Super Newcomer to the Forum!

[Shell-Bell]

Hi everybody!

You guys can call me Shell and I just really wanted to give this forum a try. I've never really joined a forum for anything before but I'm hoping this one really helps me out.

So a little about me: I'm 22 currently going for my BFA in animation in Southern CA and I was diagnosed with high functioning autism at 4 years old. At 17 I basically got told I got tested "out of" autism which I thought meant I passed the grand test that meant I was officially not autistic anymore. Turns out it just meant that if I got retested I probably wouldn't be diagnosed with autism.
However now that I'm in college and I'm becoming more and more independent in my life I'm kinda starting to see where denying some of my little remaining autistic traits may be damaging (like how I have a zero percent love life and no clue on how to fix that).
So I'm really hoping just honestly talking about some of these issues here, with other anonymous peers, will really help me out in my life right now. Oh and any advice I can give others too, because hey this isn't just about me on this forum

Again really nice to meet everybody and hope we can offer each other some kiss-ass advice! (oh haha I mean "kick-ass" however that's too cute of a misspelling to change it)

 

[Rocco]

Welcome aboard
This is called "the Kiss"

 

[Shell-Bell]

Oh this is so sweet, thanks! I also love your style, it's has this very surrealistic feel to it (which is one of favorite themes). It really pops off the canvas!

 

[Vanilla]

Welcome Shell

Don't worry, many of our members hadn't ever been on forums, before coming here. Hopefully you'll get comfortable fast enough. It's odd that you could be undiagnosed of your autism. What a strange concept.

Anyway, feel free to check out our resources section. Members are welcome to add to this too: Autism & Asperger's Resources | AspiesCentral.com

PS. I'm also a student in animation

 

[Shell-Bell]

PS. I'm also a student in animation

Oh that's so awesome! It''s neat to see a fellow animator on here

Oh yes and the whole undiagnosis thing was very strange.
I basically started scoring off the spectrum test my school was using to test me every year. When I hit 17ish they showed me all my test scores (elementary to high school, gosh it was scary seeing some of my scores at 7) and the sudden jump off the spectrum that happend when I hit high school. They had no other answers for it, it just looked like I had been suddenly "cured", and so that's what I thought too. I account the change to the neurological treatments I got when I was a kid which dramatically changed my behavior and personality.
My mom always tells me it's like her daughter suddenly got replaced by another one that looked and sounded just like her, the second one was just functioning phenomenally better (kinda makes me think Invasion of the Body Snatchers, except I forgot I was an alien supposed to suck out peoples brains and went off to art school instead XD)

Just as an example this was my recent test score on the Aspie Quiz, and this score was probably completely flipped when I was a kid:

Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 52 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 173 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical

 

[Vanilla]

Oh that's so awesome! It''s neat to see a fellow animator on here

Oh yes and the whole undiagnosis thing was very strange.
I basically started scoring off the spectrum test my school was using to test me every year. When I hit 17ish they showed me all my test scores (elementary to high school, gosh it was scary seeing some of my scores at 7) and the sudden jump off the spectrum that happend when I hit high school. They had no other answers for it, it just looked like I had been suddenly "cured", and so that's what I thought too. I account the change to the neurological treatments I got when I was a kid which dramatically changed my behavior and personality.
My mom always tells me it's like her daughter suddenly got replaced by another one that looked and sounded just like her, the second one was just functioning phenomenally better (kinda makes me think Invasion of the Body Snatchers, except I forgot I was an alien supposed to suck out peoples brains and went off to art school instead XD)

Just as an example this was my recent test score on the Aspie Quiz, and this score was probably completely flipped when I was a kid:

Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 52 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 173 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical

Yes, you'll actually find that animation is a career path that attracts many on the spectrum. I know I'm not the only one here

Hmm...I'm no professional, but I feel it's not so much that you've "lost" your ASD, so much as become a very good chameleon. Aspies (especially female Aspies), can be rather good at mimicing NTs, to the point that they appear NT.

 

[Shell-Bell]

Hmm...I'm no professional, but I feel it's not so much that you've "lost" your ASD, so much as become a very good chameleon.

Oh goodness no I haven't actually "lost" it, the school just had no idea what they were talking about and I just believed what they said. I came to grips that it's not a losable thing a few years after that, which is good because then I stopped denying the remaining issues I had relating to my ASD. The chameleon thing is interesting though! I definitely don't think I do that as an adult, I do adapt to new situations fairly well but I never pause and think "what would a normal person do in this situation?" I just act on instinct, but as a kid I think I used that as a social tactic a lot. I kinda remember just saying and acting like how I saw other kids act, but when someone tried to ask why I did things I quite literally had no response for them since I was just copying what the others were doing. Again as a kid I could barely function with other people, now my ASD traits are so minimal NT's don't pick up on it unless I point out specific things about myself.

 

[Judge]

Welcome to AC, Shell-Bell. Interesting subject....can some children "lose" their autism? Or is there an undercurrent of original misdiagnosis in this particular scenario? And whether "mimicking" NT behavior actually constitutes "overcoming" autism?

Lots of questions...unsure about any real answers though.

Can Some Children 'Lose' Autism Diagnosis? New Evidence Says Yes

Researchers Find Possibility of Change in Children Previously Diagnosed with Autism | UConn Today

 

[StephF]

Hail fellow, well met Shell. You are welcome here.

 

[Maelstrom]

[QUOTE="Shell-Bell, Again really nice to meet everybody and hope we can offer each other some kiss-ass advice! (oh haha I mean "kick-ass" however that's too cute of a misspelling to change it)[/QUOTE]

Ha ha, very funny subliminal suggestion? Cute! Oh, was going to make a bad joke about marrying me so we could make Animie's together, but I'm already over my limit on, (spooking people), for this month. So I think I'll go with, (the animation thing is way coool! welcome!).

