As autistic people, we often take things literally and at face value. Often in my life, I have believed everything I was told as if it were the truth. I did this without doing the necessary research to form my own opinion. For years, this approach has led me down a confusing path. The information I was told was not reality. It was damaging to my mental well-being. Sometimes, it held me back from opportunities that would have improved my life.

I literally thought about things early in my life. This thinking led me to believe that things really were the way they were. I didn’t understand the reality of the situation. As I matured into an adult, I believed many things. These were things that did not need to be told to me. They were often how someone else saw it. It greatly damaged my mental health. Many times, I had breaking points. These escalated into meltdowns that I did not want others to see.

I also did not realize that what was being told to me was not the truth. I trusted them more than what it involved or what was really supposed to be happening. As a result, it skewed my belief of how things were really supposed to be. It made me believe that things were supposed to be the way that they were not supposed to be. When they went back to the way that they were supposed to be, I struggled greatly at adapting. I was led to believe that wasn’t the way it should be. I based my thoughts on that belief.

One really bad meltdown initiated the process of freeing myself from beliefs that were not true. This change ultimately saved my life. I began to see what the reality was. It eventually became necessary. What was once a bother for me had to become the support I needed to get through something really tough.

It has really taught me that we can’t believe everything that we hear. Even though some things have been avoided, it has allowed me to form my opinions and thoughts independently. Things have to be what I allow myself to believe and know what’s best for me.

I am starting to not believe everything that I hear. I am also not worrying about what others think about the things I do. As long as I know what is proper, right, and responsible, I should not worry about what others believe. Everyone has their opinions. As long as I can respect them just as much as I respect authority figures, there is no wrongdoing.

Moving ahead, I am starting to define what I want to do. I am not basing my thoughts or decisions on what others say or think I should do. I am the one that has to experience what I have to. It is up to me to make the best decision for my advantage.