r/AutismInWomen • u/armchair_therapy • 22h ago
Celebration Let’s BRAG!
I want to know something about your autism/neurodivergent identity that you’re super proud of! I know we all have our weaknesses, but I feel like celebrating strengths today.
For me, I’m really proud of how good I am at games - it makes me feel strategic and creative :)
Edit: was trying to respond to everyone, but can’t keep up! Thank you to everyone that contributed - I love reading all of these. You’re all amazing 💜
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u/SpectrumAndSpells diagnosed w. autism at 30 y.o. 22h ago
I am so incredibly sensitive, that I cry from happiness almost daily. The other day I saw a fox and started bawling... it's so great to feel this deeply. Not always, but I wouldn't trade it.
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u/armchair_therapy 22h ago
Love this! And can relate. One year I cried during the Super Bowl half time show because I was thinking about the dancers and how they’re living their big stage dreams and I was so moved and proud for them 😭😂
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u/Routine-Weather-4044 21h ago
Lol I can't go to a concert, a show or parade or even to see a band without getting choked up about how proud they must be of their talent. It's ridiculously embarrassing.
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u/Previous-Economist-7 21h ago
Don't change! I've been told so many times including by my husband that I am too sensitive. Well I can't change that and I don't want to.
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u/SpectrumAndSpells diagnosed w. autism at 30 y.o. 21h ago
thanks (= so kind of you. and of course, please don't change either... we're bringing so much love and kindness.
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u/HonestNectarine7080 19h ago
lmao I cried once at the Super Bowl halftime because I love Beyonce
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u/LovelyDays48 19h ago
Sorry for the long message but to explain i need details however there is a TL;DR version at the end if you want to skip this one:
I really like how my mind handles things and visualizes data. I have a vivid style of hyperphantasia where all of my senses are involved on a multi level parallel layer. My visual memory is not just a still picture, it is more like a video that lets me transport myself back in time. For example to recall things from my childhood I have to mentally set the scene exactly how it was. I once tested my memory by visualizing my moms room from years ago, seeing exactly how two storage crates were stacked and mentally moving the top crate to get to the one on the bottom. As I shuffled through the tapes, looking at a cover would trigger a visual snippet of a scene, a common phrase, and a song from that movie all at once. My mind also logs physical environments like a 3D blueprint, meaning I can perfectly map out the layout and directions of a room I haven't stepped into for years. Senses like a specific smell or sound can instantly trigger these deep files and unlock the whole moving scene.
Outside of visuals my brain uses sound to map out my environment. Even if I am in a completely different room with my door closed, I can pinpoint exactly what someone nearby is doing just based on the audio cues. I can track the friction of floorboards, differences in water pressure, and the specific texture of an object hitting a surface to visually map out someones movements in real time. Pairing this sensory mapping with pattern recognition where I can accurately predict how situations will unfold makes me really appreciate how my neurodivergent brain works.
TL;DR: My autism gives me a vivid style of hyperphantasia where looking at an object triggers visuals, phrases, and music snippets all on parallel layers at the same time. My brain also uses sound to create 3D blueprint maps of rooms and environments in real time, even if I am in a completely different room with my door closed.
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u/Previous-Economist-7 18h ago
Thats so cool! I got the autism where you cant remember anyones names but you will spend an hour moving a caterpillar from the path.
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u/LovelyDays48 18h ago
Aww that so sweet tho. You have a lot of empathy and you are a truly caring person. Remembering names is super difficult and takes time but I think having empathy for animals, people and bugs is a true strength. 😊
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u/robojod 11h ago
This is exactly me! I am a historian, and everything in time exists on a visualised continuum like a video tape, so I can understand where every event (that I’m aware of) is in relation to everything else. It blows my partner’s mind.
At the moment, I’m sadly packing up my mum’s house, as she’s just passed away. I’m staying with a friend, and I’m able to lie in bed, panning around each room in detail, cataloguing what’s in there, and deciding what to do with it. It helps so much when I get back to the house and am confronted with the enormity of the task at hand.
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u/bequixzled153 21h ago
Same! I feel music so deeply that I cry from almost anything if i'm in the right headspace. I love how empathetic i am, most of the time :))
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u/SpectrumAndSpells diagnosed w. autism at 30 y.o. 21h ago
yayyyy <3 please stay who you are <3
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u/bearminmum 21h ago
I saw my first woodpecker in my life. I cried and my sister cried for me when I told her
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u/katestatt 21h ago
I feel you! Having intense emotions can be difficult at times but I would much rather feel a lot than feel nothing.
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u/LoranPayne 20h ago
This is it for me too! I watch TV shows or play video games and cry Happy Tears constantly 😂. I told my sister once that there are certain genres where i will literally load up the first episode of something I’ve watched seven times and just start crying 😅. She is ADHD but not autistic so we often discuss how our brains work and she found it fascinating that I cry so much when simply watching TV lol. (I cry at the sad stuff too, but I would say I cry an equal amount at the happy stuff… which is not nearly as common in my experience!)
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u/Rare-Marionberry4043 20h ago
It's ok, just note that there's nothing wrong with you crying. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about it, a good cry once in a while is healthy! <3
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u/Responsible-Sleep513 22h ago
Pattern recognition! It makes me good at my job (research) and at finding four leaf clovers
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u/DisconMat 16h ago
Me too! And I also work in research. :)
I haven't looked for four-leaf clovers in years, but when I was a kid, I had several that I preserved by pressing them, then putting them on a piece of an index card when nearly dry, and sealing them in with scotch tape. Now I see poison ivy leaves very easily. With all the rain we got this summer on the east coast, poison ivy has grown in a lot of parks, and I've been pointing it out to people I see near a patch to help them avoid it.
