AIBU to find it incredibly frustrating that there are basically no resources in the UK for people like me?

[Maybeasd]

I’m genuinely starting to wonder whether I’m being unreasonable or whether this is just a massive blind spot in the UK.

I’m a woman, adult, functioning perfectly well in life for the most part, but I’m very cognitively able and have always been. I’ve been properly assessed and this a known entity (I was not born nor raised in the UK for context).

The issue is I’m finding that there are only pathways if you’re struggling but not if you’re just curious. I’m not only talking about the NHS, even privately I haven’t been able to find someone who hits the spot.

I’ve looked into:
ND assessments (very binary, very impairment-focused)
talk therapy - after years of it total waste of time and money.

People in the US suggested to find a neuropsychologist but they have eye-watering costs, mostly framed around brain injury or rehab

It’s either you’re ill or you’re fine, stop asking questions.

I’m not looking for validation, labels, or coping strategies.
I’m just trying to understand how my mind works, and it feels like that’s somehow illegitimate unless I’m suffering.

So… AIBU to find this incredibly annoying?

Do you think I care?

No, I really don't. But that also just speaks volumes as to who you are.

I do wonder if that's who you want to be?

Who I am and how I am? Of course! I wouldn’t change who I am nor the way I am.

The arrogance doesn’t hurt anyone. It’s innocuous in that sense.

Are you enjoying this thread OP?

How very arrogant to think that your demeanour doesn't hurt anyone.

You don't see the hurt that arrogant people leave in their wake. Because you only care about yourself.

You hurt the feelings of a PP who took the time to give you some very good, considered advice following their own personal experience of what it is you're looking for. And you don't see that despite it being pointed out to you, so you definitely won't see how you impact those around you.

Most people strive to be a good, decent person on top of giving their family a good chance in the world. You, it is very apparent, do not. And you are all about your own wants. Sod everyone else, right?

Couldn't agree more. The OP seems quite callous in their replies, and even if they do have any feelings at all, it doesn't appear that others' replies are making any difference in the way they respond.

Perhaps they need a psychiatrist to help them or a psychologist to psychoanalyse just how much they like talking about themselves. Perhaps that's what the OP is on a mission to find 🤔

Which IQ scale was your test done on, OP?

Yes.

I think you want us to think that you are a very clever and successful person.

But that you've failed to convince us that you are clever in spite of repeating and repeating it, and have failed to indicate any way in which you've even been successful.

And I think you care a lot about being thought clever and successful by other people, to the extent that it is part of the essence of your character. And I think that, rather than making any comment about the lack of services available to you (because you've failed to even use the ones which are available to you) was the actual purpose of this thread.

I'm sorry for what you're going through & what you fear losing, @BrainInterestingButFuckedUp . It must be very very difficult and confronting. Not being able to read is my idea of hell.

The OP has been given a lot of time and wise advice, but they are really self-absorbed, without deriving any self-knowledge from that absorption, which is becoming increasingly unattractive.

I'm not sure why you feel you have "high cognitive ability" it is not what I am seeing -you seem extraordinarily narcissistic. However let's assume you have high cognitive ability, I doubt if it could be autism, or even neuro diversity, but if you are so high functioning why not use it for your benefit, and the benefit of others?

Trying to put the workings of an individual's brain under a microscope is pointless and probably not even possible- put your gifts to use ,and stop chasing shadows.

I think you're winding a lot of people up on this thread OP, because it's really socially tactless and considered arrogant and quite cringe worthy to be so unironically convinced of your own brilliance.
Maybe it's cultural and you just haven't picked up on British manners and social norms?
Gifted is a bit of an outdated term. It's widely considered to be just a type of autism really, and it's generally only used for children in schools. I have never heard adults use it to describe themselves except for you! I've heard adults describe themselves as "former gifted children". Usually in a conversation about how it didn't get them very far in adulthood and why they are so mentally ill now 😂

This is a really interesting thread. Never knew about hyperphantasia. DC said the other day when I was reading a bedtime story, 'mummy, I can see pictures in my head when you read' and I said something like, 'well, that's what happens when you read' - I had no idea people read/imagined (even dreamt and remembered) in such different ways.

