Autonomy means having meaningful choice and a sense that your actions are your own, rather than being driven entirely by pressure or control.
It isn’t the same as independence. You can freely choose help, collaboration or commitment. You can also do everything alone while feeling you have no other option.
"I don’t need anyone" may be a preference. It may also be a rule.
Someone offers help you would genuinely welcome. Accepting feels like surrender, although they haven’t asked to take over.
What would let the arrangement remain yours to choose? A clearer task? A limit? The knowledge that you can change your mind?
Autonomy has room for relationship. You don’t have to prove it by refusing every contribution that could make your life easier.
Interdependence explores relying on people without handing them your whole life. Consent makes choice specific to the activity, conditions and moment in front of you.
The Center for Self-Determination Theory’s introduction to Self-Determination Theory distinguishes autonomy from merely acting alone. It also places autonomy alongside competence and relatedness, rather than making self-sufficiency the only thing that matters.