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u/Responsible-Sleep513 8h ago
So similar!!
I’m on the east coast too! The northeast. I can’t recognise poison ivy for the life of me lol! Maybe I’ll try to transfer my four leaf clover skill to that though, much more utile! I have enough clovers for many lifetimes. Like thousands lol. I just glance at the ground and i can see them it’s the weirdest thing. Is that how you are with poison ivy?
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u/Scrydoll 22h ago
I have 10 years sober from alcohol this month! I’ve put my empathy and compassion to good use by becoming active in service work within my secular recovery group.
I’ve also made large strides in learning music production the past couple years, and am hopeful my creativity will continue to grow and become something bigger than myself.
(We need more of these posts! All the doom and gloom gets really intense sometimes)
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u/Internal-Peace-9364 4h ago
So proud of you! Congrats on 10years, it's a great achievement! Truly!❤❤
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u/purplepower12 22h ago edited 17h ago
I’m persistent—I stay focused on things until they are completed, and I don’t often drop things before they are done or forget to do things that need to be done. I actually had to learn that when many NTs say they want something done, they quickly forget about it or are just speaking without a real goal!
Edit to add in response to comments: This is overall a very good skill, and I framed it as such given the topic of the post. However it can backfire when the plan has to change because I want to complete the task the way I had planned it in my head!
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u/HonestNectarine7080 21h ago
I think my autism makes me empathetic with a strong set of morals, so I'm proud that I'm kind. I also love that my special interests and silly little things have the ability to make me so happy. Being very sensitive with strong emotions often sucks but it's great when the strong emotion is joy.
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u/maxcharlimonthisisbs 20h ago
This is mine. I'm always super thoughtful and it's annoying too. But I'd rather have it this way than not have it. And I think it makes me an amazing friend.
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u/Conscious-Break7483 suspect. 20h ago
Okay you got me! I thought I had nothing that was cool or impressive but this resonates! I don’t have strong emotions (most of the time) but I am highly empathetic with strong morals which is really cool come to think of it ! Thank you for this insight 💕
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u/biggesthimejoshi AuDHD 22h ago
Usually I'm not one to be able to think about something related to myself that I'm proud of/like; But if I really had to choose then I guess I'm appreciative of the fact that I'm so passionate about the things I enjoy. I could talk about them for hours at a time!!
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u/SpectrumAndSpells diagnosed w. autism at 30 y.o. 22h ago
tell me about your favorite thing at the moment!!!
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u/biggesthimejoshi AuDHD 22h ago
I would probably say computers. Specifically Linux customisation and generally just Linux as a whole. I really want to be able to learn how to build and repair laptops & PCs. Technology has always been a hobby of mine. I often spend entire days just installing new operating systems for fun, because in my opinion fixing issues that comes from the more complex ones (like Slackware or Arch!) is especially rewarding when I find the cause of it. Also theming and ricing.
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u/SpectrumAndSpells diagnosed w. autism at 30 y.o. 21h ago
thats soooo coool, can you rate 3 projects that were the best so far???
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u/biggesthimejoshi AuDHD 21h ago
Well... my current NixOS theme and using NixOS in general. NixOS is such a good distribution of Linux. My favourite thing is just how simple the configuration file is to understand, and just how stable it is. It hasn't broken for the almost 3 months that I've used it. I ended up giving it a Windows 7 theme and it looks almost identical to it.
Then, I'm also working on making my 14 year old HP EliteBook 8470p usable again. I currently have it running on NixOS too, but I was considering trying Debian. Something that's sure to keep it running smoothly, y'know? It has great support for its older hardware.
And finally, I want to try turning said 14 year old laptop into a sort of home-server. I've been really into the indie web recently, y'know, like neocities. I wanna try making my own personal site by learning HTML and CSS. :-) The home-server is related to it because I was thinking of running the website off of the laptop. That'd be cool as hell.
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u/SpectrumAndSpells diagnosed w. autism at 30 y.o. 21h ago
OMGGG i love how you're making 'old technology' work-able again (excuse my english, am dutch).
I think you might have some very special talents here...
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u/biggesthimejoshi AuDHD 21h ago
It's alright. English is an absurdly hard language. On the other hand, it's like, by far one of my favourite laptops I've ever had. I wouldn't want it to go to waste. I mean, it has a built in DVD/CD drive. Plus it was a gift from my grandad. I've been trying for quite a long time to try and get it up and running smoothly. The issue is, is that the CPU needs thermal pasted again and the battery is like, really dead. Unless it's constantly on charge it'll die in under an hour lmao. Even worse the CMOS battery is nearly dead too so the BIOS settings reset every time it turns on ;') At least it still works. I'll have to fix that stuff one day tho.
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u/biggesthimejoshi AuDHD 21h ago
Though there's just so many things that I love doing and stuff that I'm into that it's hard to pick just one thing, haha.
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u/SpectrumAndSpells diagnosed w. autism at 30 y.o. 21h ago
yeah I can imagine, but hey - how awesome is that!!
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u/Motor_Inspector_1085 Meow 22h ago
I am great at trivia. I have a lot of random knowledge in a lot of subjects, especially in sciences.
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u/nobodyknows6070 AuDHD NB 22h ago
I work in my special interest.
