Women with Autism Quotes

“Struggling to fit into the world, and denying your authentic self, can cause self-dislike and low self-esteem and there is a strong link between autism and mental health issues, including anxiety and depression5. Consistently masking your true self goes beyond putting on a cloak of normality in the company of others to a lack of self-acceptance which kicks in even when it’s just you on you. Is there a space where you can reveal and accept your true self to yourself, or have you reached a point where you devalue yourself, because you don’t seem to fit with a social norm? Have those messages from those around you reached a point where they have become your core beliefs? If your choices flow from this point, it’s difficult to be authentic even with yourself. Becoming authentic, then, isn’t just about revealing your true self to others, it is about learning to love and accept yourself as you are. It is about discovering what you love in life, what nurtures your mind, body and soul and having the conviction to pursue those things. It is about valuing yourself enough to meet your needs and wants.”
― Claire Jack, Women with Autism: Accepting and Embracing Autism Spectrum Disorder as You Move Towards an Authentic Life

“And so, I got by. Not by bringing my true self to the table, but by camouflaging who I was. Where is the harm in that, you might ask? Surely, we all have to mask aspects of our personality as we go through life, whether or not we have autism? To some extent, this is correct and research shows that neurotypical people also employ camouflaging strategies1. The harm appears to be related to the degree to which women with autism camouflage2,3,4. When you have autism, you are constantly adapting to a situation which inherently doesn’t work for you because it doesn’t make any room for your needs and wants. Consistently masking is exhausting, depressing and anxiety-provoking.”
― Claire Jack, Women with Autism: Accepting and Embracing Autism Spectrum Disorder as You Move Towards an Authentic Life