Look Me in the Eyes When I am Talking to You

Look me in the eyes while I’m speaking Why are you glaring at me? Are you trying to engage me in a staring contest? Everyone’s a little autistic You’re not at all like my autistic child You’re obviously high functioning Why are you being so dramatic, just eat the damn food If you would just make an effort you could understand this You’re autistic? But you’re so empathetic Oh my god, it was a rhetorical question, why’d you take it literally? Why are you monopolizing the conversation? You seem so normal. You don’t look autistic. Why can’t you dress normal like the other girls? If you just made an effort to act like everyone else, people would like you better. If you would quit talking about Michigan all the time, the other girls would want to be your friend Why would you seek a label like autism? There’s nothing wrong with you, you’re just lazy Why are you so strange? Don’t let your autism define you We believe you have bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and avoidant personality disorder You’re weird You’re lazy You’re manipulative You’re crazy You’re self centered

Is it any wonder why autistic people have mental health issues? These are the messages the world began telling me when I was four. Autism doesn’t cause depression; the relentless attacks by neurotypical people in our society on anyone who is different causes depression.

Meme from The Chronic Couple on Facebook. Please give a visit to their page. They have amazing content for neurodivergent people and spoonies.