Regular reminder that being an asshole is not a symptom of any form of neurodivergence. (You can replace “neurodivergent” with depressed, anxious, bipolar, etc. and the diagram works equally well)
ETA: social faux pas, awkwardness, and genuine symptoms of neurodivergence don’t make you an asshole. I shouldn’t have to say this? An “asshole” is someone who enacts a pattern of abusive, controlling, harassing, and/or harmful behavior with no remorse or concern for how other people are affected.
It’s exactly why I do not present any of the mental psychological isms my therapist gave me to other people. I’ve seen loads of folks who pretty much brag about these things—using them as excuses to be shitty or negligent people with no attempt at learning or practicing social skills. I run like the wind anytime I hear someone brag or lament (usually just a backdoor brag) that they are “empathic” or “highly sensitive.” I’m very cautious around people who bring up their “ADHD,” “anxiety disorder” or “autism”—especially if they do it regularly, publicly (on social media), or very early upon meeting them. And don’t get me started about personality disorders. I know people who are legitimately trying their best with all these things, but the genuinely responsible and aware folks seem to rarely wear those as kind of strange badges of identity.
It’s funny, because a common symptom of ADHD is oversharing, especially early on in a relationship when it’s less appropriate. This doesn’t make them an asshole, of course.
And for me it’s a way of communicating “hey, sometimes I’m gonna not think before speaking or lose attention mid conversation or something else, this isn’t me intentionally being disrespectful and I am trying not to, but sometimes I’m gonna fail so please don’t take it as a slight”