Support thread - adults on the Autistic Spectrum :)

[fuzzpig]

Hello!

I've seen a lot of MNers mention being on the Spectrum, whether diagnosed or not. I thought we could use a long-running place to chat, share coping strategies and basically to know there are other people like ourselves, who won't judge us for being different.

I'm new to all this myself - only realised there was a possible name for How I Am a couple of weeks ago (thanks to MN)! Now I have a referral to an adult ASD specialist, to see if I have Aspergers. It's all happened very quickly.

Enough waffle from me (for now anyway...) but I hope other people will come along and find this thread useful. :)

I can relate to the planning of everything, System. It's exhausting isn't it! I don't know about the speech and language - it could be a standard thing as if they suspect you have an ASD, and therefore as children have SALT when they are autistic, then adults should too. Or perhaps it is because of the language side - if it was clear you were taking things too literally maybe?

Hello again, was away over weekend so haven't posted as I only had access on phone. I've read back the last page or two but apologies if I have missed anything.

System - glad to hear that the ed psych has taken your difficulties seriously.
In terms of SALT assessment; I imagine it would be similar to the sort of work SALT might do with an articulate older child with an ASD diagnosis, and involve assessment of higher level language skills - e.g. your understanding of emotions/ability to draw inferences in social etc situations, and possibly looking at your understanding of sayings like "it's raining cats and dogs" to see if you would take that sort of thing literally. . Possibly SALT would want to check your receptive language as well (understanding of language).

Well done re:new role at work Fuzzpig. I only occasionally notice a book's smell - mostly if it's old/dusty or occasionally if it's v new. The type of book I really really can't stand are those US type ones with unevenly sized pages, I don't know if it's some arty/literary style of book production

"X's cognitive and attainment profile suggest specific learning difficulties affecting speed of processing. She also has a specific difficulty in language related areas which is worth further investigation as it affects social and communication skills. On cognitive assessment there is a wide range of ability from below average (verbal reasoning, visuo motor skills, speed of processing) to above avearge (mental arithmetic) on the WAIS IV UK."

"The difficulties in communication would benefit from a more detailed assesment by a Speech and Language Therapist and Clinical Psychologist with a particular interest in this area. Additional multiprofessional assessment is recommended to allow for a more formal diagnosis, to inform her program of support and help in everyday situations."

fuzzpig it says a few times that I answered questions literally and pedantically
Also well done on the job, I like reference books especially encyclopedias

TheLight Passenger, I'm in trouble if its questions about emotions because I am very bad at those. I do know that raining cats and dogs doesn't really mean what it sounds like (even if I do get a picture in my brain of cats and dogs falling out of the sky) I've actually got a book which explains the real meaning of most of those phrases. Without looking that one up I think its meant to mean that it is raining a lot( is that right?), but I'm not really sure what the link to cats or dogs is. I find them a bit annoying really and wouldn't say them myself.

Fuzzpig, congratulations :) that is great. I was at camhs today as my DS is still in the midst of the diagnostic process, I really want to mention to them that I suspect I might be on the spectrum but I'm worried that they then might blame DS's asd on copying my behaviour.

(I'm ImNotJustMum, I'm trying out a new nickname :o)

well done on the new job Fuzzpig! I have actually applied for a job today, probably haven't a hope in hell of getting it. I am completely crap at interviews, the only way I've ever got jobs in the past is by having contacts already at the company.

I usually say the wrong thing or struggle to understand the questions being asked of me, yet when I fill in an application form (when I have time to think about it) I do an absolutely awesome job, and nearly always get an interview. It's just so unfair

I feel I should point out this isn't a promotion or anything which required an interview! basically they just asked us which ones we wanted, and then chose based on who was good for it. So I am proud that I got picked and lots of people have said I suit it, but it wasn't like a big recruitment process or anything!

I totally sympathise with interviews, I had never had a successful one until I got my job (it was actually an apprenticeship) last summer.

It may not be a promotion, but it is a sign of how much your boss(es) trust and respect your abilities fuzzpig

Lots of people have said it suits me - I reckon it's because I'm clearly a geek :o (which is a compliment to me - I have 'GEEK' written in scrabble tiles on my locker!)

have only remember a bit late, but if anyone has access to today's times, the magazine type section has a good article on adult professional women with Aspergers.

Yes read that Times article - very interesting.

Today, I am in no doubt I have aspergers. I completely berated DP after he told me he was going to take DS (5) swimming through the arch at Durdle Dor, Dorset (dangerous currents etc.). Turns out he was joking. I am realising just how literally I take everything.

