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Is there a drug that can give an autist a "normie experience"? (programming.dev)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/autism@lemmy.world
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Asking because my gf has ADHD and she told me that, the first time she took ritalin (methylphenidate), she thought to herself "So this is what it feels like to not have ADHD?"

That got me thinking, is there a drug that has a similar effect on autists, that allows them to experience what is it like to "not have autism"?

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[–] 20 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I've got ADHD and stimulant meds help me get distracted less, but they don't do much to help me focus on the right things sadly. Still definitely helpful though.

But no, I (a complete amateur with zero qualifications) highly doubt such a drug is possible, and if there were one it'd be kinda uncomfortable to ponder the very concept of making neurodivergent brains work like neurotypical brains at some point.

Like, why should we have to change when it's society that sucks, not us?

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  • [–] 3 points 11 months ago

    Same, but meds in combination with my learned copes and methods, before and after diagnostic, is a miracle drug.

    For example:

    • I catch myself focusing on a news site or lemmy -> set a 5 minute timer when to stop
    • pick an item from my todo-list. If no list is present, only make the list, then allow myself to do whatever I want
    • don't feel like any of those things -> just simulate doing them in my head. If still none appeal to me, I can do what I want. It happens often enough that I want to do one after the "simulation".
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  • [–] [S] 2 points 11 months ago

    Like, why should we have to change when it’s society that sucks, not us?

    I'm not really interested in "becoming a full-time normie", but I would be lying if I said I wouldn't want to experience that life for like a day, maybe up to a week, tops, to get a better understanding of both sides

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