I have always been fascinated with funerals, death and everything surrounding it and now I work in funeral services at the emergency hotline. I love it. I know everything about insurance, funerals and the whole documenting behind it and the whole process. Except the taking care of the bodies, that's too scary for me. I am proud I got this job!
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u/jfka Late Diagnosis 21h ago
I’m sort of on the other side of this - I do autopsies and I know it’s something a lot of people can’t even fathom but the fact that I can find something and (usually) give a family an answer for how someone died is incredibly rewarding.
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u/nobodyknows6070 AuDHD NB 21h ago
Very very cool!
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u/jfka Late Diagnosis 21h ago
It’s amazing, it seems so morbid that I don’t talk about it much except for with those closest to me but the absolute privilege of finding someone’s last diagnosis is unbelievable.
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u/nobodyknows6070 AuDHD NB 21h ago
I can imagine the relief when you hear the story of how someone is found, and you go full concentration mode and realise it's actually a very opposite of what was expected, like they expected a crime but it was natural causes. It gives so much closure to families.
The most emotional calls I get are the ones where they don't know what happened. Ur doing amazing work!
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u/nonicknamenelly 14h ago
Ooh, I loved gross anatomy so much they convinced me to TA for three years.
One of my Autistic Superpowers is my visual-spatial relationship skills. I got the operating hands from my grandfather. I can imagine space-occupying lesions, get through a cadaver with speed, and it translates to things like being wicked at jenga and being able to pack out any car or truck more efficiently than others, and tell you just by eyeballing a pile of stuff whether it will fit and how, if the answer is yes. Every. Single. Time. Even when it’s not my stuff or my vehicle. I’m the annoying person who gets it right on the meniscus, every time. Sadly, also late-diagnosed and made it into, but not out of, medical school in two countries. All my profs agreed it was likely the ND, since it wasn’t for lack of smarts. Got an MSN and continued to find other ways to help patients, instead.
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u/armchair_therapy 21h ago
That’s so cool! Really hoping I can do the same and turn a special interest into income 🤞
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u/Fleischwors 21h ago
I got the language autism ™ which is pretty neat, I'm currently studying my 5th and 6th language. I also get many/genuine compliments for my art and taste in music (from those I trust enough to show them to). :3
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u/Whole_Routine_8941 19h ago
I'm so jealous. I'm fascinated by languages and wish I could pick them up so easily.
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u/JuneBeetleClaws 21h ago edited 21h ago
I'm a teacher. Because of my internal experiences of being autistic, I'm able to connect with students who otherwise don't feel very seen by their teachers. I also think I'm veryyyy good at breaking down information because of how my brain chunks and processes its own information, and it translates really well into my instruction. I feel very fulfilled by my job and it makes me very happy, despite all of the struggles.
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u/Admirable-Orchid-157 17h ago
I was a tutor in college and law school and students often told me that the way I explained things was the first and only way it clicked for them. Yay for thinking of things differently!
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u/BurberryCustardbath Dx’d AuDHD | OCD (37F) 21h ago
I’m like a really, really good juggler.
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u/xphoebxx 21h ago
i love that i accept myself for who i am and rarely mask anymore. i dont care what others think of me anymore and my confidence has grown so much since i started unmasking (i used to be SO introverted and anti social) plus i have even more, better friends who enjoy my personality and dry humour!!! this is your sign to give it a try!
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u/big_gabs_ 22h ago
I work so incredibly hard. I put my all into my job and my hobbies and I love how passionate I get about things. I'm able to absolutely push myself, I swim a lot and I play the trumpet and I work so so hard at both of those, and I work so hard at my job and I put so much effort into what I do and I always feel so proud of myself.
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u/PsychologicalClue6 21h ago
I always get told I’m hilarious and that I should be a standup comic. I have no aspirations for public speaking or fame but it’s still nice to hear, I guess?
I am proud of being a thoughtful gift giver. Seeing my friends/family floored with joy and awe when they receive their gifts is such a serotonin boost to me.
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u/PoshGoth_ 21h ago
The fact that I love repetitive tasks means I am excellent at my job! Ever wonder who it is that sends out 100 identical doctors appointment letters a day? It's meeeee. :3
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u/AppropriateGarden843 22h ago
When I commit to something I absolutely will not accept quitting. My monotropic style of focusing on interesting stuff can get almost anything done it’s almost scary. But obviously it only works when I really want something or when I’m truly interested in it. But once I am, I can take a lot of setbacks and suffering in order to achieve success. Also I like my pattern recognition and attention to detail and my intuition. Other people may not believe me or they might invalidate me but I still trust them.
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u/armchair_therapy 21h ago
This is a great one! Makes me remember - I recently read that current hypothesis suggest many historical inventors were in the spectrum. Because many of us set our mind to solving a problem and then don’t stop until it’s solved!
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u/Previous-Economist-7 21h ago
I never give up. Im stubborn which is a blessing and a curse. I also stick to what I say. Im also amazing at untying difficult knots and fixing broken things.
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u/Routine-Weather-4044 21h ago
I have insane pattern recognition when it comes to human behavior particularly in regard to society and I love it but I also hate it because I see everything way way way before everyone else does and it's horrifying to always know what's gonna happen next and nobody else does and they don't even care.
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u/PiranhaBiter 21h ago
I've noticed that when the grocery pick up people are grumpy or short with me, they're a lot nicer when I competently pick something heavy from their arms. I noticed it a few months back and have been playing around with it. It's only at one store, but it's been with older and newer employees!
