Neurodiversity support thread for women with suspected, diagnosed or self-diagnosed autism, ADHD and other NDs #18

[PolterThreadStarter]

As usual, latest support thread.

Welcome

Bubbles I think the more recent videos I've watched are better.... although... I kind of like her style keeps my attention.

Ok, so the two random pages I've chosen show how sometimes I end up doodling ... and I recently worked out a weekly layout that I like and I bought some pens to play with
Some weeks I write almost nothing in there. Other times there are random bits written across the page - often if I'm calculating something and know that day has passed so I can use the space IYSWIM.

I would like it to be pretty; but it isn't something I want to invest that much time in.
Having said that I use the coloured pens to make it more fun and more inviting to use.

I want and need it to function, be simple, quick, easy to access and easy to come back to later and understand what I wrote.

Hello everyone :)
22 and have long suspected I have ASD (Aspergers). Main issues are socialising, poor executive function and lots of others e.g. special interests etc. Am currently in the minefield of getting a diagnosis done as have figured it would be useful for employers (languages graduate).
Socialising is definitely my biggest issue by far. I have had friends at school and university but not very many. I know there's no "rule" about how many friends to have but i would've liked to have had more. I've had a number of people I would've liked to make friends with, except I just couldn't. Didn't know what to say to them, worried about approaching them, worried that we have nothing in common. Have, unsurprisingly, had no kind of romance what.so.ever. No kisses, no nothing. There weren't many guys on my course, and the ones that there were were either already taken or gay. As I leave formal education and enter the "real world" so to speak I worry about where I'll meet anyone. I don't really have any "hobbies"- my special interests are pretty solitary as you can imagine. From what I've read work/office romances can be a huge no-no, which I understand, but it just makes me wonder where on Earth I'm going to meet anyone. Plus there's the idea of actually being in a relationship... I have little self-confidence to the point where I find it hard to believe someone would want to be in a relationship with me sometimes, like how can you love some one/expect someone to love you if you don't love yourself?? (Online dating sounds like my idea of pure hell, there is no way I'd put myself up to that).

hi toffee welcome to the dark sidethe thread. We are all nice here. What stage are you at with the diagnosis? My referral has been sent. I'm just waiting to hear back for appointments etc.

strike out fail

HRF it worked in the app... I think...

Toffee welcome! I'm recently (ish) diagnosed ADHD.

I think I'm having a manic day today. I can't sit still and make my brain do what I want. I'm supposed to be packing for our holiday. We fly tomorrow!

Welcome Toffee. Definitely a friendly, understanding group! I'm Faith. Diagnosed with ASD last year in my mid 30s.

Welcome toffee , I have all the things! Asd, ADHD, SpLDs, social anxiety, Ita like Pokemon, I've got to catch them all! The asd and social anxiety does make it difficult socialising and I'm still trying to work out how to make adult friends in real life, but ive found various supportive communities that while aren't "traditional friends" have filled that void a bit, this thread, gaming communities, twitch communities. So don't write yourself off re partner (or friends) if you want one, they can turn up in unexpected places esp for asd folk I believe! I know some autistic folks that have met a partner via they're special interest (online gaming), I met mine basically because we were autistic, at an asd event meeting thing and I'd had no other boyfriend or relationship before that.

I know you said your special interest at solitary but is there communities or forums online, I've found for even the most random obscure hobbies there is often online chat rooms or forums about them, where you can chat to other people about it.

Hello everyone, I've been away from mumsnet for ages but I've just been so busy! I'll try to catch up on all these posts later after I've had my hair cut (I hate hair cuts ).

Anyway I found out that I am expecting a baby boy and I am so excited! Still nervous too but mostly excited.

I have also quit my job so I will be relying on SO for a while and I'm not sure when I'll be looking for another job.

Hello fellow small furry!

And congratulations on your amazing news! :)

I'm just going to shamelessly ask for feedback on my non pretty bullet journal.

Aww what wonderful news Ferret!

My bullet journal is used at times. The best thing I've done is a shopping list which I refer to when I do my weekly online shop. That is very helpful!

Actually MrsN it's really good to see one that looks real and not hideously contrived. Thanks for sharing.

Hey toffee and welcome

Congrats Ferret

Mine looks a bit like that MrsN but not always current or colourful!

mrsn it's made me want to try it. The videos etc usually make it all look so flashy and complicated. I try with a normal diary but it doesn't fit. The boxes are always the wrong size and there's no space for random things.

My car is shot. 3k repair bill shot. DH made me call over to ask my neighbours about a car (he's a car dealer) and it was really awkward. I feel horrible now and neighbour needs to call me back because he was driving when I called. I'm a useless mess tbh. I hate this stuff.

I may have order some moleskines via Amazon for delivery today so I can try being organised with bullet journals

Also I just got up, rip my sleep schedule!

Faith I think most normal ones do look like that. Eventually you're going to get bored of doing faffy arty bits, unless you are an arty faffy person.

Weaver sorry about your car.

I will be migrating some lists over from this book to a new one when I get back from holiday (currently enjoying a break from tired, mad DC while waiting for our next flight) but I've brought the old one on holiday because it is my brain. One notebook has lasted me a whole year.... and I think I'm slowly getting the hang of making it work for me.

Bubbles sorry about the sleep

It will be beautiful for a day, as I've been scouring piinterwst for ideas and I like to pretend to be artsy fartsy then it will probably fall back to my normal chaotic scrawl!

I have pretty handwriting, according to most people, except in exams I had no end of trouble with handwriting all through junior school but retaught myself handwriting when I was a teenager because I was fed up of having crappy handwriting. Last summer, I taught myself to write with the "proper" tripod grip, which I'm still remembering to do most of the time.

I got two they just arrived, one dotted one, one grid! I have a really weird pen grip I hold it between my 2nd and 3rd fingers in a fist shape

Weaver I hope the second phone call wasn't too stressful and you sorted out your car situ

Shit. Ignore that.

galileo galileo galileo galileo galileo galileo galileo

Pasted the wrong thing 😂

I love notepads :) Have you looked into Rhodia or Leuchtturm as Moleskine alternatives? I like Leuchtturm. For everyday writing, I like to use Europa Notemakers as they're manufactured using Clairefontaine paper, which is astonishing for the price.

My neatish writing (first pic) as seen here on some revision notes is the one people compliment me on. My exam scrawl (second picture) is less commonly complimented… 😂 (To be fair, that was on narrow-ruled refill, which I find hard to write neatly on, as I didn't have any normal ruled paper to hand at the time.)