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

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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

Oh yes the questions in advance really did help me!

By that chart, I don't even need twelve spoons to account for the stuff I do in an average day and I'm knackered!
Today I:
Got up = 1
Dressed (mostly) = 1
Took meds = 1
Used internet = 2 (this is too high; probably only uses 1 spoon for me
Studied = 2 (this takes more than two spoons in my book )
Ate a meal but didn't cook it, so not three spoons - will put it down as = 1

So if we go by their chart's values, it only took 8 spoons' worth to get me to the falling-asleep-over-my-books stage :-/

I know the point of it is to mentally make your own hierarchy of the things that take energy for you, but it's embarrassing to see that I do so much less even than the restricted "you have only 12 spoons " example.

I'm feeling really weird at the minute

I don't cry over things that happen to other people. Why would I? It hasn't happened to me. But...I'm watching an anime at the minute and I've just cried at an episode. I know it's not real, so its not that. I just really didn't want what happened to happen and it upset me that it did.
Just me?

HRF, I often cry at films and TV shows. Probably more so since having kids.

I'm stressed this morning. It's probably just because I need to take DS2 to his assessment later. I've never been before and I'll need to take two different buses. Plus, I'm just so anxious the SALT will tell me DS2 isn't autistic because he can mask well.

But DS1 is also off sick again (I sent him to school yesterday but it completely took it out of him so he's obviously not well yet) and has been very demanding this morning so that's adding to my stress.

I'm just at that point where every noise makes me flinch and even DH talking to me normally sends a rush of anxiety through me (you know when you can almost feel the surge of hormones?).

The appointment isn't even until 4pm so I hope I can calm down a bit before then or it'll be an awful day.

I get ridiculously upset by films and TV shows. DP got quite grumpy with me once when she'd finally found something she thought we'd both like and within the first five minutes someone was being threatened with having their fingers cut off. It was meant to be a comedy but it really upset me. I can sit and take a statement for work about the most awful horrors that have actually happened without turning a hair though. Possibly because that's not illustrated with moving pictures!

That parking thread

I love those sorts of threads, it's like a real time soap opera but much much weirder. I wouldn't notice if a neighbour turned his car on my drive, never mind care.

And I forgot to say congrats Crohn! I am so broody at the moment it's ridiculous.

And sending calming thoughts your way BDH

This is the thing. I don't cry and violence doesn't bother me at all.
Stupid cartoon. It just upset me because I didn't want it to happen IYSWIM. But it did happen and it's not fair!

So... I went to the GP last week. He's decided I have social anxiety disorder, basically dismissed the possibility of AS, and wants me to take moclobemide. He also mumbled something about depression, presumably because I wasn't looking at him while I was talking (um, eye contact, anyone?).

I'm not taking the meds. As far as I'm concerned social anxiety is a perfectly reasonable response to having to work so hard to fit in and still getting it wrong. I've always had it, as far back as I can remember. It's part of me, and only crippling at the moment because the world is asking too much of me. Back off, World, and I'll be fine.

I assume this is a common problem for adults, not having Aspie traits recognised and being told problems are caused by something else? I feel a bit let down even though I'll be getting the referral I need - I've known this GP for 13 years. I thought he'd be more open to the possibility of AS.

I worked out why I've been finding work so hard (in addition to the intense social contact) - I had to get myself and the children organised and out of the house at the same time, and the demands of dealing with everyone's needs at the same time were too much for me. When I've had jobs with a later start time, which allowed me to get them to school then go home to sort myself out, I've been perfectly capable of holding down a job. Something else to add to my list of essential criteria for a happy life.

I hadn't heard of the spoons thing before. I've used 25 today. No wonder I'm not coping.

A neighbour using my driveway would drive me batty. My personal space extends to the edge of my property and often encompasses portable objects wherever they happen to be at the time. No touchy.

"I'm just at that point where every noise makes me flinch and even DH talking to me normally sends a rush of anxiety through me (you know when you can almost feel the surge of hormones?)."

Yes, I know exactly how you feel! Hope the SALT assessment goes well.

I rarely cry either, and don't feel any emotion at all with certain things that I think should upset me. Whenever I was pregnant though I'd cry at anything, then after the baby was born the hormones dwindled back to emotionless setting.

I've just wasted too much of my time trying to sort out proof of ds1's national insurance number. People-y tax stuff is so frustrating and inefficient .
I also have had 2 hours sleep, as there's too much going on right now, even though it's good stuff, and I can't switch off at all.

Thelast, could you print out some evidence? AQ test? (Not perfect, but it's usually recognised and may be taken as evidence?)
There's an article from Tania Marshall about women with aspergers, with a great long check list, might be worth printing and writing notes.

Here

BDH, I'd feel the same in your position! I hope you can calm down and it goes ok. I would mention about him masking in advance personally.

I cry a lot, always have. DH gets wound up if we argue because I start to cry and then he feels guilty but I can't help it! HRF maybe it's a safe way of expressing emotion? It can be easy to bottle up feelings and sometimes letting it out by a random trigger can be therapeutic? You've dealt with a lot lately.

thelast I took notes based on what cloudy linked to. It might be worth trying a different GP? I agree most Aspie's are naturally socially anxious - we know we can get it wrong and work hard to do it right which is exhausting! I was diagnosed with Generalised anxiety disorder but actually it's not general, it's very specific because it's related to my ASD. I'm taking meds at the moment because I struggled to cope with my feelings but I hope to stop them when I settle into my new job.

Finished work early today and came home forgetting that DP had invited a friend over for the afternoon. He's been here for hours and I just want him to go. Even though I like him a lot. I just want my evening routine!!

So, the assessment for DS2 today was actually just a short introductory appointment and then he'll have a proper assessment in six months or so. A bit of an anticlimax, really!

It seems they assess children for autism very differently here to where DS1 was diagnosed. With DS1 we had three assessments (one with a paediatrician, one with a SALT and one with a child psych) and then a meeting with all of them present to discuss the diagnosis.

Here, they apparently bring in a few children together to assess them all at once with several professionals all present. Not sure if that's better or worse.

I'm trying to de-stress, now.

Laura I hate surprise evening visitors! Can you hide?

BDH, what a disappointment!

I did hide fire but he stayed until I was actually getting DD into her pyjamas!! And now I'm being snappy with DP even though it's not her fault it feels like her fault for inviting him in the first place that he stayed for over four hours!!

Has anyone else seen The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime? I really liked it. The set was amazing (I loved finding all the maths references on set). Not great if you don't like loud noises though.

I read it years ago, probably due a reread as I can't remember much about it.

I'd go with misery-guts but yours looks fine… I think it's probably personal preference?

I'm sure we've got an honest-to-God proofreader on this thread somewhere.