The Shorter Answer Would Be
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.
When I didn’t feel out of place. Having a place on the Autistic Spectrum is to feel permanently out of place with the rest of the world. We have to ‘translate’ neurotypical (NT) behaviour and speech every time we encounter a new person, school, workplace or social situation. I feel washed out after encounters with the NT world because the emphasis is always on us to understand and never on them.
This is why the world wants to explain us away as being freaks or wants to pretend we are caused by vaccines or paracetamol. We are bullied by all and sundry because we are vulnerable and human beings, who are basically bad, have a great time exploring how they can hurt the vulnerable.
I only ever truly feel in my rightful place when I am at home with my family. This is one of the reasons I tend to prefer home comforts. That’s not to say that I can’t enjoy myself out of the house, but I need to prepare and to plan and to predict where difficulties may lie before I go out. If those safeguards are in place then it is quite possible to relax. If you know anyone who is neurodivergent in any way, give them time, give them space and give them understanding and support them if things get a bit difficult. They may want to come out but they will do so on their own terms far more comfortably than on NT terms.
This t shirt from Neurominds kind of sums it all up! https://neurominds.shop/i-cant-talk-today-i-talked-to-two-people-yesterday?productId=6527e2bd98f6e4828fb31f98&color=BELLA_CANVAS-BLACK&fbclid=PAT01DUANPloNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABpwhZj-0F1rZ5BY6Q1HdQ3eBvqiTw-N2bm_PXlF05eOYy2rswT5qwqKO6OReE_aem_M_Gr1t69cpnjj14ihUcqnA
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David Pearce - Popular Culture and Personal Passions 
I can fully relate to your post David. My brother has Asperger’s, though I don’t think it’s called that these days. Maybe NT is the correct term? His life has been dogged with loneliness and isolation, usually I am his only contact. I too was diagnosed with ADHD aged 60 which made so much sense about my life struggles. I wish you well mate. PS that t-shirt is fantastic!
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Sorry, NT means neurotypical doesn’t it?
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That’s right. 👍👍
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We are Neurodivergent.
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I’ve never felt like i’ve fitted in really, from school through to now, especially with groups of men. I’m not a typical “bloke”. I don’t like sports, cars, i can’t drink much, and you can pretty much guarantee that if everybody else likes something – a band, a film, a tv series – then i won’t (Madness excepted: pretty much everyone likes at least one song by them.) I don’t like loud people. I’m not confident enough to hold my own in a conversation and as a result i tend to get talked over, at which point i clam up.
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I can identify with all those things. Perhaps as The Police said there’s a Hundred Billion Castaways Looking for a Home!
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You’ve got something about you, which is a fantastic thing. It helps make you interesting and good company. Of couse, I am not saying that is just BECAUSE you’re not neurotypical. However, I do think there has to be a connection between the two. Who wants to hang around cooky cutter types anyway! I certainly think your way of seeing things makes for wonderful reading on these pages and you’re also adding value to peoples lives.
Can I empathise with non NT people? I am not sure, but I do know I can definitely sympathise. I have no idea if I am neurotypical or not but some might occasionally think I’m “not quite right in the head” – even if they don’t say it. Good! I like the way I am!
Haters gonna hate – maybe they are just jealous. Maybe thats a kind of divergence in itself.
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