How to Share: Changing unhelpful beliefs

As you drafted your story, you might have noticed some unhelpful words or ideas about yourself - things that don't help you get what you need, or even feel harmful to hold onto. These are called hurtful self-beliefs or self-stigma.

Sharing these negative beliefs can increase other people's stigma towards you. Reframing them can help to reduce both public stigma and self-stigma.

Let's hear from autistic adults who show what challenging stigma can look like. As you watch either or both videos (10 - 12 mins each) or read the transcript(s), notice how they counter common stereotypes and harmful misconceptions about autistic people.

Now, you can use the worksheet below to identify any unhelpful beliefs you may hold about yourself and replace them with more accurate and compassionate self-descriptions. 

Note: Long-held beliefs can be hard to change even when you know they are unhelpful. Changing your hurtful self-beliefs may not happen while you are completing this guide, but rather very slowly with time. If you find that self-stigma is affecting your mental health, you may wish to turn to mental health services such as those listed in our Support Resources.

If you haven’t identified any hurtful self-beliefs, you can skip this exercise.