Pros and Cons of Being Diagnosed with Autism

Pros: private room at college!

The ability to appreciate and love music from literally almost every genre imaginable

I'm not officially diagnosed but I've done a lot of research on it. Some of the biggest pros imo: - You can get accommodations - You can qualify for disability income if you need it - It's super validating Some of the biggest cons imo: - It's almost impossible to adopt children and I assume it's the same with a foster lisence (at least in the USA) - Some countries (such as Australia or New Zealand) won't allow you to move there and become a citizen because they see you as a burden - More of a target for police violence Now that I've typed this out it feels like the cons are a lot bigger than the pros 🥲. But if you feel that a diagnosis is the right thing to do then 100% go for it!

Pros: MULTITASKING!!! I love to multitask. It could be just me, tho. Special needs programs. I was a homeschooler for half of my life, and my homeschooling program was a bit easier than others bc of my learning differences. One of the more positive notes for me is paying attention to detail. You might notice little things that other people might not notice. Creativity. I've always had a creative mind and my imagination runs deep, so that's something to be grateful for. The last one for me is HONESTY. I find it difficult for me to lie. It does get me into trouble, but not severe. Cons: obsession. This is a come and go problem for me. I can be obsessed with one thing, forget about it, and find something else to be interesting in the future. Anxiety. This is a big one for me, as i have various anxieties. Inability to focus on someone while they're talking directly to you. I've had this problem for as long as I can remember. But what I've noticed is that even when someone is talking directly to me, i still know what they're telling me, even if my eyes aren't on their face the entire time. Inability to complete tasks. I notice that i partially finish my tasks, such as keeping my bedroom clean for long periods of time. Unable to identify certain expressions. I find it difficult to understand certain emotions. And final one for me: unable to understand sarcasm, even when it's playful. It takes me a minute to know if they're being playful or not. I hope that some of this helps! I'm happy to answer any questions about autism if you need advice ☺️!