I am an autistic woman. Most of my life people have let me know they think I am stubborn and controlling. Over time I have learned to hide the behaviors so people do not think I am stubborn and controlling. I understand you view my stubbornness as a bad thing so I have learned to hide it.   Today I would like you to consider that what you label as stubborn and controlling is often a solution to help us manage our anxiety and fear.   Whenever we have a fearful or anxious moment – and those moments tend to