"I am autistic" has become a popular Internet phrase. Is it a joke or a real illness?

In recent years, "I am autistic" has become a popular online phrase, with many people using it to ridicule their negative emotions, to express that they do not want to talk or communicate with the outside world. Among young people, this phrase has suddenly become a catchphrase.

Does not wanting to talk to people mean that you are really autistic?

In our lives, there are many misunderstandings about autism. Today, we will interpret these misunderstandings and truly enter the world of autistic children.

01 “I am autistic” ≠ “I have autism”

The "autism" in Internet buzzwords is completely different from the "autism" in autism. "I am autistic" is more about describing a negative emotional state and wanting to keep a distance from the outside world. It is related to the situation we encounter, just like a summer afternoon with "dark clouds pressing down on the city, but as the wind and clouds change, the sky will still clear up after the rain, and we can still integrate well into the surrounding environment.

Well, some students may ask: "What if I can't adjust myself after becoming 'autistic'? Will I be diagnosed with the disease?" Of course not. You are most likely in a state of depression. If you cannot adjust yourself, you can seek professional help, such as going to the school's psychologist or psychologist.

Negative emotions are present in everyone, but they are a congenital disease that is not usually acquired later in life. To be more precise, it is not a mental illness related to emotions, but is related to congenital developmental conditions. Generally speaking, negative emotions can be alleviated through personal adjustment and external support, but will bring a series of problems to personal health and family.

02 What is autism?

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in infancy but continues into adolescence and adulthood.

Children with autism are called "children from the stars" because they live in their own world like the stars in the sky. But their lives are far from romantic. Some people with autism can live independently, while others have severe disabilities and need lifelong care and support.

03 Are all autistic children geniuses?

50% of autistic children have moderately or severely low intelligence, and only 25% of autistic children may have normal intelligence.

Many autistic "geniuses" we know about in the media have Asperger's syndrome (a type of autism spectrum disorder), such as "Rain Man" played by Tom Cruise and "Sheldon" in "The Big Bang Theory". But from the perspective of the entire autistic community, this type of "genius" is actually a very small minority.

04 Protect every star in the world

The diagnosis of autism is complex and requires a diagnosis by a child psychiatrist.

There are some typical symptoms of autism, such as social disorders. If others make expected movements and gestures to them, they cannot respond promptly and accurately, even with a simple smile. They lack interest in playing with others and find it difficult to establish close relationships with others. They will avoid eye contact with their parents; show indifference to their parents' voices; be indifferent to communication activities using gestures; do not like to be touched or hugged by others, and lack excitement when hugged by their parents; like to be alone; have no fear or strangeness when seeing strangers, etc.

Typical symptoms of autism include language disorders, which are often manifested as a delay in the start of babbling. Older children use fewer words, do not have a good vocabulary, lack diverse verbal expressions, and even find it difficult to share experiences with others.

There are some special manifestations of autism, such as liking spherical objects such as bottle caps and oranges, doing the same actions or asking the same questions repeatedly, and behaving in a stereotyped and strange way. When others point their hand to pay attention to something, they often pay attention to other places instead of paying attention to that thing.

At present, the cause of autism is still unknown, but researchers are also working hard to find some biological markers (such as brain structure, hormone levels, etc.) that may show abnormalities before abnormal behaviors appear.

If abnormalities in children can be discovered during the critical period of their basic cognitive function development and effective intervention measures are taken, some children with autism may be able to return to a normal school environment and study.

At present, the treatment of autism is mainly based on educational intervention, and comprehensive intervention measures and auxiliary treatments with drugs are adopted according to the different situations of each child.

In our world, let's make some time and space for them! Don't over-glorify them, nor over-ridicule them.

(Special editor of magazine articles: Sun Xiaoming)