@actuallyautistic
I'm visiting family, and wow am I deep in autistic denial territory.
Some of my younger relatives have approached me, asking about neurodivergence because I've been so open about my experience as a late realised autistic person. They're wondering about themselves and their parents.
The older people though, are unable to have that conversation. There are jokey, sidelong half acknowledgements that "there might be something going on" with them, but otherwise it's High Masking At All Times.
What I find difficult to deal with is the rather toxic judgemental attitudes.
So-and-so relative is "so picky about his food, he thinks it makes him important" or "how ridiculous, he doesn't like the too bright light in the bathroom" and all the while I can see them struggling to deal with the exact same difficulties they're judging in others.
It's so ingrained, I don't know if there's a way for them to find self acceptance.