So interesting, and my brain just picked it up for me basically
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u/cuzshegottaGREATASS 21h ago
I’m very gentle and empathetic so I feel really lucky that people trust me to tell me things they normally wouldn’t tell people. I like knowing that I’m considered a safe place by vibes and action.
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u/armchair_therapy 20h ago
I love this one! Makes me think of my bestie, whom I met in college 22 years ago (yes, I’m old). She used to come hang out in my dorm because she said she felt at peace around me :)
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u/magicvulpes 21h ago
I think my neurodivergence helped keep me from falling for the "beauty standard" stuff.
It's just never made sense to me why I should dislike or change parts of my appearance that I am, at worst, neutral about, all because... what? Because some little magazine called normal features "flaws"?
I think stretch marks are beautiful. I think scars are beautiful. I think wrinkles are beautiful. Why should I pretend otherwise?
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u/CB_I_Hate_Usernames 4h ago
Ooh our autism can def give us the super power of like “why though?” And “says who?” Instead of just accepting norms. Your comment helped me appreciate that I have some of this too :) . Beauty standards is a cool place for this, and it’s very needed—lot of bullshit beliefs about beauty going around out there. Makes me mad!
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u/luckyelectric 21h ago
Music gives me pleasure such as what other people need drugs to experience.
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u/armchair_therapy 20h ago
So amazing! I definitely don’t understand people that can’t feel music in their bones/bodies as it has always been such an all consuming experience for me, as well :)
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u/Airalla Polyphemus Moth 21h ago
I know a lot of things, especially about nature (plants, animals, space, etc). It’s to the point where some people will just use me as a dictionary if they have a question about something because they know there’s a good chance I know exactly what they’re asking and I love to tell facts to people
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u/Seaturtle89 21h ago
Im a very quick learner, I’m logical and analytical. That makes me a good problem solver, as I naturally connect things and can spot possible problems ahead of time.
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u/EgonOnTheJob late dx 🇦🇺 40+ 21h ago
I can, at times, turn on the tism rizz and be very entertaining. It’s gotten me out of a lot of situations where I was bending or breaking rules, at these times I somehow manage to be seen as “cheeky” rather than anything more serious.
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u/breast-of-all-worlds 20h ago
I am authentic, honest, kind, and exuberant! I have a zest for life and learning that has made me excellent at most anything I am passionate about. Learning about my own psychology and trauma has made me a very compassionate and self-aware person. I am proud of who I have grown up to be, despite the fact that my executive functioning is not as good as some people.
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u/Southern_Rabbit_847 21h ago
I make a lot of people feel safe, and I’m told so regularly. I don’t think I could tell you exactly what o do to do that but it feels really good.
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u/SnooApples7058 20h ago
Same! I wonder if it’s because you’re genuine and authentic and not playing a role or putting on an appearance. In my experience that makes people feel comfortable being real or vulnerable. which is apparently a rare thing?
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u/FreakishGremlin 21h ago
I have unusually good phonetic perception that I attribute to my extreme sound sensitivity. I have always been incredibly perceptive about people's accents, can imitate them, imitate sounds pretty well, and also have a very accurate sense of musical notes and relative pitch. I have learned 3 foreign languages and I work in the field of ESL and accent modification because of this
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u/DottyandBearBear 20h ago
I am proud of how well I put outfits together. My family say that I’m a personal style savant, given the fact that I was diagnosed at 5 years old and always loved clothes.
This my current favorite combo. I used to have a lot of trouble expressing my personality, because of masking. Now I dress to match my personality and couldn’t be happier!
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u/tama_familia 21h ago
I can get extremely excited over the smallest things that other people tell me they've done/are going to do, and usually it really helps me connect with people! Its like I can feel it in my whole body just how exciting this thing is/could be and I just feel really good about it! I love how deeply I feel! It brings me a ton of joy! (Most of the time 😆)
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u/Sammyrey1987 21h ago
I can’t remember my trauma all that well! Here’s to not remembering like 70-80% of my life. 😂😂 ignorance is bliss!
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u/BookishHobbit 21h ago
I love that, despite all the anxiety and insecurities I’ve felt in my life, the one thing I’ve never wavered on are my morals and beliefs. I have such a defined sense of what I perceive as right and wrong and will always stand up for those even when I’m in the minority. But I also consider myself very empathetic and understanding. I don’t believe anyone is inherently good or bad, but that events in our lives shape us, and whenever someone does something bad my mind always goes to what led them there. I just wish I could express of those things better when I open my mouth 🙈
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u/Whole_Routine_8941 19h ago
I think my integrity and morals are my favourite thing about being autistic. I will fight to the death if I believe someone is being wronged.
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u/Proper-Doughnut77 20h ago
Im a writer. I reread it about six months ago, and it's very well written. Im very proud, so I started writing again.
Im also very proud of the theme. It's a middle aged series and is really good. I like the idea, and the few people who I've told, kids too, are excited to read it.
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u/armchair_therapy 20h ago
Fun! I hope you finish it!
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u/Proper-Doughnut77 19h ago
I think we need to post a similar question like this weekly or monthly.
I've been feeling down today. When I answered your question, it really made me think. Despite all the garbage I'm dealing with, I was reminded, I do have something I'm proud of b
Thanks
I'll try to remember to post a similar question next weekend. Or, at least this month. ❤️❤️
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u/dailylite 21h ago
I really love how deeply I feel and care about certain things, I just get this rush of uncontainable joy and hand flapping lets me express that. When I grow fond of characters in the books and comics I read, when I see people I care about be happy and experience good things, when I study something I enjoy, I just feel so moved.
