First of all, I don't think I could begin writing this post without sending my thoughts and prayers to Paris, Japan, South Africa, Lebanon, China, Mexico, and Baghdad. They have experienced a Friday the 13th like no other, a day filled with immortality and devastation. I'm asking you not to only pray for these countries, but pray for the world and pray for peace.
Ok, now I have TWO, count them, TWO blogs for you all this week. I was asked about having imaginary friends, but if I also have ADHD too. So, being the person I am and helping you guys understand Autism a little bit better, I am going to deliver.
First up, I'm going to answer the question: Did you have any imaginary friends? And, I answer, without any living doubt, yes. Yes, I did have imaginary friends when I was younger. I had, what's now called, a "squad" of imaginary friends. Seriously, I'd literally ask my mom every night if I can have a slumber party with these imaginary friends. I would talk about them 24/7 as a kid. I'd talk to them and about them at school and I talked to them at home. The imaginary friends I had varies from Nemo, Dora, and Barney (yes, Barney) to girls named Holly, Stephanie, and Maddy.
Again, these people are imaginary, they weren't real. I looked at them and in my mind, they were real. They just had imaginary paint on them and I'd actually be their voices while talking to them. In my mind as a little 10 year old, the imaginary friend concept was still ignored by me and I kept talking to all these imaginary friends, I'd walk with them, and I think an imaginary friend named Ashley taught me a few tips on how to be popular. Yeah, that didn't work out so great. It was on that day, I realized that if you want tips on becoming popular, do NOT seek advice from imaginary friends!
That was then. You're probably wondering, what about now? Do you still? My honest answer to you is yes. I still do. That doesn't mean I've "gone mad" or "mentally unstable" or even "crazy." It just means I still have imaginary friends. I now have a small group of these friends (four to five), are all made up in my imagination, and are with me whenever I'm alone. They're with me right now as I'm writing to you and being as real and honest as I can about this subject.
Here's the thing guys...I'm not crazy. I didn't go mad. I'm just Autistic. I'm a human with TWO worlds; this world and my world. Whenever I'm alone or by myself, I slip into my own world at any given moment, and these imaginary friends are waiting for me to be with them. One of the biggest bits of comfort I find if I'm upset is if I go in my world, and hang out with these imaginary friends, even if it's for five minutes or five hours, maybe even five days. Every day, I talk to them and they bring me a sense of comfort and relief.
Every day, I encounter them, but I've learned to separate them from this world if I am out in public. Sometimes, I often forget that there are people around, and here's this 20 year old talking to someone that isn't there. I get looks and whispers all the time if this happens. Some, unfortunately from adults who do not understand the battle of Autism I'm currently fighting. I'm someone with Autism, trying to find a place in this crazy world, and trying to survive in this world.
Again, as I've said numerous times in numerous posts, it comes down to acceptance, which is why I'm doing what I'm doing. I cannot stress the word "acceptance" enough. The Autism communities around the world need to know they are accepted and feel like they belong. So, please. Accept us.
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