Hi, I have a question

[Fern_14]

Hello! I'm new here. I think I might be autistic.

I'm very sensitive to sensory input, I stim a lot (rocking back and forth and flapping my hands are my "favorite" ones, hehe), I hate being touched, eye contact is uncomfortable, I have special interests, I have a hard time switching activities, I'm literal-minded and slow to understand jokes, and I get upset when things don't go as expected/planned. I also have a hard time figuring out when to talk, and struggle a lot with initiating a conversation.

There's just one thing. I can understand body language and social cues. I'm okay at social interaction...maybe? I do find it exhausting, even with people I like. I do have a hard time figuring out what someone's opinion is sometimes, and I'm often confused with metaphors and jokes. I'm conscious of my tone when I talk to strangers, and sometimes I say things in the wrong tone and get anxiety because I don't want to come across the wrong way. I do script some conversations. I find myself copying other people's body language and posture. But I have plenty of days when I'm not actively conscious of my interactions and things come "naturally" to me, I suppose. Does this rule out the possibility of me being autistic? I do relate to most autistic experiences, it's just that one part I don't experience. (but it seems like a big thing, which is why I'm asking)

Thanks for reading, I hope this wasn't too confusing.

 

[Gerontius]

Hello, Fern. Welcome to Autism Forums.
Sounds like what I've got. The idea of some days just coming "naturally" is quite common; some days I act identical to a neurotypical and some days I am, well, a little "off." The sensory thing also fluctuates a bit from time to time. Autism is full of an incredible variety of experience, unique from person to person. You sound like you have a lot of commonality with the autism spectrum. I would go so far as to guess that you are autistic.

However, don't let a crazy person on the Internet diagnose you; if you want to know, see a psychologist who knows about autism. You're OK though.

And even if you are not, please do hang out here; shared experiences are experiences, and knowledge is power. What we do to cope may work fine for you, and doubtless many of us would like to know how you handle it.

 

[Isadoorian]

Welcome Fern.

Everyone who's autistic has different interpretations as to what's considered being Autistic means to them, and it should be known that Autism isn't so simple as to the generalization of it being a spectrum, as so many variables exist.

I'd like you to take the time to read through the following article as it may help shed some light on your question as it relates to what I just described.

"It's a Spectrum" Doesn't Mean What You Think » NeuroClastic

 

[Fern_14]

Hello, Fern. Welcome to Autism Forums.
Sounds like what I've got. The idea of some days just coming "naturally" is quite common; some days I act identical to a neurotypical and some days I am, well, a little "off." The sensory thing also fluctuates a bit from time to time. Autism is full of an incredible variety of experience, unique from person to person. You sound like you have a lot of commonality with the autism spectrum. I would go so far as to guess that you are autistic.

However, don't let a crazy person on the Internet diagnose you; if you want to know, see a psychologist who knows about autism. You're OK though.

And even if you are not, please do hang out here; shared experiences are experiences, and knowledge is power. What we do to cope may work fine for you, and doubtless many of us would like to know how you handle it.

Thank you for your reply! I feel reassured after reading it. I'm happy to know I'm not alone! I'm getting a new psychiatrist soon and I'm thinking of bringing it up with them.

 

[Fern_14]

Welcome Fern.

Everyone who's autistic has different interpretations as to what's considered being Autistic means to them, and it should be known that Autism isn't so simple as to the generalization of it being a spectrum, as so many variables exist.

I'd like you to take the time to read through the following article as it may help shed some light on your question as it relates to what I just described.

"It's a Spectrum" Doesn't Mean What You Think » NeuroClastic

Hello! Thanks for the article, I read through it and it makes a lot of sense. I really like how diverse everyone is.

 

[Aspychata]

Thanks for mentioning tone of voice. That has screwed me up before,both ways, listening and speaking.

Welcome, please post, you read very interesting and l bet you have plenty of great ideas to share here.

 

[Thinx]

Hi and welcome, I hope that you enjoy it here There can be differences between people raised as male or raised as female, typically females being socialised more to interact with others, this can extend their abilities and /or ability to mask as neurotypical. Jessica Kingsley publishers catalogue has books and resources about autism and about women and girls with autism and how it may manifest differently.

 

[SusanLR]

Welcome, Fern_14 .
We're all different in our own ways. What one may be like, the next may not.
An official diagnosis is a good thing and there are many things to learn that you will
relate to here.

Love your profile pic.
I have a lot of those little green guys sitting on that rose living in my pool cage area.

 

[Dadamen]

Welcome! You are similar to me and you might have ASD 1 (also known as Asperger's syndrome). You can always do some online tests to estimate chance of having it. I can send you links of them.