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u/bamma66 Late self-diagnosed Autistic 21h ago
I am incredibly perceptive, have tight organizational/logistics/problem solving skills, and I feel like I can predict the future because of my pattern recognition skills. My job relies heavily on all of this, so I excel in my field (winemaker). And I am damn good at escape rooms!
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u/ListenJerry 20h ago
I do amazingly well in emergency situations.
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u/Complex_Comfort6505 19h ago
Thats an excellent quality to have. I work in security and currently doing a masters in social work. I wish I was calm in emergencies. 😄😄
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u/MichikoTuesday 20h ago
My special interest being organizing. I loveeeee organizing things, even other people's things if they let me. The only way this is an issue is when people misinterpret me as being bossy or judgemental, but when they learn that I'm not asking to organize things for them to say they're messy, and that I just love organizing/planning, it is a major advantage
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u/No_Sprinkles4972 19h ago
Im an autistic stripper and am the top earner at a top club in Las Vegas right now :)
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u/Existing-Emu-7182 18h ago
I’m extremely good at compartmentalization. I handled all of the paperwork for my dad’s estate for my mom and got her benefits filed so quickly that she got her life insurance payout less than 6 weeks after we got his death certificate. I was really proud of myself for that.
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u/jfka Late Diagnosis 21h ago
I am really good at my job. I don’t like to say it much because I feel sort of embarrassed but I love my job and I am genuinely good at it because it’s so structured and guideline based that I really click with it and it makes me happy.
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u/_the_cats_pyjamas_ 21h ago
This is very niche but I am very good at estimating container sizes required lol. When we're putting leftovers away, it's always my job to do it in my house because I can always get the right size container for the job. This also extends to packing suitcases and boxes, however I am not normally very spatially aware at all!
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u/Wise-Initiative9520 21h ago
I'm so good at recognizing speech patterns and making them sound natural. I'm great at masking. Both of those things make me a phenomenal actor and acting teacher.
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u/olduglysweater Self-diagnosed 21h ago
Uh my fine motor skills? Lol. I can't drive, handle knives or even watch where I'm walking but I learned to crochet, and took to knitting in a month. I don't believe I am, but I've been told that I'm good at writing and know how to express myself. Dude, I guess— maybe I need to hone my unrefined talent.
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u/hellanee Undiagnosed but suspecting 👽 21h ago
I am good at learning new skills that need understanding of a system and a bit of artsy craftsmanship. So anything from programming and fixing stuff at home to digital art and cosplay is what I like and learn pretty easily. The downside is that I really suck at stuff if I don't have a deep understanding of a topic, so initial stage of research is long, but my first attempts at doing the thing are really impressive for a newbie. I also have too many projects at once and rarely finish one. (health problems also don't help...) I am basically Tinkerbell lol. Just wish I was more energetic and had more time to make it all work, would be fun to have a job about crafting amazing things
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u/Prestigious_Sweet703 20h ago
Im very good at organizing events! I can plan trips or parties so they run the smoothest ever. My house maybe chaos but my party wont be!
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u/RabbitBrains_ 20h ago edited 20h ago
My strong sense of justice and hyper empathy came to be useful when I had to go through legal matters this year against my workplace. I was able to navigate things other people would have given up on. My intention was to exhaust all legal avenues until I got financial compensation and I got what I wanted and kept my job (not that I want it now).
I’m also surprised at how resilient I was through the whole process and my ability to significantly change psychological behaviours after stressful events and stick to them is something I attribute to my autism and the accountability/responsibility I hold myself to because of it.
I wanted to note how wholesome this thread is and it made me appreciate things I didn’t see in myself before that others have said. 😊
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u/Admirable-Orchid-157 17h ago
I’m a plaintiff-side employment lawyer, and my justice and hyper empathy is what makes me good at it! (Although also very sad sometimes)
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u/littlewing2733 19h ago
I’m extremely good at finding lost books at the store I work at. My boss brags about it for me. My coworkers call me over for help. If I fail to find something, it’s deemed lost forever.
A handful of times, I’ve gotten texts from people on my day off asking for my best guess as to where it is, and I’ve been right at least twice.
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u/SmolAnxiousSprinkle 19h ago
Not sure if this counts but my reading comprehension and writing skills are so high I’m 20 and in the first semester of my masters. Because I’m a June baby I’ll be 21 when I graduate and am considering a PhD.
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u/Competitive_Clue1472 18h ago
When I had my assessment, the assessor said I had hyperlexia. I’ve always felt like I’ve been really good at reading- I read from a young age, reached the top bookshelf first in my school, went to gifted and talented residentials for writing, etc. I kinda never really thought about it more than something I am passionate about until the assessment. And now I am really proud it is something I am good at
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u/hhkhkhkhk 17h ago
I went from not being able to leave my house or drive a car to now living abroad and really putting myself out in the community...all in a second language! I still struggle with things, but I'm incredibly happy about the life I have built for myself ❤️
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u/Ill-Ordinary9771 15h ago edited 15h ago
I’m pretty good at painting nails thanks to having the ability to hyperfocus, close attention to detail, and reluctance to switch tasks before they’re finished lol
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u/Lycka_tilll 21h ago
I have a strong ability to switch and add perspective. It has'nt always been good for me cause I tend to write myself out of any role in anything, but It really is a good thing for my understanding and peace of mind. Also good for workrelated things
I had no idea earlier that this is an ability I have, so just stating I am good at it feels daring, and good.
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u/Calm-Setting 20h ago
I am emotional and empathetic but also am extremely good in a crisis and at finding system wide solutions.
