Neurodiversity thread - for all MNetters who are neurodiverse - ASD, ADHD, Dyspraxia and more.

[FaithAscending]

Welcome one and all to the new thread. A safe haven for MNetters who identify as neurodiverse, diagnosis or not, and those waiting for assessment. Links available in recent threads. Newbies welcome. We just ask that you introduce yourself

Don't shut up Virgin

Threads about autism on (mainstream, i.e. not SN) MN, as elsewhere on the internet, are often not very nice for those of us who are the burdens inconveniences people being talked about.

Well tbf, shutting up would indeed be difficult for me, either online or in RL .

I spent an hour earlier chatting to DP non stop about the X Files of all things. It's like once I start I can't stop 🤐

I regularly make pledges to myself that I will not speak except when absolutely necessary, before some situation or other (college, usually), then two seconds after I walk in, there i am yelling my head off and oversharing

Rat, I do that on MN, I tell myself not to post, then I do and make a tit of myself!

Are there any chewers around?
I have wrecked the stringy bit on my hoody by chewing it, and am fast getting through a little toggle thing on another hoody. What can I get to chew that is quite thin? (The toggle on the hoody is about 3mm thick and 6mm across and is perfect). I have something from chewigem but it's too thick, and I don't chew it, but make squeaky noises with my teeth, which annoys everyone else around!

rat love the picture!

Ah yes, the MN autism issue. Aside from our safe haven here, it is not a great topic. I agree with ratty, we are a burden. A friend posted recently on FB about a 'cure' for ASD. To be fair, her nephew has ASD and really struggles but I found it unintentionally, she doesn't know about my diagnosis offensive. So many people on MN claim to be ASD/SEN experts but only talk about how it affects them.

I chew liquorice root when I'm going through a chewy phase. Acquired taste. It's essentially chewing on a liquoricey twig.

I don't think of us as burdens, yes we need support and help but so does everyone, but the media narrative encourages the idea that we are, and it filters through to people's assumptions and discussions. No man is an island and all that

I can never get the balance right. I'm either sitting there saying nothing at all and weirding everyone out or I'm talking non stop and no one else can get a word in edgeways.

I like autist. I generally use aspie. And spergy feels perfect for certain situations

cloud check out Stimtastic, they have a range of silicon chew things as well, if you want something thin then the faceted beads are quite flat and flexible. My current favourite is the musical note one because one side fits quite nicely down the side of my mouth and I can chew with my back teeth. Don't be put off by the fact it's overseas, even with shipping it works out comparable to chewigem prices and the customer service was great on the one time I did have a problem. And it's run/owned by a Cynthia Kim, of musingsofanaspie fame.

Forgot to ask, which chewigem have you got? I've got Chubes on my hoody strings and a skull which is nice but I tend to dribble through the holes (eww), I also won a ring and bought a toggle tag but they're both too firm and too big to fit comfortably for me.

Not like I went through a mini obsession with chewy things, oh no, not me!

I've realised I sometimes chew my sleeves a bit. I don't know if it's a new thing or an old thing I've only just noticed.

I get that a lot with various stims: I suddenly realise I'm doing it but have no idea how long it's been a 'thing' I do.

Ratty, that rat is cute. I have a soft spot for rats. When I was at Uni I had a friend with two rats and when she went home to Luxembourg over the summer I looked after her rats for a week or so until a different friend was able to collect them for the rest of the summer. They were pretty cool and used to climb up on my shoulder and groom me.

Crohn, I'll go and have a look at those. I've got a toggle tag from chewigem, perfect for squeaking, to big to chew comfortably. Ds has some dog tag chews, which are flatter, but they're still a bit big.

Dr Polter Goose has a lovely ring to it 😊

I had a significant day yesterday.

Through my work (university) I can access free short-term counselling sessions. These are generic counsellors/therapists, not autism-focused. I applied two months ago, mentioning Asperger's, just in case they were able to help.

My initial appointment was yesterday.I really did not expect much as I've met a couple of frankly incompetent therapists in the past and given how there can still be a view that Asperger's in women is unlikely, I was terrified that would be the outcome.

Anyway, I couldn't have been more wrong; the counsellor was amazing and, after listening to my prepared note (I'm rubbish at talking about myself) and asked me 10 screening questions, she said she could refer me to the local diagnostic service (which will then have to do it's own pre-screening before agreeing to undertake an assessment). She has also said I can come back and see her for CBT. She said I had been really brave, and as patronising as that may sound, I needed to hear it.

I feel relieved that it's out, not just this massive tornado of thoughts and questions in my head. And that someone else has indicated she may agree (though I know there's a long way to go re: assessment)

The one thing I would like to say is how amazing Polter Goose has been. She reviewed my prepared notes, given really helpful general advice and kept me calm via email when I was sitting literally (not figuratively) shaking in the waiting room. Thank you X 1,000,000

If anyone is interested there is an article about diagnosing Asperger's in adults I today's Guardian.

www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/19/autism-diagnosis-late-in-life-asperger-syndrome-john-harris

That's fantastic Sweary, well done!

sweary that article made me cry. The boy having his picture ripped up and the humiliation he felt. Brought back many painful memories of school and being singled out by the nuns who could be so cruel.

*AllofAFumble" - agreed. I get physically agitated when I read of injustice like that. It's utterly appalling. I'd love to believe in karma but sadly I don't think it exists.

Polter - what is wrong with SBC? It's his centre that I'm being referred to.

The word “spectrum” was first used in this context by the pioneering British researcher Lorna Wing, who died in 2014. Baron-Cohen explains: “What she meant at the time, I think, was a spectrum within those who come to clinical attention. Where it’s gone since is that this spectrum runs right through society, out into the general population.”

"Apart from S B-C's presence that is a very good article."
😂😂😂