Miscommunication

Miscommunication isn't my favorite pain point. However, interpersonal communication has gotten easier for me over the years as I've learned more about what does and doesn't work with specific people, and with people in general. Because communication failures can be so unpleasant, they can also teach us some of life's most valuable lessons.

There are some important communication skills that we can learn and practice such as active listening, de-escalation, restraining impulsive responses, assertiveness training, etc. None of them are rocket science.

Granted, we're at a disadvantage in terms of our intuitive abilities, but I think we may be at an advantage in terms of our ability to persistently apply ourselves to learning practical skills. Given a roadmap, we can patiently and persistently follow it.

By far my greatest difficulties now have to do with poor executive function. My autism, ADHD, mood disorders, and fragmented personality all cause impairment in that area. However, I expect that I'll be able to overcome a significant amount of that impairment over time, provided I just don't give up.

I may be in my 50s, but I'm not done improving myself. My autism diagnosis is less than a year old, and this year may have been an ever-unfolding disaster, but I'm much more clear now about how to approach the challenges that have always confronted me.

/r/aspergers Thread