How to prepare for your autistic coming out?
When I learned, as an adult, that I had an autism spectrum disorder, my life was completely turned upside down. I wasn’t at all devastated; on the contrary, it was a revelation! All of a sudden, I had been given a new perspective on my own life. I was re-reading my past from a new angle. I realized that much of the social violence I had experienced could have been avoided. My awkwardness was suddenly explained, and most of the reproaches I had received in my life were in fact about my autistic traits. This may not have made any difference to other people, but it greatly reduced my sense of guilt. I had a better self-image: I simply wasn’t a monster!
So it seemed obvious to me that I should tell the people around me. The people I interacted with on a daily basis needed to know, to be aware. That way, our exchanges would undoubtedly be simpler and healthier.
But coming out with autism is an important moment, and you should take a few moments to prepare for it. Here are five questions to help you do just that.
Do you really want to say it?
That’s the first question to ask yourself, because in reality, if your autism spectrum disorder is an invisible disability — and it is for many people — you might decide to keep it to yourself and continue wearing the social mask you’ve…
