Are you Autistic?

[Dougella]

Originally Posted by cymruambyth26

It is very interesting. It seems that socially anxious people can also exhibit several autistic traits as well (which is my experience). Therefore, yeah it seems many of us are now trying to join the dots together by asking the question and seeking a diagnosis.

It will just be a case of whether I meet enough of the criteria to receive a diagnosis now.

Yes I have also been having this dilemma for quite some time, which is why I've been researching autism quite a bit.

It helps that there is much more content out there from autistic people themselves now rather than just professionals who study it and work with autistic people, so we are able to get more of a rounded idea of what autism is rather than just a clinical definition.

[cymruambyth26]

Originally Posted by Dougella

Yes I have also been having this dilemma for quite some time, which is why I've been researching autism quite a bit.

It helps that there is much more content out there from autistic people themselves now rather than just professionals who study it and work with autistic people, so we are able to get more of a rounded idea of what autism is rather than just a clinical definition.

I've researched autism over the years and worked with some autistic children. My long time friend has an autistic daughter as well so I've learnt things from observing her.

In my head I do at some point want to watch youtube videos or listening to podcasts or read blogs about living with autism but yeah I don't know where to go with it.

I do follow a couple of autistic people on Twitter (one has a large following and writes literature about autism). I'm also a member on the National Autistic Society forum.

[Mr. Nobody]

I thought

[Dougella]

^ What did you think Mr Nobody?

[Mr. Nobody]

^
Putin is a nutter

[Percy]

Wise thoughts

[Mr. Nobody]

I'm thinking that one of the main issues with being somewhere on the Autism spectrum is communication,
I just find that terribly difficult at times,
It can even be upsetting as there's a frustrating lack of experience in dealing with difficult people,..
I know they're being difficult in some way, perhaps nasty even,
But I tend to just accept it at the time and get so mad internally as I don't want to get into a heated argument,
I have a need for things to be calm and respectful,
So when someone is being cheeky towards me, I never know how to react,
I'm just such an avoider of conflict,.. but then if I managed to get some closure with these dreadful creatures I might have a generally improved mood as a result,?
I've suffered and tolerated so many assholes over the years that it's worn me down quite a bit.

[Bluebear]

Originally Posted by Mr. Nobody

I'm thinking that one of the main issues with being somewhere on the Autism spectrum is communication,
I just find that terribly difficult at times,
It can even be upsetting as there's a frustrating lack of experience in dealing with difficult people,..
I know they're being difficult in some way, perhaps nasty even,
But I tend to just accept it at the time and get so mad internally as I don't want to get into a heated argument,
I have a need for things to be calm and respectful,
So when someone is being cheeky towards me, I never know how to react,
I'm just such an avoider of conflict,.. but then if I managed to get some closure with these dreadful creatures I might have a generally improved mood as a result,?
I've suffered and tolerated so many assholes over the years that it's worn me down quite a bit.

I can relate to this. (g.r.r.)

[Dougella]

I can relate too and sometimes I haven't even really noticed that someone was being nasty in some way until way past the event, sometimes years!

[Percy]

I can relate also

[Ronnie_Pickering]

a bit about Anne Hegerty and her autism:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-63089051

[Mr. Nobody]

I heard today that Anthony Hopkins has been diagnosed as Autistic,
That surprised me, but not sure why,
Maybe his various acting personas disguise his own autistic traits?

[Mr. Nobody]

^
sorry to hear you haven't got a job or friends etc Nanuq,

You come across very well, so I'm not sure why that is?

I sometimes wonder if we maybe just don't meet the right people ?

I know also tho' that no matter how well I get on with someone, there definitely seems to be a time limit on how long I can comfortably be in that company without feeling restricted and getting fidgety annoyed and uncomfortable,..

I don't know why I need to have frequent bouts of aloneness to remain comfortable or feel secure.?

[cymruambyth26]

I can identify with some of what has been said previously. The particular aspects that struck a chord with me were wanting to avoid confrontation at all costs. This has meant I often just accept what has happened to me when someone teases me or makes unkind comments.