Why do people say things like that anyway, it's hardly funny is it?

ooops, did I kill a thread, where is everyone?

I think it probably dies down now and again because even posting on here counts as socialising and is tiring! (for me anyhow)

And I am very a bit stressed out with divorce settlement stuff

yes I think what fuzzpig says is right, I seem to post messages for a few days then need abit of a break to recover. Also when no one else has written anything for a while I don't really know what to say- its like trying to start up a conversation, which is very hard for me.

I've got one DC off school sick with scarlet fever at the moment too. My other DC has had her operation postponed. That has really annoyed me as it means having to change all our plans again. Their school has just been put in special measures recently so I have had to go to a lot of meetings there. Its all a bit stressful for me. I can only really concentrate on one thing at a time so other stuff (like coming on here) tends to get forgotten about for a while.

I post a lot of messages on Relationships and then can't remember who is who!

Actually, you're right, after posting something quite personal (like above) I have to hide away for a few days to recover, but I do come on here everyday though, it's part of my routine

I do that too, I comment on a few threads, even start my own now and then, and then need down time where I just lurk for a couple of days. I do this in RL too, I'm sociable with my friends for a few weeks then need time where I don't talk to anyone or text/email.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. I also have random days where I can't get off MN at all - constantly checking active conv page etc. Drives me (and DH) nuts but it's like an addiction just on these odd days. I think it's when I'm at my most overwhelmed, but I know it does me more harm than good and pushes me over into a meltdown. I want to learn to recognise when I'm about to go into this phase and take other steps to relax.

Random question about those earworms, when you get them, do you find they are so loud that sometimes you can't even hear other people speak to you? I do but only sometimes. Again I wonder if those days have something in common, tiredness perhaps.

Pink I am sorry you are going through the divorce, I guess it is the right thing to do?

System that sucks about scarlet fever, I hope your DD will be ok waiting for her operation?

I don't have much news although I have started my training for the reference library stuff and it is awesome :o

Yes it is he is emotionally verbally and financially abusive - see EA thread

I go through phases of being obsessive about checking mn, even if I'm not commenting on anything, I MUST check and check and check on active convos, I'll be glued to my phone not checking for anything in particular but still having to keep looking!

Yes the earworm can be very overwhelming, I can't think straight and can hardly concentrate on what others are saying, then I'll worry that it won't ever stop which gets me more panicked. Putting the radio on quite loud helps to drown it out and helps me to forget about it for a while.

Does anyone get a bit strange about their food, I drive my DP crazy sometimes, I'll only eat certain things and they have to be a certain way, I'm awful about trying new things, and when I'm out getting food if it isn't what I've got in my head I'll be very frustrated and angry. I went to Subway once (it was a 30 minute drive which my DP took me on after getting the idea in my head about a sandwich i NEEDED), and once I got there they didn't have any tuna left so the lady asked if id like another filling and I just looked at the lady in complete bewilderment and answered no as if she'd just offered to shit in a sandwich for me and then turned round and just walked out

Last night I wanted a Chinese delivered but the one I had in my head was closed and it took me about an hour of stressing about which one to phone as their gravy might be different or they might use different noodles or any number of tiny little differences that I shouldn't really have got that bothered about!

Sorry pinkpussycat, I'm guessing you're talking about your stbxh :(

I sound like a really difficult person from my last post - some days I'm the opposite and can be fine and chilled out, other days can be more difficult.

Just to add to the earworm point too, I also find sometimes that it's not just a song that I can't get out of my head but it's thoughts too, I can't stop thinking and my head feels like it's going a million miles an hour and I exhaust myself, this is also usually when earworms get worse.

I also get obsessive about books, I love to read but will put off starting a book because I won't be able to put it down until it's done, staying up until the early hours reading until I literally fall asleep with the book in my hand.

DD will be fine waiting for her op a bit longer she has already been waiting over a year. The bad point for her will be that it will now be during half term not on a school day! I just hope she doesn't catch the scarlet fever off her brother because that would probably mean having it postponed again.

Also on the subject of nasty Xs, mine is in court tomorrow to be sentenced for harassment against me.

Sorry, to read about the nasty Xs etc. System, I hope your DD has avoided the lurgy.

Just wondering how you all cope with being expected to talk about 'feelings' I have noticed recently, whenever I tell someone about my son's asd diagnosis the person always looks me in the eye and says "how do you feel about it" This even happened on the Special needs board. It makes me so uncomfortable, I just don't know what to say

The truth is I feel nothing, I knew something was different about him, he's had his assessment, been diagnosed, and we will deal with it appropriately.