I realized after being diagnosed with PTSD that I had been masking those symptoms the same way I had masked being autistic.
Working while autistic can mean a revolving door of jobs that offer much lower pay than others with more responsibility and pressure.
The reality of what it is like to be masked autistic seeking help: gaslighting, dead ends, and dismissive, vague suggestions are the pinnacle of “support” available.
Being diagnosed with PTSD was one of the most validating things I’ve ever experienced. Not only did it lead me down a path of healing,
I had absolutely no idea how much I hated myself (or even what internalized ableism was) until I was in my mid-thirties and had a complete nervous breakdown.
I went on my first date when I was about twenty. I know. I’m too cute to be such a late bloomer. I’m autistic. I
Editor’s note: this article contains mentions of domestic abuse and alcoholism. Please read at your own discretion. Every time I cry or even laugh, people
Let me introduce you to a figure from the folklore of Japan called the Futakuchi-onna. Her name means “two-mouthed woman,” and she comes from a country facing a crisis of self-care. In fact, at the end of last year, the youth suicide rate in Japan had reached its highest in thirty years. The stress of a work-centric culture along with a strong stigma against reaching out for mental health care are thought to be major factors for the suicide rates in Japan, and are things many of us can relate to on some level. Perhaps then, it is somehow appropriate that we can learn about the dangers and effects of neglecting ourselves through the story of the Futakuchi-onna.
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