alt-text for thumbnail since it embeds: it is an image of the autistic flag with an infinity symbol and multiple colored bars, on a drawn wooden background with the words “aspergers is abeist” on it
I would encourage people not to refer to this as an “identity”. Mental health conditions such as what’s now referred to as A.S.D are real “things” that have large impacts on people’s life, and are not and never will be (imo) "identity"ies.
Things that affect your way of life creep into your identity. Disabilities—including physical ones—change how you live, so they change how you view yourself and your relation to society (your identity). “A part of one’s identity” is maybe more fitting, but that’s pretty pedantic.
Also, I’m not sure you should suggest that someone’s identity is somehow less real than a mental condition. Both of them are integral functions of the mind that deeply and directly impact a person’s life. While I grant that many see identity as ‘less important’ or ‘more mutable’ (and thus less impactful) than diagnosable conditions, I’m not sure we should accept that without argument, and this comment inadvertently accepts it a priori.
I disagree but this is a good counterarguement, thank you for the perspective.
im autistic, its an identity
identities are real things too
I would encourage you to stay in your lane
ASD aka Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder not a mental health condition,
I am autistic (I also ascribe to the Asperger’s Syndrome label but that’s an intentionally hyperbolic stance of mine best discussed separate)
My brain is wired differently than my non-autistic peers, and has been developing differently in a measurable, significant way since I was a small child.
This leads to differences in what I eat, what I’m comfortable wearing, doing, what I do for fun, how I solve problems.
How could those changes not inform my identity? It affects what social circles I move in, what recreation I enjoy, the friendships I form and how I maintain them.
I’d argue that my autism is as important part of my identity as my regional origin, my religion, how much melatonin happens to be present in my skin.
If autism shouldn’t be considered part of my identity than neither should what sports team someone is a fan of, the religion they ascribe to, the culture they take part in, and I believe that would lead to a greyer, much more boring world.
Wouldn’t a neurodevelopmental disorders be a sub type of mental health condition?
Yeah, you’re right, looks like ‘mental health condition’ and ‘mental disorder’ are interchangeable (the Wikipedia page for the former redirects to the latter lol) and a neurodevelopmental disorder is a type of mental disorder