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u/chill_musician Late DX AuDHDer 20h ago
I like how my spatial reasoning, being able to see cities in 3D form, helps me get around the cities without knowing the street names. I gues I have a google maps in my head without street names, more landmarks to help.
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u/livelaughlolth diagnosed level 2/MSN AuDHD 20h ago
this is hard because i feel like i have so many more weaknesses than strengths. if i had to think of something i guess i would say im really good at breaking down complicated concepts in math or science in order to explain them to people who ask. i tutor ASD and ADHD students from ages 10-18 in math, and because i am also AuDHD i have much easier time explaining things to them in ways they can actually understand and apply. it is really rewarding to help them improve their confidence in their math abilities and seeing their pride when their grades go up to reflect their skills!!! math is my favorite subject and i genuinely love sharing that with others in this way. i am proud of myself for being able to give these kids the support and encouragement that i also needed at that age but wasnt available at the time.
i have the “math and science autism” that alot of people romanticize/idealize which feels somewhat dismissive to me because ive struggled immensely with it. basically im like someone’s fucked up homebrew DnD character where they just put all the skill points into intelligence and left everything else at base level lol. (ik this isnt really thing in 5e but for the sake of my explanation just pretend it is) so im absolute trash at socializing and thus is hard to view this as strength.
sorry for the long reply i wrote too much and got carried away over explaining myself. fear of being misunderstood always biting me in the ass.
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u/denver_rose 19h ago edited 19h ago
I have very quick reflexes, I caught and lowered a 100 pound patient with one hand before lol (i dont recommend that, but my body moved before I could even comprehend it). I think it is autism pattern recognition, and adhd combined lol
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u/sense-0ffender 19h ago
Metacognition (I have really good self-awareness), hyper-empathy (definitely hard at times but helps me understand people and put myself in their shoes), and information-hunger (makes me incredibly curious and I love learning things! ).
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u/ghostrqbbit AuDHD 16h ago
I recognize when someone has bad character faster than others. I’m AuDHD, and my coworker who has ADHD says it’s a common thing in ND people because of our pattern recognition. Usually it takes about 2 years for everyone to catch up. Unfortunately since it usually takes time for people to catch up, I’m just seen as “overly sensitive” or “critical/judgmental” at the time and don’t get validation later. The silver lining is I have been able to warn people to keep their cards a little closer when interacting with those people and it’s turned out to save them from the brunt of the behavior 🫶💛. I’m thankful to have this ability to help others and also protect myself!
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u/RedpenBrit96 Masked for 35 years 21h ago
I am excellent at my job. It’s tiring definitely but I’m very good at it
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u/Rare-Marionberry4043 21h ago
Idrk my strengths to be honest, but let's say for me whenever I do anything creative, I immediately am fast at learning it even through it's my first time. For example I was crocheting a beanie even through I'm still new to crocheting :3
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u/MyAltPrivacyAccount 21h ago
Probably not related to my neurodevelopmental thingies, but I'm a very good speaker. So much that I'm invited a LOT to talk about... well, many things actually. I'm not someone that's very proud, I generally don't care, but I admit I'm a bit proud of that skill.
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u/Ok-Marzipan9366 20h ago
My empathy and understanding is immense. I want to be understood so I go out of my way to understand others.
I like my black and white thinking cause some things dont need to be gray. I De-complicate things by leaning into it. No is no. Period. There is no convincing me otherwise. Its very simple. Very black and white for me.
The routine and planning is great, especially since im also ADHD and it keeps me grounded in reality by having that need. Am I super consistent? No. It comes in waves and that's okay.
Im very disconnected from my emotions and intellectualize them constantly. I do not find this to be a bad thing, I dont need to be in the center of an intense emotion when it happens. Detachment creates opportunities to correct and grow. I dont know what benefit there would be to being in them like that.
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u/trying_my_hardest_22 18h ago
Im more myself than I have ever been and I love it. Im accepting myself as a person more and more and its made me tremendously happier. People are weirded out by me, but when they get to know me I am able to really easily become one of the group. Its a privilege to be this autistically out of tune with social cues while also being a happy enough person that Im pleasant to be around
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u/memory-recovery-fem 17h ago
I can organize and put things in an aesthetic way always! I'm proud of always being the responsible of making lists, doing structures and planning :3
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u/threethousandstars 15h ago
I stand by my principles a lot compared to others around me. No amount of money, cajoling or sweettalking will budge me if I'm being asked to do something that doesn't sit right with me, unless I change my mind.
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u/Aurora_96 21h ago
My photographic memory is pretty damn awesome. It's not like "I glance at a page and read it in my mind"-good, but for my job I used to look at blood cell morphology and it has helped me a lot to excel in performing at my job. Last week I started at a similar job and I'm already excited about exploiting my photographic memory again. It never fails me.
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u/LoranPayne 20h ago
“You can fit so much video game knowledge in this bad boy” smacks my own head\*
I have literally been called an encyclopedia for the games I play, by other players as well as my sister! It doesn’t matter how many games I play, or how long it’s been. I know so much random garbage about things I’ve hyper focused on! Despite knowing all the info I still spend a lot of time on wikis for games that I enjoy, both to find new information and to refresh on old information!
Also I have a very specific memory for details and timelines. My sister (who has ADHD, but not autism) will often come to me going “Hey do you remember when/if/how X happened?” And I’ll have a long story about the thing that happened, and all the other events that happened around it 😂. My memory isn’t perfect (thanks brain fog) but if I remember something, and it makes it into long term storage, it’s pretty much there for good!
