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Recent content by Katherine Rawstron

  1. K

    What would I be missing out on if I wasn't on the spectrum

    I'd prefer it if I wasn't autistic, but am thankful that my condition isn't any worse, and am aware that there are far worse conditions than autism that others have to contend with it. As it is, I have impeccable dress-sense and attention to detail, but my condition is mild enough to know when...
  2. K

    How do you react to people who are different or slow?

    "Good and "odd" can certainly belong in the same sentence, otherwise, all people with autism would be bad people! I like personality and quirkiness myself, but in certain forms, only in small doses. I find bubbly, terribly gregarious people difficult at times, as I'm an introvert and can't...
  3. K

    Socialising

    You're wise to stay off the booze; drinking to calm your nerves, give you confidence etc is how alcoholism starts. Whatever you do, don't go there; better to make the odd social faux pas than end up an alcoholic.
  4. K

    What ARE you good at?

    Languages, English and foreign spelling and grammar; fine finger co-ordination; reading aloud; music; colour co-ordination; deep thought; noticing things other people miss.
  5. K

    Rule following, clarification, please.

    I generally stick to the rules; social rules can be a minefield sometimes for people with our condition, as we have to consciously learn things that NT people just pick up naturally, and even then, there's no guarantee that we'll get it right! As for rules specific to a place of work, say, I...
  6. K

    Handwriting issues

    My handwriting's odd, partly due to it being a hybrid of two different writing styles. I was taught Cursive, then changed schools and had to learn Italic. I was best in the class in the latter as it is very precise; but it's also slow and cumbersome, and when I went to senior school, changed...
  7. K

    New member from the UK here.

    Hello, I'm English too, but not sporty in any way. It wasn't for want of trying, but my co-ordination, more when I was younger than now, was up the creek. I can swim and cycle (but not uphill for very long!) and enjoy walking, but otherwise, am pretty sedentary.
  8. K

    Hi from Mr Alligator

    Hello, I'm English too. I'm pretty sure I'm high-functioning autistic as I can relate to things that have come out about the condition over the last couple of years, but the doctor, who was lovely but didn't know me from Eve, didn't think so, so I'm self-diagnosed. I have come out in my family...
  9. K

    I cut my mother out of my life officially two days ago. Uncertain about things (Advice)

    It seems your mother needs a psychiatrist, but how to get her to one, especially if you've no contact with her now, I don't know. I'm English, so don't know the procedure for access to such services in America (I assume that's where you live, going by a couple of words and phrases you've used)...
  10. K

    Aspergers in your family,

    My great-niece is diagnosed with autism; I'm self-diagnosed, and am pretty sure one of my aunties has it. My brother may also have it, and possibly one of my cousins; not sure about my mum, although I think my step-dad may have had it.
  11. K

    How do you walk?

    I used to walk on tip-toe and was made fun of because of it. It started when I was 7 and my foot hurt, and I found it was the only way I could walk comfortably. The sore foot went, but I'd got into the bad habit by then, and it took years of conscious effort to stop doing it. I do...
  12. K

    Do you have problems speaking on the phone? Do people understand you?

    I hate phones, especially in the workplace. It reeks of Demand! Demand! Demand! I hated being expected to drop whatever I was doing and come running, often for something trivial and, if it was at the busiest time of day, was often something that could've waited until later. I resented being...
  13. K

    Am I the only one that experiences jealousy?

    Everybody gets jealous sometimes, even if only as a child. It's not helpful and, if you are Christian or Jewish, the Bible has a lot to say on the subject; but it is human. However, it's all very well saying jealousy/envy is wrong, isn't it. How about some tips as to what you can do about it...
  14. K

    The struggles

    If only it were that simple! Unfortunately, what works in one social situation doesn't work in another, and that's where we tend to fall down. I've had to learn not to repeat behaviour that worked on a previous occasion. Social rules change over time as well; for example, if I went by the...
  15. K

    Does anyone here choose to stay single?

    I hated being single. I was brought up to expect marriage and children as standard, and there was a lot of stigma to being single when I was in my 20's. I couldn't understand why I couldn't make a relationship last, and blamed it on men being commitment-shy. I had a dysfunctional childhood...
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