Is it bad that DH and I laugh at my autism?

[TigersRoll]

I take very little seriously, I like to have a laugh and am very difficult to offend.

Part of my autistic traits is that I like to gather information. This morning I googled how many people are killed by dogs per year. I found an interesting site that gave the breeds of dogs and numbers of fatalities in USA over a 13 year stretch. I found it fascinating.

So out in the garden sitting in the sun with DH I started reeling off how many people were killed by Rottweilers, German shepherds, pit bulls etc ... complete with numbers and types of deaths. I didn’t realise I was going on or that he was unlikely to be interested in any of this until I saw him laughing. I then laughed and said “sorry, am I being autistic again?” And he replied “just a bit!”

It helps me to laugh at my own condition. If I sat fretting about it all the time what would I achieve? DH used to be so careful around it but he’s finally realising that I do find some of my own traits funny! A lot of people get offended on my behalf (I once referred to myself as Rainman because I was fascinating over something irrelevant in a display) and my friend was shocked and told me not to be horrible to myself ...

I obviously don’t take the piss out of anyone else’s autism or health issues but surely I’m fair game to my own humour? Or am I being unreasonable to make a joke out of it? So many people get offended on my behalf and it’s a bit annoying!

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all OP! Sounds like laughing about some of your 'traits' helps you!

We live in a house that runs on swears, slurs, insults and piss taking it's as normal and healthy as eating five a day here.

My son is 18yrs old and has amongst other amazing technicolour conditions Asperger's and started referring to himself years ago as a "Special Boy" and "Captain Autismo"

When he comes in the kitchen and there's still 3 seconds on the microwave he has to cancel it back to zero and always goes "Can't ignore that Captain Autismo won't allow it"

When he's making a complete arse of his attempts to carry a plate and cup from one room to the other and cannot weigh up how to master the sorcery that is a door handle in-between he gets all wrapped up and his arms twisted oddly, legs all over and we're there "The fu@k are you doing you special bastard? Put the plate on top of the cup and use your hand to turn the handle"

"Oh yeah... Captain Autismo and Dyspraxia Boy making life issues"

In primary school he had an early form of the fidget spinners in class (Tangle toys, a ball of blue-tac that kind of thing) which he has long since referred to as his "Special boy toys"

Personally it sounds like a great way to deal with it. I have mental health issues and I am quite lighthearted about them. I do it more with my mum because it breaks the stigma. Like I say the reason I am weird is childhood trauma and I say it deadpan.

Also I have pretty bad Dyscalculai (number dyslexia) which affects how my brain processes – or rather doesn't process how to work with measurements, make small change and fit dog harnesses or horse tack. Even now after 30-odd years of riding I have to hold a halter or bridle up in mid air and work out which bit goes where.

One of my oldest, closest friends is a psychologist and saw me trying to work out how much two cans of coke at 75p would cost and couldn't believe I needed to actually go “7 + 7 = 14 so £1.40 and add two 5p's £1.50. There I did it”

She made me complete a series of assessments and declared me officially “The shittest bitch in the entire world”

Can't fit a duvet cover, hang a pair of curtains, thread a needle, need my daughter to double check horse rugs and tack and used to get the other girls I managed to double check drug sheets, rotas and even hoists and slings cos I was never confident I'd done it properly.

This is a brilliant thread.
We don't have HFA here but my DH and I love lists. Many a happy hour is spent guessing Europe's top country for emigration and immigration or Britain's most popular dog etc.

I have a DS with HFA and I reckon I probably do too, laughter and teasing definitely help our family get through life. I recently found ( in parents loft) the handwritten studbook for all my childhood imaginary ponies, case closed!

My son has about 15 good days out of 30 and we never know how long each bout of bad days will last. It’s music to our ears when he comes dancing into my room like a giant tigger and after 20 seconds of his grand old duke of York happy dance he shouts Fuck You. I then have to shout fuck you too, get out of my sight you varmit. He then leaves whilst laughing and if my small grandchildren are around one will say - it’s that Tourette’s again. Not that it is, he just likes being a hell raiser, but they don’t don’t know that.

I have a few physical and mental health issues, if I didn’t laugh about them I’d cry.
I get bad brain fog and forget words all the time. Me and do both make jokes about it and now the microwave is affectionately known as the ‘food kettle’

My husband and daughter both laugh about it all the time. They are both aspies and it's a constant source of humour.. I think it's great they don't take themselves so seriously.. My nine year old daughter is always referring to herself as hilariously odd.. Her mates love her openness and it enables them to tell her when she's going all aspie info on them and then they all laugh.... Husband laughs at his too and so do I but then again I also try to see the lighter side of my own health issues as I think life is too short not to have a giggle about things... Nothing wrong with it of you're happy to laugh about it.

Yeah. Me and my son joke about ours. We're autismum and autison.

@NottonightJosepheen

No no I think it was the combination of me having to say it aloud, use my fingers and tot up the price like a child running out of fingers and can't go any further cos there's no fingers left!!

I am really bad though people think I'm either drunk or just taking the piss half the time. Used to do a lot of competitive riding but could only do cross country or endurance because I literally got lost around even the most basic showjumping course. Too much going on inside one confined space my brain frazzles.

Can't do agility for the same reason if the course isn't the same all the time and I haven't had chance to watch 3000 times and work out which way to go I'm useless.

I once managed to run a full clear round with my eldest dog in agility but it was an open novice / beginner event with fixed obstacles so I could watch and make sure I knew where to go.

Otherwise this is me attempting the simplest showjumping or agility course.

I always fancied doing dog agility courses but I know I’d get lost and confused so what hope would the poor dog have 😂

Look see - actually managed to get the whole way round. Actually the dog was clued up and knew where to go I just directed her over the first jump and she did the rest but no matter - we did it. My bosom doth swell with pride

My husband is ill with a physical condition. We laugh about it and both (lovingly take the piss) Its how we deal with everything in life and stops it being so sad and scary.

OP do you have a link to that site please.

Oh Parly she’s gorgeous!

Pixie, I’ll have a look now and post it

@ilovepixie

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2018/09/13/americas-most-dangerous-dog-breeds-infographic/amp/ I don’t know how to do links but copy and paste should work

Thank you tiger.