Autistic Joy

I recently discovered that I’m autistic – at the age of 43, after having worked as a psychotherapist for several years. This realization has not only offered me a new understanding of myself and my biography, but also a deeper appreciation for the many layers the human experience entails.

While autism has been largely discussed in connection to the struggles, disadvantages and suffering autistic individuals experience by having to squeeze into a society dominated by neurotypical standards, I would like to also highlight some of the unique qualities, joys and rewards that being autistic – or otherwise neurodivergent – can bring.

Every autistic person is different, and not everyone will relate to how I experience my neurodivergence. Nevertheless, I’d like to share one aspect which, I think, gets often overlooked: autism not only viewed through the lens of present struggles and inequalities, but also – and very importantly – as source of great joy, connection, inspiration and love.

According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), autistic individuals may have ‘highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus’ – a description that pathologizes what I experience as driving forces for unbridled curiosity and awe. My selected passions in life have always been music and the arts, language and communication, people and the human experience.

These interests have not only served as a source of great fascination and joy, but also as sources of inspiration, guidance and expertise – both personally and professionally. I love diving into them and ‘fixating on them with high intensity and focus’! They are my oxygen and my light. I radiate enthusiasm when given the space to talk about them, to share them and to find myself immersed in them.

If ‘abnormal’ is the precondition for experiencing such intensity and focus, then I am grateful and proud to ‘diverge from the norm’. It sparks my very existence and fuels my curiosity and eagerness to learn. These ‘highly restricted interests’ have led me to a career that is now a blend of all of them, and to a life filled with constant wonder and excitement.

Whether autistic, otherwise neurodivergent, or neurotypical – all of us shine in countless colours and facets, from sleek grey to flashy neon pink. Let’s inspire each other with our unique qualities and perceptions, support one another in our needs and embrace the connectedness of our shared humanity. With Daring Authenticity.