Also, I have also struggled to even know what to say in response to someone when they are teasing me or picking on me or confronting me on something that I have said. This can even just be when I am expressing an opinion and someone counters or challenges that opinion but isn't being hostile or threatening.

Once I've had a few hours to think about and after the event has happened, I can be lying in bed thinking of every possible sentence/phrase I could have said to that person in that moment and punish myself for not being able to think of these in the moment.

Similarly, I realised a few years ago that people use to tease me in school and use to say unkind things or they would tell me that I'm popular or want me to be involved in their group, but they would then just ridicule me/make jokes and ask me about things they knew I was uncomfortable with answering on purpose. At the time I just went along with it.

Finally, dealing with difficult people is a significant barrier to me being able to proceed or live my life. It's like I need classes/lessons on how to deal with difficult people. Practising how to have difficult conversations.

[Mellie]

Yes I was diagnosed as adult.

[Stepford]

My wife thought so.I have some sort/s of neurodevelopmental condition/s. I have been diagnosed with dyslexia a long while ago when they didn't know a great deal about it, they don't know a lot more even now. I have also have trouble with numbers possibly dyscalculia and 'Fonzie' disorder (you can look that one up).

[Dougella]

^ That's a good point and I know autistic people do have differing views on the subject. I guess it comes down to the way each individual person feels comfortable describing themselves.

[Mo34]

I'm still waiting for my assessment, think I may be entering my 4th year on the waiting list *sigh* I really don't know if I am or not - looking back on myself as a child though it does make me wonder, however i'm very good at masking (Ive even been told this by professionals) so I feel conflicted if I am or i'm not. There is also a cross over in terms of some symptoms with cPTSD . Guess i'll just have to wait and see, I do think 4 years is ridiculous though!

[Dougella]

^ Four years is possibly the longest wait I've heard of! I have heard that they tend to prioritise people who seem to be more likely to be autistic, so maybe the question marks for you is what's causing more of a wait. But then that's what the assessments are supposed to be for isn't it

[Mo34]

Well the counselling psycholgist that I had been seeing has said I may meet the threshold. So perhaps i'm borderline - not that the assessers will know this as it's diffrent service. I suppose i'm at no risk in anyway so perhaps you go down the list. Not that people get any support really after being diagnosed - or so I've heard for my area.

It was supposed to be 2 years but then covid happened and also they apparently have re structured (in my area) how the assesments are done and it's a much longer process than before.

[Dougella]

Autism isn't really a condition or disorder either though, whereas like you say Bipolar is an illness or condition. Autism is essentially a neurological difference that people are born with.

[Stepford]

Originally Posted by Dougella

Autism isn't really a condition or disorder either though, whereas like you say Bipolar is an illness or condition. Autism is essentially a neurological difference that people are born with.

Do you know if dyslexia and motor impairment (coordination) are connected or likely comorbid?

[Dougella]

^ Yes apparently Elon Musk has said he has been diagnosed as Autistic.

[Mr. Nobody]

^
do you mean like dark matter?
Astronomers and Astrophysicists have been trying to find dark matter or explain it,
Their explanations have often been that it exists but cannot be seen or measured etc.
Sounds like Mrs Musk is getting mixed up with astrophysics and thinking that Mr. Musk is equivalent to dark matter?
Either that or she has been smoking something?

[Mr. Nobody]

I'm not sure I'd be speaking of musk in such reverential? tones..
he has been know to be a complete arse, quite often actually.

was he not embroiled in some altercation with people rescuing miners,
I think he was calling them paedophiles or something,


- maybe dark matter isn't as mysterious and unknowable as we think,
maybe it's just the universe's equivalent of a chav?

[Mr. Nobody]

saw This - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0...ale_SEG_PNC%5D

it's a podcast on the BBC about Autism diagnosis in women and how there is a gap between men and women's diagnosis
and how women can often go un-diagnosed.

[Dougella]

^^ He's been embroiled in a few incidents, including the recent twitter shenanigans!