This was suggested to me by @[email protected].
- I’m a late teen (17). I got an autism diagnosis (which still causes more problems, than good) when I was three years old.
- You already know a lot about autism (since most of you are autistic), so you don’t need any explanation (even if it’s a spectrum).
- Now let’s explain why I think I’m a narcissist: When I entered high school a few years ago, I started feeling superior to my schoolmates. At first I felt, this was justified, as I have way better grades than my schoolmates (and had a way higher admission score (or whatever it’s called) than others), but later I realized, it was unjustified, as even if I’m smarter, than everyone, I have other challenges (executive function, procrastination of anything related to communication). That wouldn’t be anything weird, but even after that realization, I just can’t grasp the fact my schoolmates aren’t stupid and useless. AMA
PS:I know it’s a way too long post and doesn’t belong here, but it is what it is.
I’m not sure this is actually narcissism. I felt very similar throughout my teens, but it is something I grew out of in my early/mid 20s. I think there are a few reasons for this. Often, people just grow out of it, through brain development or just spending more time around other people. Empathy can also be intentionally strengthened like a muscle.
I studied psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and logic to understand the general human mind. When you study a lot of things, you learn how little you know. You also get to see how much better other people are at certain things. I no longer assume I’m smarter than anyone else even if it’s obvious in one particular subject or several subjects, because they are probably smarter than me in other ways.
I also saw a therapist and spent more time around other people. I made an effort to understand others’ points of view, asking questions if needed, and really tried to imagine their life experiences and how they could come to feel or believe certain things. This will be an exercise at first but it eventually comes naturally for the most part.