OP, if i were you, I think it's clear you want something more available in the US than here - I'd identify the clinic and plan a fun holiday around the area with lots of other things to do (not just the clinic).

I thought the comment from a PP where they identified traits of how you were thinking alongside how their ASD DC behaved was really insightful. But I wouldn't take the words of anyone on an online forum (not the Reddit who said you were not ASD, and not Mumsnet either!) as gospel- wait for your actual professional ASD assessment.

Quite clever, good at puzzles, bog standard autistic lacking in empathy. There you go, OP, an insightful analysis of your spectacular brain, and it hasn't cost you a shiny penny. You're very welcome.

That side is super fascinating (I find it the most fascinating if I’m honest) and also how we’re all so different in that way.

With 4 kids (plus husband) it’s really interspersed to have all of these tiny experiments.

There’s an imagination test from Glasgow University if you’re ever interested. It gives different scenarios of what to imagine. Some are mundane (can you imagine going to your living room) and some are quite more delightful (can you imagine your feet touching hot sand). Super super interesting and a good way to pass the time as a family!

Thanks, I'll have a look. It was interesting upthread when people were talking about if you could picture a blue elephant or a jungle in your head. Some people couldn't at all, some could but more like vague images, some could create multiple types of blue elephants and jungles in lots of settings. (My 'pictures in my head' often have moods and atmospheres attached.)

Interesting from a parent's perspective too - say if one DC can't see things in their mind's eye, then reading really might be less enjoyable and pushing it might be counterproductive, as one example.

I was thinking about this thread last night while I couldn’t sleep. Came up with slightly lame analogy. It’s as if OP has a beautiful Stradivarius violin, frequently gets it out of the case to admire, wonders how it makes such a sound but never actually plays it.

Re images in the head, I can conjure up anything at will - visual, auditory or sensory - but just thought that was ‘using imagination’. On the other hand I can’t understand a spreadsheet to save my life. Maybe I too am twice exceptional.

What an excellent analogy!

I was another who didn't realise that it was in any way special to be able to bring up a picture of an apple, rotate it and see the wasp going into the hole at the back, and see myself take a bite and feel the breaking of the apple skin and smell and taste apple (and salivate!). I just thought everyone did it. I'm not sure what practical use it's been.

Is anyone else a supertaster? Yes, Ive been tested and no, it's not just being fussy over food, it's being able to taste chemicals that other people have no taste receptors for. That's a pain in the neck.

I can conjure up anything at will - visual, auditory or sensory - but just thought that was ‘using imagination’. On the other hand I can’t understand a spreadsheet to save my life. Maybe I too am twice exceptional.

I thought it was just using imagination as well. I love reading and can conjure images in my head of places that are being described in a book. I can also manipulate data on a spreadsheet, but there are loads of things I can't do.

I’ve just realised you are the OP of the thread where you say you feel have to act different personas depending on the situation, as you are so special and multi-faceted - so ‘party girl’ when out, mum at the school gate, nerd for special interest groups etc. I’m guessing this is you trying out your ‘twice exceptional’ genius persona.

Ah, gotcha. Explains a lot.

That was a mental thread, too. I didn’t realise it was the same OP. Makes sense, though.

That's a thing? Didn't know that.

I can taste chemicals. They make food taste horrible so I just learned to cook and mostly do that.

A lot of them give me headaches too. Aspartame in particular knocks me out with a migraine for a couple of days if I have a whole fizzy drink with it in. Other sweeteners too but not quite as severe.

Off to research this now.

Oh, I remember that thread. It was odd.

Don't most people adjust the way they behave when they are with different groups of people?

Ohhhhh so much makes sense now.

I'm not talking about added chemicals, I'm talking about what makes Brussels sprouts taste utterly revolting. They've bred Brussels sprouts now that have less of it in them, so I can eat them and quite like them, but my goodness a green leafy salad can be hard going.

I call a side salad "the penalty weeds" and force myself to eat them before I'm allowed to start the rest!

When I was younger I could taste in the milk when they had brought the cows in for winter and started feeding them fish meal as a protein source.

I agree aspartame is vile.