Rant here:
I'm a psych major. Everyday i'm getting more and more pissed off about autism. All the mental illness that should be researched, worked with, and destigmatized are completely ignored. I know that autism isn't per-say considered a mental illness, but I'm sick and tired of everybody bending over backwards to treat them, to coddle them, to nurture every single person with autism like they are going to be the next Temple Grandin. Seriously, honestly, you know what a symptom of autism is? Being a dick that lacks empathy. But nooooo... you are a terrible fucking person for saying that.
I deal with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. The true legacy of bipolar disorder is about people that are in the throws of constant emotional pain and then isolate themselves in fear of hurting their loved ones. They challenge this experience into making art (of various forms) that bring perspective into the human condition. But, when you tell somebody you have bipolar their first thought is: crazy bitch that's going to use a kitchen knife to murder me in my sleep.
People with borderline personality disored have typically have the fuck abused out of them, are untreatable with medication, and spend their lives in and out of therapy trying to understand and overcome their feelings of everybody ignoring or being out to get them. The number one thing talked about in group therapy is being gas-lighted and having your feelings invalidated by your loved ones. But what do people think when you have BPD? Oh, you are broken and aught to be ignored because you are a manipulative cunt.
I know those stereotypes can be true, especially in people who are untreated. However, anybody that has the balls to be open about their struggles with those conditions is working hard in treatment, a good person with flaws like anybody else, and looking for support and understanding. If they would just be given those two things they'd probably accomplish a lot more than other people. People with emotional disorders like that often have a calling to help others because they don't want anybody else to feel the same pain the do. See Robin Williams. However, people with autism are much more likely to embody the symptoms of being a dick, or at least socially incapable irritating person, that lacks empathy.
What is even MORE irritating, is that emotoinally based disorders/ illnesses are re more common in the poor. If the rates of income inequality continue to rise more and more people will have these problems! It's sickening.