I'm Autistic, ask me anything

[Tobythecat]

Anything at all

Can you draw a number 6 in the air with your right hand at the same time as sticking your right leg out and moving your foot in a clockwise direction?

Are you autistic or do you have autism?
Do you have many sensory issues?
What age were you diagnosed?

When did you know?

Do you have many friends? Are any of them NT?

Do you think it's fair that there should be just one adjective "autistic" to cover the full spectrum, from somebody who finds Mumsnet threads humorous, right down to my 8yo son who still functions at about 18months?

Are you now trying to draw the number 6 ?

You're braver than me OP. Good luck with the nastier questions you'll get (and have already got!)

Well, this one isn’t going to go well.
Fission, DD can, DS no way.
Eggsie, autism may have learning disabilities as co- morbids, but I think an autism dx needs to be seen as separate, and the incredibly complex mixture that is the whole person looked at as individual ingredients in a unique combination.

Sorry Eggy’s mum, autocorrected you’re name.

Aargh!
your

greentulips I think you’ve just described me (something I hate to admit) are these characteristics consistent with an autism diagnosis?

Green tulips

What are you talking about?

Do you know the op?

Not all autistic people behave the same way?!

hungry Both. I don't get caught up in the labelling, it's a non issue really. Yes, I have lots of sensory issues, mainly with bright lights/colour and sounds. I also have processing issues - I struggle to process some sounds and what people are saying and also visual processing such as moving cars etc.

I was diagnosed at 16 after lots of school refusals and overdoses - I had difficulties from age 6 and I knew I was different to the other kids even then.

I didn't have any friends until I was around 24 - all of my friends I would say are on the autism spectrum/all have some sort of MH issue but are very good kind people who treat me well and are good to me.

Eggysmom I actually think that severe autism and so called 'mild autism' are either different conditions or perhaps have different causes so that the symptoms manifest differently. I'm not really sure what the answer is as people have very narrow ideas about what autism is - for example, I have a degree (from the OU as I wouldn't be able to attend a normal university) and currently PIP are denying me my claim based on the fact I have a degree. They seem to assume autism means you can't be educated or intelligent.

Nobody actually knows what autism is, and I say that as an autistic.

Neurodiversity is inherited from our prehistoric ancestors and would have helped them to meet their survival needs. The modern world doesn’t accommodate these survival characteristics, hence the severe social anxiety and inability to fit in.

We all know about the supposed negatives of being autistic but do you feel your autism brings you anything positive?

Genuinely interested - it's something my own daughter does

Same as she must over organize everything to the last details me if it doesn't go her way she get really upset or angry.

I think her brain continually works overtime and has no respite.

It's hard work

Green tulips

If this is what your dd does surely she would be the one to ask?

Greentulips I feel your frustration.

hungry Probably the extreme happiness I feel over simple things - it doesn't take much to make me feel happy. But when I'm upset, I'm in despair.

Agreed.

Green, I suspect you also know why your daughter does the things she does (hint - she's autistic). You just wanted to get an angry dig in. That's not okay.

How would you feel about another mum asking your daughter "why do you do xyz" in such an aggressive manner, when they were actually angry about someone else? The OP is a fellow human you know.

Are you content in your life most of the time? DS is 4 and non verbal. I wish I could read his mind sometimes.

Sorry, another question from me (im on the spectrum too btw)
What are your main hobbies/interests? Are you really accomplished at anything in particular?

Are you content in your life most of the time? DS is 4 and non verbal. I wish I could read his mind sometimes.

You're not alone, I'd love to know if our 8yo is happy or bored, if he doesn't know that more exists to life or is feeling unchallenged.

Thanks for the earlier response Tobythecat. I think everybody has different assumptions, and they don't seem right for anyone!

I'm not the OP but in case it helps, a lot of the time when the sensory issues are tackled and everything is calm around me, I'm content original. I hope your son is too inside, it must be so hard not be able to talk to him.

Sometimes it takes very little to feel really happy, especially if there's a current obsessive interest (which could be watching a fish tank, or finding blue things, or looking at the sky, as much as "in-depth research into subject x"). The repetition is very soothing.

I think there's often a lot of fear though, or there is for me. There's an Temple Grandlin documentary on iPlayer which I think gives some nice insights into at least some people's experiences of autism. I related to quite a lot.