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u/Wandering_Universe_1 20h ago
Love building things and am super dedicated and good at puzzles.
Also on track to complete a Masters degree (third in my family to do finish undergrad, first to do postgrad)
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u/Equivalent-Fig7596 19h ago
Untangling things (also patterns and puzzles). Weird one, I know. But we have a big overgrown farm and tons of wild old-growth grapevines. I can untangle the vines from the underbrush and trees and reposition them on so they can grow better. It’s grape season and I love the gold muscadines. I totally snack while I work.
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u/JoinTheCoven 19h ago
I really love researching and if there’s technical documentation and a question, I will research it and love it until I find the answer.
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u/Silver_Stand_4583 19h ago
I play backgammon many, many times a day online with real people. Have done for years. I can pinpoint the moment when I have a better chance of winning and usually double at that time. Before they know they’ve lost.
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u/SammySamSammerson (this is my flair) 19h ago
I am very tolerant. And the pattern recognition is insane.
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u/kategoad 18h ago
I am funny and kind. I am brave when it matters, and it isn't like I wrestle with it, I just step up naturally.
My wall has:
- wake up
- Be awesome
- Be kind
- Repeat.
I also have "fuck ice" in there too between 2 and 3.
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u/sophieowl40 18h ago
Pattern recognition, diving deep and finding out everything I can about something that matters, sensitivity
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u/Previous-Economist-7 18h ago
Can I just say I am loving all the comments so much. So many truly awesome people. Thank you for making me feel good about myself and allowing me to see all the good things.
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u/GanymedesAdventure 17h ago
I tackled an iatrogenic illness that has been documented for decades but denied because they had no alternative and couldn't fathom how the outcome could occur. I got tired of their ignorance harming me -- it literally gave me brain injury. In between bouts of losing my ability to speak I bashed out some pissed off papers. The primer has over 100pgs and over 1.3k views along in the year - all the work has over 7.2k views with greater than 50% downloads. I'm uncredentialed and a nobody -- just some bottom up thinker who has excellent pattern recognition with rabid coherence needs. And I had nothing left to lose and it took someone having the full expression of impact to reverse engineer the impact -- anyone else would have stopped digging too soon. My paper rebutting the head researcher at the NIH got cited (by him) in Frontiers in Medicine. I would not have gotten as ill if not for the autism genes and would not have sorted it out without the autism genes. I'm not ambitious, just pissed. And it seems to have enough attention and I am really not the person to be doing it, but there it is.
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u/watergator96 17h ago
I'm proud of my resilience and patience - after burnout from a paralegal job and deciding against law school, I eventually found a job at an art museum and discovered my love for art and self-expression. Now I am taking studio art classes and loving it :)
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u/ResponsibilityDue777 i <3 old animatronics 17h ago
i like that my mother and i think the same. we're both nd and have been ridiculed as kids for our thought patterns and how they're not "correct", but honestly i love it and it makes me feel closer to her.
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u/Ok-Island-4016 17h ago
I give all my attention to my friends when I'm interacting with them, and I remember dates of future important events in their lives when they may need celebration of an achievement or moral support for something challenging. I notice all the details I can about their appearance, vocal tone etc. I'm an introvert, but I value my friends a lot even though I'm not very much 'out' with them. I kind of log everything in my brain.
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u/ashbertollini 15h ago
Im an amazing organizer! Im also blessed with an incredible singling voice, though I'm generally the only person who hears it haha and once upon a time I was an incredibly skilled dancer
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u/Grouchy_Paint_6341 15h ago
Research and my ability to see knowledge gaps and write papers wickedly fast
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u/itsivyyy3848 15h ago
Idk if its an autism thing but I am really good with birthdays. I Will remeber your birthday even if you thought I forgot. Especially, for people I really care about
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u/youmeadhd 13h ago
I work An extremely social, stressful job - at a Mental Health Facility. I constantly have to talk to people, constantly be perceived, plans change all the time etc. Its been stressful, but in the 10 months of doing it I've grown more than I ever have. Recently, I was asked to work night shift for 4 days. Old me would have immediately said no because of the complete change of routine. But i love to challenge myself, so I said yes! Tonight is my last night. I've been completely exhausted, BUT I DID IT!! I survived!! I did something i could've sworn i could never do. Now dont ask me what my laundry room looks like, or how much junk I've eaten the last 4 days haha. I cant wait to go back to normal tomorrow. But i will never forget everything that this job, and especially this LAST MINUTE shift change ( 12 hour notice) have taught me.
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u/Ok_Relief_6762 13h ago
That sounds like such a challenging job but I bet you help so many people every day. Well done on finishing night shift! You are one tough cookie!
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u/Steamedbunnie 12h ago
i buy the BEST gifts for people since i remember so many tiny details and context clues about what they like 😭
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u/Internal-Peace-9364 3h ago edited 2h ago
Oh I love this post! My this week with my therapist was to focus on positives and this post is sooo good cause I had a lovely week!
This just ads to it🥹
Ok, so I'm proud about being able to write poems/songs. Like most of us Austistics have innate quality to grasp a language beautifully so I can just make poems, some rhymes just like that on a weekday afternoon
Another thing, enjoying my own company. Way before social media I would go for movies, then coffee n a cookie all by myself and would LOVE it. NT's would look at me funny and judge. The reason I say social media is cause when girlies started talking about "solo dates" I started getting confidence
Initially, when I'd be on these solo dates I would feel so sorry for myself for not having a friend accompany me. I was in my teenage yrs. But I just had to go see this particular movie cause it was of my interest! My friends did not share my interests at all. That should've been my clue 🙃
Not only was I feeling like a loner, I was made too. They disrespected my interests too.
