Autism support thread
 

I'm sorry if this is a silly idea, but I often feel really alone when dealing with my autistic 'symptoms' because I don't really know anybody IRL who has it. I thought it might be a good idea to have a support thread on here for those of us who have it, but if its a silly idea mods feel free to delete.

popping in to say i don't think it's silly. <3

i don't know anyone irl either.

*waves* Hi autistic with ADHD here, I only mention the ADHD as I find it makes my presentation a little different to people without the ADHD and I have very little idea where one starts and the other ends :laugh:

if either of you are on twitter the #ActuallyAutistic hashtag is pretty good for finding other people, discussing experiences/symptoms, etc

I have (diagnosed by chartered psychologist not psychiatrist so on another waiting list) ADHD and probable autism (I love waiting lists).

It’s all fun and games being nearly diagnosed.

Is it ok if I post here sometimes?

Wow, this idea took off better than I thought it would haha!

Of course you can post Lio, everyone is welcome! Interesting that you've been diagnosed by a psychologist and not a speech and language therapist, I've never heard of that before both in my capacity as a teacher and as an autistic person! I found psychiatrists dismissed me and told me I wasn't, I only got a diagnosis just over a year ago.

Do people find that the world in general finds it hard to understand? I have lots of support from my friend V, and my family (in general with perhaps the exception of my father) but its the general public I struggle with. I also don't have many friends, and find it difficult to maintain friendships because I feel like I'm 'burdening' people'. Also would be interested to know if people feel younger than they are because of their autism? I often have meltdowns and things and am called childish all the time, would be interesting to know if anyone else feels like a child sometimes or whether its a separate issue in my case.

I relate Ali.

If I am in public/any situation with people, it’s a cliche but it feels like they have an instruction manual in their brains and I have a chewed puzzle book that got dropped in soup. No idea what I’m doing.

She was a chartered psychologist so qualified to tell me I meet the criteria for ADHD and to recommend an autism diagnostic assessment. I’ve been referred to the specialist service in my area but don’t know how long the wait is.

It's pretty much a mutual agreement among myself and my most recent two therapist humans that I have ADHD too. I've never done any official testing and unsure I want to. I'm 100% in support of self diagnosis, as are my current therapist humans. And yes, there's a lot of good talk and info going on over on Twitter, ironically.

I've recently started working with an autism/ADHD coach and finding it very helpful so far.

I don't tend to worry to much about what other humans think or understand unless it's someone I am close with, but I do often feel younger than I am and have definitely been treated like a child by awful providers.

Yes Lio! Both my brother and sister are 'neurotypical', have degrees and good jobs and can drive etc and for years its felt like they have life all figured out. I was always told not to compare myself against them (and everyone else) but its so difficult to not do that. I have a reasonably good relationship with both of them in that I can usually count on them for help and support etc, but they do sometimes get frustrated with me because they just don't get where I'm coming from at all. Its sometimes a lonely place to be because if I was neurotypical too, I'd be like them. I'm finding loneliness to be a problem lately, I sometimes feel so alone with all this and its difficult to get across how I feel to the point it'll cause arguments/frustration because the other person doesn't understand what I'm trying to say.

Claire (my autism support worker) suggested going to some of the activities they run so I could meet other autistic people, but I'm nervous of doing so.

I got awarded PIP today :)

Does anyone else claim it? I've never had it before. Obviously a good thing but kinda makes it feel real there is something wrong with me

yay well done!


I aplied in March last year, got zero points awarded n septmeber so currenty in the middle of a manditory reconsideration

Hazel (is it ok to use your name?) I applied in December 2020 so mught be waiting a while still. Also had to go to mandatory reconsideration after them stating there was 'no evidence' I had autism or mental health problems at all.

Wonder if thats just the norm?

I have been told most peopel get rejeced at first. I got some unexpected phonecalls last week and a letter asking to confirm my bank details so hoping I will hear soon


My assesment report in september came back with some really odd stuff, like my attending collee online meaning that I could travel and that "autism is a learnign difficutly not a disability". They also states that my mental health can't be bad as my medication were "only first line" not even sure what that one means :laugh:

I didn't read mine on advice of Claire (my support worker) so I have no idea what the report said, just that the letter said there was no evidence.

How strange! I wouldn't know what it means either haha

ah makes sense. I read it so I knew what points to argue against

Dix you get a service to help you with yours? If you don't get the MR, you can ask welfare rights to do an appeal for you but I do'n't know if its the same same in England. I'n told it is?

Hi everyone. Very recently been told I may have autism by a psychiatrist but waiting for the assessment (waiting list is 3 years long and dread being told its not that)..... was given a diagnosis of bpd a couple years ago but always felt that wasnt right. Autism feels more accurate (don't fit in, want to answer every conversation with ok but know its not right so mask a lot!) Right now I'm not sure. Work is hard and draining.

I've read that a lot of afab people can be misdiagnosed as having BPD. Which makes sense to me. I definitely was misdiagnosed as having BPD, among other things too.

I also read something a while back saying BPD shouldn't even really exist and should be removed as most folks with it would either fall under the autism spectrum or PTSD/complex PTSD, but unsure how I feel about that.

I had been originally diagnosed as autistic by my original psych but then I moved and had a different psych. The different psych diagnosed me with bpd traits. I believe the autism is correct as I suffered a lot with physical meltdowns a lot during my childhood/teenage years. I used to physically attack. I had seen 2 lots of educational psychologists by the age of 14. I also had obsessions (still have them!) which are intense. I also been told that I have black and white thinking which can occur in autism. I believe that I was only given my bpd diagnosis because of my SI. I am also noise sensitive.