'BTW I'm autistic' / 'For context, I have ADHD'

[easytoremember]

Sorry. But I'm seeing these precursors on a lot of posts. Why? It's slightly grating. We're all complicated people living the crazy human experience, diagnosis or not.

Because sometimes the fact that the poster has a diagnosis is relevant to the rest of the post?

Because it gives some context as to why the op may think or feel a certain way, in the same way that someone may say they have PTSD, or depression, or are physically disabled or a multitude of other things.

Why do you think it wouldn't be relevant just because we are all living the "crazy human experience"?🤨

I’d say they’re worried they’ve annoyed someone by not phrasing something right/not being empathetic or diplomatic and are just letting them know

Typically, I don't see how.

Because if they don't mention that upfront then someone will 'diagnose' themselves anyway half way down the page...

When I give advice regarding neurodivergence, it makes sense for me to include that I am speaking from personal experience.

It just seems like a very new phenomenon, and I'm genuinely interested

It's ok if you don't understand something. That doesn't make it irrelevant.

Your final sentence here has to be one of the most tritely stupid things I have ever heard anyone say.

If someone came on here asking for advice about getting to work, they struggle on the bus and can't drive, would you think it was odd if they included the detail that they are in a wheelchair when asking for advice?

So if someone is struggling with a problem about social etiquette or friendship problems it's very relevant to include the fact they are ND in there because that in and of itself could be a huge part of the issue.

Even more amazing is the number of posters who say things like "I'm autistic/ADHD and so I ..." - and then complete the sentence with some completely ordinary characteristic that is shared by half (or even all) of the human race.

Because it is usually relevant or the OP is accused of drip feeding if they mention it later in the thread.

A lot of people with a recent diagnosis in this area think it explains behaviour that is actually very mainstream and it can be frustrating to read

(For context I have ADHD)

"I went to go into the library. There were stairs and I really struggled to navigate them even though people said I should just get on with it like the do.
For context I use a wheelchair"

That's why.

Haha too true. Almost every single behaviour , problem or personality idiosyncracy (poster or their partner/child) WILL at some point be put down to autism or ADHD.

Because neurodivergent people can see the world in a different way, or will act in a different way. Everyone is different, but sometimes there are ND traits.

I have also noticed it a lot. Sometimes, I do understand people mentioning they are autistic if the thread is that they are concerned about having approached a situation differently to someone who is NT, or not understanding why someone may have reacted as they did. Sometimes people say they are dyslexic before they get accused of crap spelling. I can’t think off the top of my head of why an OP would need to mention they have ADHD- but maybe if they were looking to have their child assessed as it often runs in families?

Because autism is a disability, being a ‘complicated person’ as you put it is not.

@easytoremember I agree.
Some people are diagnosed, some people self diagnosed. Neurodivergence is the most recent "condition" I've heard.
Why do people feel the need to introduce themselves and add scientific labels as if apologetic, negative even about how their mind works? Like they're abnormal or something.
We're all on a spectrum in this crazy world. Not one us are the same.

No it isn't a disability for everyone

The point is to head off the inevitable replies telling you that you are strange, odd, or just a general horrible human being for not having a typical response to an issue.

After you get enough of those, you start explaining in advance why you think differently about some things.

It's often relevant to the post. And no, we aren't all just complicated humans, because ADHD and Autism are forms of neurodiversity meaning those of us who have them have brains which function very differently to neurotypical brains.

I see it so often now, in this context and others, that I’ve really questioned the validity of claims of autism and ADHD. When symptoms/behaviors/thought patterns attributed to “neurodivergence” (which is not a medical term, just a popular culture one) are described, they are so varied and diverse (not to mention conflicting and some are opposites) that I can’t see how autism and ADHD can be concrete and distinct diagnoses.

They are also unfalsifiable. “Neurodivergence” is unlike illnesses or medical conditions. If I go to doctor and say, “Test me if I have a broken bone or diabetes,” they can show if my bone is unbroken or that I don’t have diabetes. In other words, it’s incredibly possible to have a diagnosis of autism or ADHD with no biological marker. Anyone can claim it.

"We're all complicated people living the crazy human experience, diagnosis or not."

What a singularly ridiculous thing to say.

Of course in some circumstances having Autism/ADHD is relevant.. it can colour how we perceive social interactions, emotions, empathy, sympathy..etc. It can affect everything about we view a situation, how we would act/react IN that situation. It can affect how we speak, and open us up for seeming rude/blunt or other chances of misunderstanding or miscommunication.

That you fail to understand that just goes to show how ignorant you clearly are on both conditions.