less uncomfortable around me.

Today at work I even wore a pin I got that says I have autism and ADHD, and I noticed certain people treated me better/avoided me less. I think people that didn't know what was "wrong" with me felt more comfortable knowing that my odd behaviour wasn't on purpose, or due to something worse (like drugs or something). No one mentioned it either.

Anyone who engages me can tell that I have something going on. Knowing that something is autism seems to be helpful to not only me, but whoever I'm interacting with. For the other person, they seem to be more at ease and can stop mentally trying to work out if I'm simply weird, creepy, crazy, or whatever. For me, I seem to be extended more patience, have a safety net in place (for places like the store where I might melt down or shutdown...I told the local greeters, who in turn let management know), and I can do things like wear headphones when standing in line and be waved to when it's my turn. If I went to new places more often, I'd probably get one of those lanyards announcing it and save myself the effort of telling people.

This is an interesting conversation, I'll follow it to see what I should do. I'm moving house soon and I was wondering whether to tell people that I have autism or hypoglycaemia or both or neither. I think I'd tell them about the hypoglycaemia because that affects my life enormously and the autism when I get to know them better.

Apparently not. Things have progressively gotten worse for me since I ever mentioned I may be autistic, and never improved on my getting assessed and confirmed.

i dont have much tactful skills so i tend to let people know im autistic if i feel i should

usually the response is..you cant be autistic you drive a bus!"

Part of my reason for wondering about this is that I have ME/CFS (chronic fatigue) and I learned that it makes some people very angry when I mention that I can't do something or have to curtail it in some way because I'm too tired or not feeling well enough. They think it's an excuse and they scoff at it. This particular type of people are actually nicer if they think I am lazy or unreliable!

I may be wrong but I think I can pass as NT, so it could be that people would think it's just another excuse if I tell them that I didn't mean to be rude but I failed to understand what they were saying because I'm on the spectrum. (And to add to it, I'm not completely sure that I am autistic, since I don't have a diagnosis and two assessments came back inconclusive, although I don't see another possibility. So I would say, "I might be autistic?" That complicates it even more.)

Since people around me are ignorant and presumptious, the best I'd tell them "what is my disability" if someone knew that I'm not an NT -- is that "I have a developmental disorder"

And hopefully not needing to elaborate further than saying; "That's why I look or even act younger than my age, seemingly naive, sensitive, easily distracted, forgetful and still learning social norms and how communication works. Please forgive my slip ups and mistakes".

I won't say I am diagnosed or at I have autism unless on a very strict to know basis with professionals who works directly with my case.

I won't say I'm autistic because people haven't earned that level of trust, and knowing that people not having that level of understanding.



It was inspired by seeing commentaries in different sites.
Like instead of saying one has a diagnosis/or has ADHD, with all the associations and stigmas and whatever assumptions due to social media and whatever implications...

Instead one just says:

Gained Number Post Count (1).
Lose Time (n).

Lose more time here - Updates at least once a week.

Depends who it is and why you're telling them. If you're using it as a reason to ask for their forbearance, it's difficult because ASD is an "invisible" disability so the Aspie can't usually prove that there's really any problem, and people naturally tend to be skeptical of anybody who asks for special treatment without evidence. And some people won't care what the truth is as long as they don't have to go to any trouble, so they'll seize on the invisible nature of the disorder and pretend you're just malingering.