"The weight of my feelings lightens when you listen to me and affirm that what I feel is real and important."
This is true for all human beings, and especially true for those experiencing any level of emotional distress. It may say something about the tendency of autistic people to become isolated, and to isolate themselves in face of uncomprehending and indifferent others, but I have learned the art of self-affirmation. Others are not obliged to listen to you, still less affirm the things you think important and valuable. Being in a word of their own, autistic people develop the talent to amuse and entertain themselves. On the odd occasions I have sought to share my 'special interests' with others I have been met with condescension, disdain, a lot of sneering and no little abuse. You will find in life that the people who are prepared to listen to you and affirm the things you think important are precious few, beginning with close family and ... going not much further. If you are lucky you will meet significant others. I'm afraid that more often than not, in a ratio of 99 to 1, people neither listen nor affirm. So you develop the capacity for self-affirmation, and the strength of character to go it alone. There's nothing worse as an autistic person than reaching out to others in search of approval and validation. The act of seeking social connection, entering the social arena, is stressful enough, without the confirmation of being alone and isolated that follows. In many respects the indifference is worse than the abuse, because at least the abusers are acknowledging your existence, however negatively. To the indifferent you are a non-person.
But as the great song goes,
"But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, you can't please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