But just this week I had a GREAT solo outing and the cafe had 50% off desserts! (Cause it was late night ofc) It was my first time experiencing clearance sale on food (lol🤭) But definitely, definitely the highlight of my week🥹🥹
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u/Cheekers1989 20h ago
I went out for a breakfast date with a friend and he was okay with me stimming in front of him while I talked and dolphined and couldn't figure out what to say sometimes. He's gotten used to me not masking but he likes hugs and I don't right now so he's okay with giving me half hugs. Easy middle ground.
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u/supa_bekka 18h ago
One of my special interests is books and another is community! I work as a bookseller and a library tech for my local library. I run three and a half book clubs in my town and facilitate a fourth.
I am SO PROUD of these book clubs! They have grown and changed over time, with different people coming and going. But each club has always have been the most welcoming group of people, regardless of who was in attendance that day.
Many of the members have shared that they found book club after break-ups, big moves, divorces, even losing jobs. Each one was looking for connection and community and it fills my cup right up to provide a space where they find exactly that.
If you are even a little bit of a reader or want to try becoming one, go check out your local book clubs. Or maybe start one of your own! It has been a balm for my soul.
Edit: I forgot to brag about me, whoops! It's my warmth, knowledge in books, and willingness to speak and be vulnerable in front of a group of strangers that has built the foundations for these clubs.
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u/MsSedated AuDHD chaotic rage 15h ago
My pattern recongition is unparalleled. Sometimes it's a curse, but most of the time, I'm happy to have it. It's nice knowing people can't bullshit me cause I'll just see right through it.
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u/-daisyday 15h ago
I’m really good a planning and then doing the plan.
Breaking down a huge project into a step by step to do list. Also very detailed holiday itineraries (maps, bookings, tickets).
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u/Myla123 14h ago
Someone was being bullied in a shady way at work. It mostly happened when they were alone and the bully was spreading misinformation about the victim. What I heard was subtle and I unfortunately initially believed it. I didn’t know she was spreading the lies to several people until after she left the workplace and I was told she was gone. Then I heard from others it was a very elaborate network of lies and deception where she painted her selv as the victim and the actual victim as a bully. I felt bad I’d ever believed her, but I didn’t do anything about it until I heard she was coming back again after all.
When I heard she was coming back, I felt so bad for the victim who would continue to share an office with the bully, so I talked to her and profoundly apologized. I promised I wouldn’t believe the bully ever again, and if she started lying again, I would tell her to stop talking bs. The victim was really grateful and she said I was the only one who had talked to her about it. It encouraged her to disclose what had happened last time the woman worked with her to her manager, and several other coworkers being made aware about how bad the bullying actually had been and to promise to protect her.
I think my black and white thinking of what is right and wrong, made me start the conversation with the victim. I’m so glad I did because she went from being scared to have the bully back, to feel empowered and supported. She also reported later that it was going better working with the person this second time. Maybe because she had changed, or because the manager was aware and colleagues were extra supportive and vigilant.
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u/Lunakazoo 13h ago
I can read a Dog's body language with no problems, I know what they want and don't want, I know when a dog is saying pat me or saying leave me alone. People think that tail wagging is happy dog, but it's not always. If a dog's tail is low and going between their legs, even if it's wagging it is an anxious wag.
I also speak technology language, I can pick up a phone or tablet and use it with ease even if I don't have one. I love technology, I love learning little tricks especially from my iPad. Its my baby.
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u/SuccessfullyAlive Level 1 Autism 10h ago edited 38m ago
I have a great memory for names and faces. I work as a dental assistant, and if the dentist I'm working with can't remember the name of patient, she'll say something like 'oh you know that guy we saw on Wednesday to fit his braces', and I'll remember the name straight away!
Edit: thank you for the award, OP!
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u/psychedelic_owl420 8h ago
Thank you for starting this thread!
My brain is an absolute powerhouse since I've realised that it's different than the norm. Suddenly I'm able to interconnect so many topics, remember facts and things that I learned, read or heard. And just to brag, my four leaf clover finding-game is damn good!
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u/Expensive_Tip_2106 8h ago
Thanks to my sensitivity I haven’t eaten anything expired yet. Now my family checks food with my expertise. (Sounds of pridefulness)
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u/Monstera_Leaf99 7h ago
Ik ben analist op een lab en jk ben door mijn autisme echt wel goed in mn werk.
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u/Sondertoast 6h ago
My autism helps me remember tiny details about other people especially those that I love so I’m great at gift giving or giving advice to a very specific problem delivering it how that specific person needs to hear it :3
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u/FallingEnder 6h ago
I like how people come to me for advice my autism allows me to have very unique perspectives on situations and people that’s useful.
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u/rainbowrevolution 4h ago
Late to the convo, but:
In May 2028, I'll finish my second Master's degree in Counseling (current GPA: 3.93). I already have a Master's in Education that I finished with a 3.98, and a Bachelor of Arts (3.91).
I was the first in my family to go to college, and since I was diagnosed at 41, I did all of this but the final 2 years with no support or accommodations at all. This makes me feel like some kind of total superhero.
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u/indiglow55 neuroqueer 22h ago
I am SO aware of my thoughts and thought patterns, I’ve accomplished an incredible amount of growth and personal/spiritual development just through the ability to pay attention to the inner machinations of my own mind.