If a "cure" to autism was created, would you take it?
If a "cure" to autism was created, would you take it?
Having discussed this IRL I have found there to be much disagreement in this area, what are your thoughts?
Clarification: This is a hypothetical so imagine it is one pill (or your preffered method of taking a medication) with no side effects.
Some years back, this might've been an alluring thought. But now, I think in the lines of "there isn't a cure when there's no disease". If anything, more and more, I see new strengths to be explored in this "issue" that is autism (as well as it "sibling condition", ADHD).
The only thing I truly dislike about my ASD is the difficulty with interpersonal communication. I like just about everything else.
Absolutely not. I love being autistic and don't see myself as the problem. I think that I have a lot of strengths that come from being autistic: authenticity, special interests, honesty, lack of manipulative behaviors, etc. However, I would love to be NT for maybe a week to see what these people are raving about.
Absolutely not. I wouldn't be me anymore, and I'm too attached to the perks. I don't really think that it would be possible to only get rid of the stuff that negatively impacts us.
There are times when I love what my sensitivity brings to the table, for example, when listening to music or looking at a painting, but I hate it when there's a subwoofer on somewhere on the block. I don't want to give up the first to not have to suffer the second. I'd love to be able to be more spontaneous, but I wouldn't give up my pattern recognition abilities.
It's an interesting question, though. Would we know what the expected changes would be before taking the pill?
It's hard to know which parts are autism and which aren't. I'm not even sure the question has an answer. I'd love to stop the bad parts like meltdowns and shutdowns and sensory hypersensitivity.
But which of my good parts are autism, and which are me? Would I change my interests, careers, social circles? It's hard to know. If it's a coin toss for each I'd probably not take the risk.
that's a good point. you're all of it, so the question doesn't seem to make much practical sense, though I get the spirit of it.
Hell no.
I should share my own opinion: Like everyone else who has commented here, I wouldn’t either. Autism gives me so many small abilities most NTs lack and I wouldn’t give that up willingly.
On one hand you may get to live that "normal" life you have thought about for most of your life, instead of wondering why you are different.
On the other hand I'd lose the logical thinking, the emotional disconnect to make proper decisions, the perspectives that few ever see, and more unique traits that I have learned to utilize to my advantage.
So my answer would be absolutely not. It doesn't have to be a disability. Learn what you are, how you work and build yourself up off of what you have. I see to many "normal" folks that are so much more of a mess in life because they cannot see themselves. Now a bit of egotistical here, I fully believe if more people were able to think and rationalize like myself the world would be a much better place.
Absolutely not. I would not even coherently be "me" anymore - autism is a pretty fundamental neurostructural difference/neurotype. It would be akin to being lobotomised.
Regardless of some of the downsides of being autistic, it is a fundamental aspect of how I experience the world, think about the world, and understand myself. And it has some advantages, too :) .
20 years ago I might have, but now I'm kinda used to this confused mass of thoughts and emotions. Plus I'm lazy and don't wanna
I wouldn't but I could understand my 14 year old self willing to do it. I too see how many parents wouldn't even thought twice about it. I have a kid who is autistic and we spend so much money in sensory therapy and speech therapy, it used to be like one third of our income (both parents). Luckily my husband started a new job during the pandemic and thinks are better now but I can see how desperate many parents are because there isn't enough support for this kids. That said, of course we are all different. I really like who I am, I know I suck at relationships, I'm aggressive sometimes and inflexible, I struggle a lot with changes in the routine but I think I have a very good moral compass and I have what some call autistic joy about my hiperfixations and that feeling makes life worth leaving. What I would like, instead of a magic pill is unlimited support for kids and adults (therapies) and a pill against ableism.
Technically speaking, I'm already taking it (ritalin and sertraline) - and it's barely working!
What would curing autism entail precisely? Are we talking about anything in particular? The way I see it autism is just a classification of people who's brain works differently in certain ways. Changing the way your brain works would inevitably change who you are. So curing autism would meaning killing yourself.
I suppose I meant it would you an NT. The reason I have found this question so hard is that it would fundamentally change who I am and I would be so different but also, I might end up having an easier life if I fit in better with everyone else - or would it just make me boring.
On the subject of how to word your question, perhaps this: "If you had the chance to permanently become neurotypical, would you take it?"
I personally would not since I don't see a reason too. Being NT wouldn't get rid of my problems, it would just give me different ones. I may have to work to produce facial expressions, but neurotypical people have to work to control theirs. If I'm in a situation where it would be inappropriate to laugh and something funny occurs, I can just not. I once sat quietly through a hilarious funeral. Family told me I was "serious", "respectful".
Anyway, being NT provides a "feel" for all the little rules of social interaction that I learn manually. But I'd still have to follow those rules or face the consequences of violation. I'm already autistic, may as well keep it that way.
I understand what you were asking and I agree, it would fundamentally change us. I think that you would become someone else entirely, and then the question boils down to: "Would you rather have been someone else?", to which I would say no.
Although there are things in life I don't like, there are also things I do like, and I would not want to lose the good things.
I dont think I would, while autism has got in my way a lot, its also given me unique perspectives on problems. Also, I think im to the point I take a little pride in being called a robot, and dont want that to change.
Maybe for a laugh, but wouldn't keep taking it. Weirdly enough, I felt much less autistic, if that makes sense, for a few years, long ago... Then did a shitload of drugs and got back my autism, plus bipolar disorder and paranoia. Home, sweet home!
I wonder if there was anything else going on in your life during that "autism break" that might had lowered the apparent intensity of the autism, bipolar, and paranoia.
No idea at all... To be clear though, I wasn't bipolar or paranoid before that, that was 100% my fault.
The fact there is no cure and even treatment is dubious is the main reason I have not bothered to get officially tested after it was suggested by another doctor that I do. What would be the point?
No. I'm not interested in a cure regardless of application method, efficacy, or side-effects or lack-thereof.
I still don't understand what autism is. Surely by now I met lot of people who were diagnosed with autism, but everyone seems normal to me. Maybe I am the autist
everyone seems normal to me
I didn't learn I was autistic until way into my adulthood. Upto then, the favorite people in my life were autistic, but I didn't know it. I just saw them as authentic people that had interesting quirks and appreciated their knowledge on subjects they enjoyed and lack of social games. I also had a special place for autistic kids and loved their toys to the point that I would seek them out to get some myself. One time, I was at a farmers market, saw what I now know as a fidget toy, and asked them what it was for. The lady said that it was for autistic kids because it helps them relieve stress. I played with it my hand and seriously said out loud, "Man, those autistic kids know what's up." One year later, I get diagnosed with autism 🤦♂️
Point being, I didn't realize I was autistic nor that my friends were autistic. I just thought that they were cool. Once I found out, I started telling my friends, so which many responded with, "Me too." That's how I found out that "autistic" is NT language for my "cool". Now, the best way to convince me to a social gathering is to tell me if anyone else that is going is autistic/cool.
I understand what you're saying, but like what makes you autistic if you went your whole life being completely functioning and no one else being able to point you out and being like "oh that guy, hes definitely autistic"
My brain is my autism pratically- if I were to take the pill, I would not be there anymore- I guess you get my point there
I guess for neurotypical people, a "cure" for autism would be proper social communication... If that is what we are talking about, than that would be benefitial for "socially unadaptive" autistic people, but for me and most likely other "socially adaptive" autistic people, that would be too artificial and forced. I would rather just understand social stuff, I learned many things from doing that anyways.