 

[Shell-Bell]

Ha ha, very funny subliminal suggestion? Cute! Oh, was going to make a bad joke about marrying me so we could make Animie's together, but I'm already over my limit on, (spooking people), for this month. So I think I'll go with, (the animation thing is way coool! welcome!).

Oh gosh that's super flattering and very sweet thanks . Haha I was definitely thinking about how I hope I can get dating advice on here while I was writing that last sentence, I just suck at picking up on signals from guys XD
Oh yes and I just adore animating <3 I'm currently acting as Head of Story for a short film my class is producing (so basically in charge of storyboards and whatnot). Hopefully it'll come out glorious

 

[Maelstrom]

Oh gosh that's super flattering and very sweet thanks . Haha I was definitely thinking about how I hope I can get dating advice on here while I was writing that last sentence, I just suck at picking up on signals from guys XD
Oh yes and I just adore animating <3 I'm currently acting as Head of Story for a short film my class is producing (so basically in charge of storyboards and whatnot). Hopefully it'll come out glorious

Oh I'm probably to old, am still cute tho, ha ha... being auspie has some blessings. Do like the animie stuff tho, am working on a S/F book series that would convert well, target audience is Disny. sorry cant spell, and checker wont give word. Sounds cool good luck with film.

 

[NlGHTgirl]

Oh gosh that's super flattering and very sweet thanks . Haha I was definitely thinking about how I hope I can get dating advice on here while I was writing that last sentence, I just suck at picking up on signals from guys XD
Oh yes and I just adore animating <3 I'm currently acting as Head of Story for a short film my class is producing (so basically in charge of storyboards and whatnot). Hopefully it'll come out glorious

Well. Some day, A guy will find you. : ) He will say "Do you want to go out on a date?" The men always find me.......... but I Don't date much.......... aaaww......

 

[Maelstrom]

[QUOTE="Shell-Bell, I was definitely thinking about how I hope I can get dating advice on here I just suck at picking up on signals from guys XD
[/QUOTE]

I'm no expert, but with allot of guys, (me), the more attracted I am to a girl the harder it is to talk to her. So if there are signs of avoidance, he may like you, and sneaky checking her out glances too. However as a auspie catching me on these things may be hard as unlike a (NT), if I get caught up in talking I will forget you exist, temporarily, Sorry no multitasking. Best option, just have a friend ask, if it isn't a hard no, go a head and try a soft approach chat him up a little, use a joke or question to touch him lightly on the arm. If you see if he lights up, or retreats when touched he may like you, with a aspie failure to withdraw can sometimes mean ask me, good to make sure he's single first. Sorry crossed signal stuff is confusing some soft persistance is required sometimes.

 

[NlGHTgirl]

[QUOTE="Shell-Bell, I was definitely thinking about how I hope I can get dating advice on here I just suck at picking up on signals from guys XD

I'm no expert, but with allot of guys, (me), the more attracted I am to a girl the harder it is to talk to her. So if there are signs of avoidance, he may like you, and sneaky checking her out glances too. However as a auspie catching me on these things may be hard as unlike a (NT), if I get caught up in talking I will forget you exist, temporarily, Sorry no multitasking. Best option, just have a friend ask, if it isn't a hard no, go a head and try a soft approach chat him up a little, use a joke or question to touch him lightly on the arm. If you see if he lights up, or retreats when touched he may like you, with a aspie failure to withdraw can sometimes mean ask me, good to make sure he's single first. Sorry crossed signal stuff is confusing some soft persistance is required sometimes. There were girls who lost me because they didn't show up one more time.[/QUOTE]

That might be good advice!!!!!!!! : ) if We, Ladies seek Auspie savant......
(might be appealing thought!)

However, Majority of human population is not Savant. aw....sighs..........(insert the popular/my "There once was this super cute guy, he might have Autism," story)......aw. well. (not sure how that story is working out for me?) , so thus far , in my life, my opinion, personally, I have had best feelings/results by allowing the man to pursue me,......... plus, it's, like, traditional. : ) It feels nice, all warm and fuzzy, to let him stare/gaze at you too long, to let him romance you, bring you little gifts,maybe He should ask your friends if Shell-Bell thinks he is cute, ...... maybe (not sure?) Maybe it is a valuable skill that he should learn? (not sure? that's why it has question marks?)

Smiles, always, not winks. I don't understand stuff either, like Shell-Bell. I think it's common uncertainty.

oh, I love everyone! I Love the universe! I'd like some guy (probably very very very local! : ) my neighborhood date........ too happy, probably flirt, but really, it's just me being happy, trying to practice, trying to be open.......learning., ..... (I get stuck! on stuff, on a certain crush, etc. obsessive? like OCD ish? I would like to learn self improvement skills! ) I am very sorry if I bothered you or anyone else on here. I guess I was confused or (insensitively) not listening very well. I have issues!!!!
: ( I will be quiet now, OK? : )

 

[Maelstrom]

[QUOTE="NlGHTgirl, [/QUOTE]

Sorry night girl the phrase I removed was not a hint I am a Auspie we don't hint much. And I'm not trolling for girls, just talking making friends, my world is very different and far away. And I just got mauled so face time, (trust), is a issue.

 

[Maelstrom]

[QUOTE="Shell-Bell, Oh yes and I just adore animating <3 I'm currently acting as Head of Story for a short film my class is producing (so basically in charge of storyboards and whatnot). Hopefully it'll come out glorious [/QUOTE]

Sorry seem to have acquired a fan club, feel free to post results on your on your animation film....later.