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Is there a drug that can give an autist a "normie experience"? (programming.dev)
submitted 9 months ago by ICastFist@programming.dev 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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[-] JTode@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

I figured my shit out by reading John Elder Robison, and followed him in medias for a while. Some time back, 5-10 years, he tried out a thing where they stimulate an area of your brain with (IIRC) electromagnetism, and he talked about it the way some people talk about being born again (the Jesus kind of born again). "I once was blind but now I see!"

I'm sure a google will turn up how that's going, it was just a study or something that he got to participate in at the time I think.

[-] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 2 points 9 months ago

a thing where they stimulate an area of your brain with (IIRC) electromagnetism

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, probably. I did a round earlier this year. The only noticeable effect is that I now barely bite my nails after doing it my entire life. Like, that's not why I went, but it is indicated as a treatment for compulsive behaviors. So that's neat I guess.

this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2025
59 points (98.4% liked)

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