Autism is an invisible medium that influences emotions, interactions, and perception of stimuli. It often remains forgotten during good days, leading to a feeling of normality without visible reminders of being autistic. Unlike physical injuries, autism lacks visual cues, complicating self-care practices. The struggle to function is masked, which can lead others to misinterpret the effort required to maintain that functionality. There exists a discrepancy between personal experience and external perceptions during moments of functionality.
The most obvious, omnipresent realities are often the hardest to see. For me, autism is that water; the invisible medium through which I experience life.
When I'm having a good string of days, when the struggle to function is not fully exacerbated, I feel 'normal'. There is no visual to remind me that I'm still autistic.
I would be constantly reminded by the visual of the cast and the pain of the injury to take it easy. I can't see it and it's not inherently painful.
Others don't see it as well, and this leads them to 'cheer me on' when I'm functioning, forgetting that I'm pushing myself to the max just to show up.
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