@actuallyautistic#ActuallyAutistic Can we talk self-diagnosis? The penny dropped for me last year. I'm only mildly autistic but that's enough to have made me wonder my whole life where I go wrong with social things, why others seem to know the rules and I don't, with predictable consequences. Because I am self-diagnosed I feel I can't be open with anyone beyond immediate family, esp work, as I don't have a doctor's note to back it up and I'll be accused of jumping on a bandwagon. Familiar?
@callunavulgaris@actuallyautistic you can access the SWAN network in Scotland without formal diagnosis, and Scottish Autism has a lot of resources which would be available if you want them. I have friends in your situation who found this helpful.
@callunavulgaris@actuallyautistic You're very welcome. I'm in this position re ADHD, and my daughter is autistic, diagnosed after years of struggle, so I know where you're coming from.
My brother and sister have both been officially diagnosed as ADHD recently (and we're all 60ish +), but I just don't want to spend the time officially chasing a diagnosis. But sometimes...
I should add that I am probably, like you, on the end of the autism spectrum. It was a blessing in some ways growing up because I had no interest in peer pressure (unlike my siblings), and that made my life easier. But it's a second diagnosis that I'm not going to chase, mostly because I would have to make phone calls and OMG that's torture. (And at this stage of life, I don't see much advantage.)
@jkcheney@actuallyautistic That last point is my view too. Generally I was baffled by my peers from about age 8 and felt different. I did want to fit in though, very much. Once patterns started repeating themselves I realised that although I had no idea what, and ND didn't occur to me, there was something about me that only clicked with a certain few people. I think it's probably my intensity, it just puts ppl off but I don't know how to be any different!
@jkcheney@actuallyautistic I'm with you there. All it would give me is the confidence to say that I'm autistic in situations where it might be relevant. Because superficially and for short bursts I can be relaxed, chatty, smiley etc in company I don't present as people's idea of a typical autistic person. I mentioned it in passing to a work colleague when I was still at the 'I have autistic traits' stage and he pooh-poohed it so I won't mention it now.
@callunavulgaris@jkcheney@actuallyautistic this is exactly what having an ADHD diagnosis has done for me -- given me confidence. (I suspect autism is also relevant but I haven't gone that route for diagnosis)
Ugh. Some people are like that, when honestly, you know your brain better than anyone else.
I used to work grocery, customer-facing, and sometimes after work I would just go home and sit in my closet because I couldn't handle any more human interaction, not even my roommate. So I understand exactly what you mean about the short bursts!
@jkcheney@actuallyautistic I used to think it was just tiredness at the end of the day and of course that's part of it but also yes, the imperative to get away from stimulation. On my way to bed the other night my mother started asking me for the dates when we're doing x, y and z and I just couldn't do it then if my life depended on it! I had to stop, clear the decks mentally, not pay attention to details.
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