To understand that Autism is NOT a mental illness?

[Oxfordblue]

Just that really, someone posted that autism is a mental illness.
I understand autism to be a different way of thinking/perceiving etc. Not an illness that one may or may not recover from

(My daughter is waiting for an assessment for autism & I would hate her to feel that she 'has a mental illness' & actually find that statement so disempowering. The world needs people to think differently, to challenge ideas that maybe set in stone & blur the idea that one size fits all.)

I have a banana phobia so unless that’s the cause I call bullshit

I don't know zzzzz, I've cut down on caffeine because of an annoyingly twitchy eyelid. Time for an experiment, I feel. Twice as much coffee tomorrow, or maybe a Coke.

Autism doesn't affect the way I think, it is the way I think. In that I don't know any different. By contrast a person who is schziophrenic for example will have at one time thought for lack of a better way to put it "normally."

Whilst I understand the vital importance of autism being a neurodevelopmental condition, and competely get that for the individual themselves their thinking is not 'affected', many people on this thread have been at pains to point out that autism is a neurological difference (as opposed to disorder or condition). Therefore there must be differences somewhere that can be identified and used to differentiate autism from neurotypical development.

The suicide statistics do worry me. But then I think that’s more to do with attitudes towards autistic people and it ain’t us that can change that.

Therefore there must be differences somewhere that can be identified and used to differentiate autism from neurotypical development

But I don’t know how NT development feels so I can’t identify them.

I also have an autoimmune condition, so I'm interested, but a post on forum does not make it fact. I will await the proof.

True but it’s the first theory I’ve heard that sounds interesting

I saw some study about food allergies too which might tie in with the gluten and casein free thing.

If someone proves we should be should be doing something to protect our general health at some point, you can guarantee it will take twenty years for the NHS to adopt it.

I realise that Sodding. I must stop now, I'm disappearing in unhelpful questioning ....

Sorry if my reply read as blunt, it wasn’t meant to Teggun

Hello again!

I checked out for a day or so, because it was getting a bit too much, TBH, but I'm glad I came back, because there are some REALLY interesting posts and good discussion.

MN MNning well, it would appear.

Oh no Sodding , your response wasn't at all blunt - and I realise mine sounded snippy, sorry. I was telling myself off for getting so caught up in it all instead of doing the shopping order
Thanks again - I've really enjoyed the discussion and found it helpful.

Use google scholar to find research on autistic mortality.

Lots on suicide at this year's INSAR.

Follow George Julian on twitter to read accounts from inquests of premature autistic deaths.

Read Sara Ryan's blog about her son Connor. Read about Oliver McGowan. This shit is real, not made up.

I'm talking about autistic people dying early not fucking snake oil.

A lot of people swear by following a particular diet. I'd love to be that dedicated rather than stumbling through each day!

Well I’m damned if I’ll do it on a theory, but I’m keeping a weather eye.

DS2 had CMPA until he was 2 and DD is being assessed for selective mutism.

And now it’s turned again. Ugh. I’m off.

Anti banana! 🍌

@StaffieGirl - hello, we haven't met, but I've enjoyed catching up on your posts, so hello from another Aspie.

Re: food intolerances. I have a number of odd gastric disorders which I've experienced throughout my life, and it has only been in the last five or so years that I have found that they may (NB - MAY) be tied to my autism.

For me, I have found that going vegetarian/semi-vegan (90% plant-based) has cleared up quite a lot, although there are, of course, some issues still related (and I'm not on a veggie bandwagon of any kind, just stating what has worked for me!).

Bananas, though. Why can't I eat bananas? Bananas are LOVELY, but they don't love me...

And people wonder why we get accused of having no empathy

Anti banana! 🍌

Sodding will be pleased. J don’t think she wanted to be prescribed bananas.

I'll have that extra cup tomorrow zzzzz. 😀