Today, I want you to meet Ben.
I call Ben my friend, but he is also a patient of mine. (That is not his real name, but this is his real story.)
Ben is a photographer. He loves to see the world through the lens of a camera – his photos tell a story that is entirely unique to him. He uses this outlet to communicate his vivid internal world to those around him.
Photography isn’t only a hobby for him, though. He has a job that he loves where he gets to connect with others and use his creativity to make them feel seen. Because of this, Ben lives an incredibly fulfilling life.
And Ben is autistic.
Now, “autism” is a very charged word. And like many mental abnormalities it carries a heavy stigma, which Ben was all too familiar with.
When he was younger, his autism was all that some could see when they met Ben. He had trouble understanding people’s facial expressions, which resulted in some social awkwardness. And some people he met thought his hyperfixation, or strong fascination, with pictures, was odd. They made assumptions about him and predicted what he would and would not be capable of.
And their assumptions impacted the way that Ben saw himself. Soon it became like he too could only see his autism. He struggled to find his place because he felt like he was living apart from everyone else.
Unfortunately, this is where the narrative stops for many autistic people today. They show the symptoms; they hear the diagnosis; they find limitation all around them, and they yield to it.
But not Ben.
Ben would not allow autism, or anything for that matter, to keep him from pursuing his passion. As soon as he picked up a camera he discovered a new channel of expression!
It started as a way to show others what his experience was like as a person living with autism. But the more he photographed others, the more he was able to study and understand facial expressions and body language, which helped him better navigate social situations. And then, of course, his body of work and distinct photographic perspective earned him the job that he loves so much today.
But most importantly, Ben found a tool that allows him to understand his place in a world that he used to feel like he didn’t belong in.
One of the wonderful things about being a psychiatrist is that it allows me to help such a diverse group of individuals work through a vast array of different internal issues. And every one of them teaches me something.
Working with Ben has shown me many things – the healing power of creativity and expression, the power of overcoming limiting beliefs. But among those things, Ben taught me this: with the right support, there is nothing that can hold us back regardless of what we are dealing with.
Individuals with autism are not faced with impossible odds. They may feel isolated, misunderstood, and frustrated, but so do we all, in some ways.
And also, just like we all do, all autistic people need is support in order to thrive. Social skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and applied behavior analysis have been known to help individuals with autism create the same kind of fulfilling lives for themselves that my friend Ben has.
As autism advocate Rachel Barcellona once said, “Everyone has a mountain to climb and autism has not been my mountain, it has been my opportunity for victory.”
Make today your masterpiece!
Florina
P.S. Do you know someone who might find Ben’s story helpful? Feel free to share it. One day at a time we will fight mental health stigma! 🙂
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