On your earlier point, I lived with a (very toxic, self-destructive) girl once who insisted “we’re all on the spectrum”, and wouldn’t budge from this idea, despite one of our other flatmates being like a walking stereotype of “high functioning autism”, lol…
But yeah, as a result of having a really fucked-up life, and probably some symptoms of ADHD (even that is arguable), I have, at times, thought I may be either narcissistic, or autistic, or even both…
Hindsight would suggest that I was just… Immature, lacking in experience, and in a couple of pretty toxic relationships (hence my ex calling me a narcissist, while doing… Some pretty narcissistic things herself), but I lacked the self-confidence/esteem to see that, and began to… “Pathologize” myself. To think “What is wrong with me? How can this be happening to me, again..?”
I can see, as a result, how other people fall into that trap. Particularly young people. Particularly with the rise of internet “self diagnosis” and the whole field of psychology being co-opted…
I honestly think the best… “Solution” is not to seek a label or a diagnosis (though YMMV, of course), but to change your life circumstance, and see whether that produces a change in your mental state/functioning.
It’s what “worked” for me, anyway. Though I still have a long way to go. If I ever get there.
Peer pressure is a funny thing, unfortunately…
On your earlier point, I lived with a (very toxic, self-destructive) girl once who insisted “we’re all on the spectrum”, and wouldn’t budge from this idea, despite one of our other flatmates being like a walking stereotype of “high functioning autism”, lol…
But yeah, as a result of having a really fucked-up life, and probably some symptoms of ADHD (even that is arguable), I have, at times, thought I may be either narcissistic, or autistic, or even both…
Hindsight would suggest that I was just… Immature, lacking in experience, and in a couple of pretty toxic relationships (hence my ex calling me a narcissist, while doing… Some pretty narcissistic things herself), but I lacked the self-confidence/esteem to see that, and began to… “Pathologize” myself. To think “What is wrong with me? How can this be happening to me, again..?”
I can see, as a result, how other people fall into that trap. Particularly young people. Particularly with the rise of internet “self diagnosis” and the whole field of psychology being co-opted…
I honestly think the best… “Solution” is not to seek a label or a diagnosis (though YMMV, of course), but to change your life circumstance, and see whether that produces a change in your mental state/functioning.
It’s what “worked” for me, anyway. Though I still have a long way to go. If I ever get there.