 

[Progster]

The masking can be a bit like driving a car... we perform some commonplace interactions such as greetings so often that they become automatic, we can perform them on autopilot without really thinking about them. What really trips me up is the unexpected, or more complex interaction with hidden meaning or intention. I'm not good at reading between the lines and picking up on that kind of thing.

 

[tree]

 

[Magna]

Welcome.

 

[Fern_14]

Welcome! You are similar to me and you might have ASD 1 (also known as Asperger's syndrome). You can always do some online tests to estimate chance of having it. I can send you links of them.

I've done lots of online tests and they all said I could be autistic/I'm probably autistic!

 

[Tom]

I too can function quite well, but if a person interrupts me it can be like brain data is suddenly scrambled and things go sideways quickly.

 

[Dadamen]

I've done lots of online tests and they all said I could be autistic/I'm probably autistic!

Mine are in signature, so if you had done some of them you can compare, btw. How old are you?

 

[clg114]

Welcome to Autism Forums!

 

[Fern_14]

Mine are in signature, so if you had done some of them you can compare, btw. How old are you?

I'm 15 years old!

 

[Gerontius]

I'm 15 years old!

I was diagnosed at 18 or 19 and am 21-ish now.

This is a thought; you don't want to let this define you. Autism already shapes your personality. The diagnostic criteria for high functioning autism are basically the story of my life. That's cool; people get made that way sometimes. But what's bad, is the amount of identity politicking on the Internet.

I cannot imagine being 15 and getting sucked into the online autism culture. I'd be a mess right now. Course it may be different for you but seriously, Fern, you are fifteen. It is a great age to be. You have a lot of life ahead of you, no time for other peoples' anxiety.

We all are glad to welcome you to Autism Forums. But don't get sucked into online culture--where the least bit of love for order makes you OCD, or standard autism symptoms make you incapable of holding a job & doing O.K. and passing for normal.

People will say I'm being ableist here, perhaps, but I say autistic people have been so commonly found throughout history that we don't need to subject ourselves to the myth, forced down our throats today, that we are helpless exotic pets for NT's, to be kept alive on a diet of cat videos and Adderall. We are men and women. Our free wills define us. The free will is an inviolable shrine to reason, and the intellect informs the will. Our sense inform the intellect. So St. Thomas Aquinas put it in the Summa Theologica back in 1270 A.D.; he himself was probably an Aspie.

 

[Fern_14]

I was diagnosed at 18 or 19 and am 21-ish now.

This is a thought; you don't want to let this define you. Autism already shapes your personality. The diagnostic criteria for high functioning autism are basically the story of my life. That's cool; people get made that way sometimes. But what's bad, is the amount of identity politicking on the Internet.

I cannot imagine being 15 and getting sucked into the online autism culture. I'd be a mess right now. Course it may be different for you but seriously, Fern, you are fifteen. It is a great age to be. You have a lot of life ahead of you, no time for other peoples' anxiety.

We all are glad to welcome you to Autism Forums. But don't get sucked into online culture--where the least bit of love for order makes you OCD, or standard autism symptoms make you incapable of holding a job & doing O.K. and passing for normal.

People will say I'm being ableist here, perhaps, but I say autistic people have been so commonly found throughout history that we don't need to subject ourselves to the myth, forced down our throats today, that we are helpless exotic pets for NT's, to be kept alive on a diet of cat videos and Adderall. We are men and women. Our free wills define us. The free will is an inviolable shrine to reason, and the intellect informs the will. Our sense inform the intellect. So St. Thomas Aquinas put it in the Summa Theologica back in 1270 A.D.; he himself was probably an Aspie.

I think I understand what you're trying to say. (I don't get what you mean by "other people's anxiety" though) But so far, my experience in the community and diagnosis has largely been "get tested to really know" and I've learned a lot about how capable and unique every autistic person is. I know I'm my own person, and that nothing will change that fact. I know I'm more than my (possible) autism, too.

(p.s. Happy Birthday!)

 

[Gerontius]

I think I understand what you're trying to say. (I don't get what you mean by "other people's anxiety" though) But so far, my experience in the community and diagnosis has largely been "get tested to really know" and I've learned a lot about how capable and unique every autistic person is. I know I'm my own person, and that nothing will change that fact. I know I'm more than my (possible) autism, too.

(p.s. Happy Birthday!)

Well, what I say is pretty much what I mean, but when I forget the words--it gets confusing. The word I was looking for, is "learned helplessness." Beware. Learn as much as you can, but be cautious to preserve your own plan currently of "get tested to really know," and use it as a strength instead of succumbing to other peoples' telling you that you can only do this or that.



(and thank you for the well-wishes but it isn't my birthday; I didn't put my real birthday on the internet!)