We share, from a position of some vulnerability, one of the challenges we face, only to be met with a blithe statement along the lines of: ‘Well, we all do that, don’t we?’ or ‘I think that’s something everybody does!’ It might be that the intent is to show solidarity, but the effect is always one of diminishing our difficulties, making us feel like we’re moaning about something that other, stronger, better people just get on with. It’s highly damaging to an autistic person’s sense of self-worth, and it happens all the time.
