To understand that Autism is NOT a mental illness?

[Oxfordblue]

Just that really, someone posted that autism is a mental illness.
I understand autism to be a different way of thinking/perceiving etc. Not an illness that one may or may not recover from

(My daughter is waiting for an assessment for autism & I would hate her to feel that she 'has a mental illness' & actually find that statement so disempowering. The world needs people to think differently, to challenge ideas that maybe set in stone & blur the idea that one size fits all.)

Do they have to be brown before you use them in muffins? It’s the smell of brown bananas that kills me.

I don’t think MI should be a derogatory term.
I can empathize with how you are feeling though 💐

Can I be controversial? I love bananas.

The browner the better, but as soon as they start with the brown spots they're usable. If you hold your breath or get someone else to peel them and get the skins away from you asap, the actual fruit doesn't smell so dreadful.

Well OK. In the spirit of hands across the ocean - Buttocks, you can peel the bananas.

Is it appropriate to talk about bananas on this thread? Are we allowed? Aren't bananas a bit

Buttocks, you can peel the bananas

I caught that line while skim reading and didn’t get the context

The refrigerator mother thing was old news a decade ago, I’m really surprised any of you have hit that vibe in the last decade.

I only brought it up in the context of “childhood schizophrenia” (possibly) being an historical misunderstanding of autism. It’s historical.

It helps highlight the way in which medical understanding evolves, doesn’t it? And we’re not “there” yet. It’s always tempting to think of current understanding as definitive, but of course it isn’t. Certainly not with something like autism. I expect mapping the genetics will be the next big thing and that’s why it’s important to understand that we don’t all WANT to be “cured”.

Thanks 99. 😆

Sodding yet again 😂

We wish it to be known that we are willing to accept any unwanted bananas, and especially banana muffins, and in particular chocolate chip banana muffins, by trebuchet.

Hopefully everyone already knows not to store their bananas in a refrigerator, even if wilting in this heat.

Just wanted to stick my head in and say thank you for this thread, I've been following it from the start.

DS is aged 3 and we are part way through (the very long) process of getting a diagnosis and accessing support. I have found this thread so useful, its really been amazing to read the opinions and experiences of different people on here. So thank you.

I have naturally been asked several times if I really want to "label" my son so early. I read on another thread that "labels are for cans of soup. This is a diagnosis" which made me smile. Its been nice to hear that some of you are positive about having a diagnosis- especially as for us I think its a way for our son to access support and hopefully find his group of people.

I don't see autism as a mental illness and that's not because of some negative feelings about mental health but just because its incorrect. If it was a mental illness I would have no issue calling it that, but it isn't (to my knowledge anyway).

Anyway, thank you again for all the interesting points that have been raised, particularly from those of you who are autistic. I spend a lot of time being told about autism from NT people - carers, health workers etc - so its been great to get an insight from some of the people that understand it the most!

Ps. DS loves bananas. Sorry.

DS loves bananas. Sorry.

Sensible lad

Who'd have thought that bananas would be such a divisive issue?!

I know I hate em. But its one of the few types of fruit DS eats.

I’m really starting to feel part of a minority now

My DS was discussing his label the other day. He's 11 and pretty certain he's not disordered, so was using ASC. However, he said to me the other day, "Actually I think I do have ASD after all - Austistic Spectrum Difference!" I've worked very hard with him so he understands that different is not less.

Me too Battleax! 😂

Equality for the Differently Banana'd!

Blimey, I'm autistic and Differently Banana'd! 😂

Ah that’s lovely Tit.

@PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks I am too!

Time for the t-shirts to be printed 🍌