🦆🦴🥣 Living in a shared space requires compromise, mutual respect, and shared responsibility, but communication barriers can make understanding difficult. I faced this challenge while living with housemates whose actions initially seemed selfish or dismissive. Over time, I began to wonder if their behavior stemmed from challenges related to the autism spectrum rather than narcissism.

🎄✨️🍗 I worked hard to create a welcoming environment, defrosting the freezer, decorating for Christmas, baking a cake, and buying ingredients for our holiday meal. Despite these efforts, I wasn’t informed when the dinner started, and by the time I joined, only scraps remained. To make matters worse, my housemates laughed off my hurt feelings, leaving me feeling excluded and unappreciated.

😡💢🗯 At first, I saw their behavior as narcissistic, but I began to question whether it reflected difficulties in understanding social norms rather than intentional disregard. Neurodivergent individuals often process social interactions differently, which can lead to missed cues or unintentional insensitivity. My housemates may not have recognized my contributions or understood the emotional impact of their actions. Unlike narcissism, which involves deliberate disregard, these behaviors likely stemmed from communication challenges.

💔🤔💭 I tried to express my feelings but realized that clearer communication—such as setting expectations—might have been more effective. I also focused on small positives, like repurposing leftovers into soup, while recognizing that supporting neurodivergent needs shouldn’t mean neglecting my own boundaries. Respect and acknowledgment are essential for everyone.

🗺🧭 This experience taught me to distinguish between selfishness and neurodivergent challenges. Navigating such relationships requires empathy, patience, and clear communication, but also firm boundaries to maintain emotional well-being. Striking a balance between understanding others and respecting oneself is key to healthier, more equitable relationships.

🤗 For a more nuanced discussion, please feel free to use the comments section, private messages or the anonymous contact form on my website.