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Tony Attwood

Ronald Zeeman said:
I guess even with a doctorate continuous education matters.
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It's not even about his level of education.
He's not autistic, so how can he be an expert?

Could I be an expert on being Chinese, or being a Scientist?
No, because I'm not either one.

Our lives aren't theoretical and we aren't reading material for NTs.
 

Maybe I should start a new thread for this, but I only listen to autism info by autistic people, for autistic people.

I don't read research by NTs for their professors.

Savannah is great. Hands-down, she gets it.
 
Tom said:
Have heard of him of course, but never read any books by him (or anyone else for that matter who has written about autism). I limit my autism reading to studies mostly. Or scholarly articles discussing studies. Anything else leaves me unsatisfied and/or sceptical as it does not present any evidence to support the claims or opinions.
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Personally, I would trust a psychiatric diagnosis more than one by a psychologist after all our brains are wired differently.
 
Ronald Zeeman said:
Personally, I would trust a psychiatric diagnosis more than one by a psychologist after all our brains are wired differently.
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Maybe it's odd, but the psychological aspects both intimidate and don't interest me much. It's a hard line of thought for me to retain and apply. And so much is theoretical,

I mostly try an take a practical approach. It's actually a very complicated set of people but we are still all homo sapiens sapiens and have much commonality. Unless that theory about autism being a new stage in evolution is actually true.... Nah. :)

But I do like the genetic studies and investigations of brain construction, MRI patterns etc. Thats data I can sort of sink my teeth in. (Sinking my teeth in data, not brains). That part fascinates me.
 
My older brother was always different. Got diagnosed by my second cousin when he was in his twenties. As having a mental health issue worked for years as a computer programming genius. Lost job suspect due to anxiety issues looking back he was probably on the spectrum never diagnosed. died from stroke just prior to his 66 birthday.
 
Ella Spell said:

Maybe I should start a new thread for this, but I only listen to autism info by autistic people, for autistic people.

I don't read research by NTs for their professors.

Savannah is great. Hands-down, she gets it.
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"There's some sort of deficiency in me that can be fixed with mental effort". What can I say? Just spot on. She's eloquent - a touch maudlin, but that's the age I guess.

Also: "It's like the population of a small country have been trying to contort themselves into a shape that they never could have possibly made, and they're doing it quietly, so as not to to inconvenience anyone with their suffering. Certain it's their fault for not understanding. Feeling like there's some distinct lack in them that could be repaired if only they tried harder."

And as a man, so having lived this as a man, I can't help but wonder if the terrible suicide rate amongst men might relate to undiagnosed, middle aged folks who have failed to become the emotionally available, NT model that is required and get labelled as unreconstructed dinosaurs. The guys with their sheds, who fiddle with the car engine, who have train sets, who struggle to process emotions, who always try to solve problems when their partner want to talk. Here's hoping that with the extra information and identification we can avoid the sadness and mental pressure Savannah describes.

Thanks for the link.
 
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MNAus said:
"There's some sort of deficiency in me that can be fixed with mental effort". What can I say? Just spot on. She's eloquent - a touch maudlin, but that's the age I guess.

Also: "It's like the population of a small country have been trying to contort themselves into a shape that they never could have possibly made, and they're doing it quietly, so as not to to inconvenience anyone with their suffering. Certain it's their fault for not understanding. Feeling like there's some distinct lack in them that could be repaired if only they tried harder."

And as a man, so having lived this as a man, I can't help but wonder if the terrible suicide rate amongst men might relate to undiagnosed, middle aged folks who have failed to become the emotionally available, NT model that is required and get labelled as unreconstructed dinosaurs. The guys with their sheds, who fiddle with the car engine, who have train sets, who struggle to process emotions, who always try to solve problems when their partner want to talk. Here's hoping that with the extra information and identification we can avoid the sadness and mental pressure Savannah describes.

Thanks for the link.
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You're welcome. She's amazing, not only because she says the standard things we all say, but because she says it with such warmth and compassion. Most of the autistic women I follow are lightyears ahead of NT Tony and the boys when it comes to articulating autism. Maybe that should be the new catch phrase "Articulating Autism", rather than "Autism Awareness" which still makes autism feel like us vs. them, as if we're bugs in a jar being promoted for public observation, tolerance, and pity.


Another I really like is Stefanie Bethany.

 
Ronald Zeeman said:
Personally, I would trust a psychiatric diagnosis more than one by a psychologist after all our brains are wired differently.
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It would be better to go to a psychiatrist who is familiar with autism, obviously.
Our characteristics can be misinterpreted for something else.
 
Tom said:
Unless that theory about autism being a new stage in evolution is actually true.... Nah. :)
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I doubt it, also. lol
We aren't the best ppl at procreation.
If the fate of the species were left to us, humanity would probably become extinct. :laughing:
 
Why is that? ^
I procreated quite well. So did most of my autistic friends male and female.

Also, psychiatrists seldom know anything about autism, seeing as it's not a mental illness and their job is to treat mental illness.
 

Here is my friend interviewing Tony Attwood.

I'm shocked at how much he doesn't understand, including meltdowns.
 
MNAus said:
I've managed to create a couple more for the ASD clan!!!!
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We discussed the autism success rate on another website.
From memory, we did poorly in terms of relationships.
We scored high in never having a relationship at all, greater than the garden variety NT.

When you think about it, it isn't very surprising since we do have a social disability.
Men have greater problems, based on the research that was mentioned.

Thanks for "Taking one for the team". :tongueout:
 
I'd have to track them down again but the studies I saw indicated autistics have lower reproduction rate, less marriage, significantly shorter lifespans and higher suicide rate. But you have to keep track in case some stat gets updated or even reversed (it happens) but I was satisfied with the veracity of the studies/stats I saw when I last looked maybe 5-6 years ago.

So yeah, not exactly looking like pole position in the evolutionary race. ;)

Yet the number identified as having autism increases. The US CDC now shows 1 in 36 children. If you have been keeping track, thats another significant jump (one of several in recent years).
 
Funny, but women don't need to have relationships or be married to get pregnant and have children.

It's especially easy for autistic women, seeing as there's no shortage of men who find them adorable and want to get with them, in whatever way possible, whether consent is given or not. Autistic girls and women have the highest likelihood of experiencing sexual violence of any other demographic on the planet, regardless of the neurostatus of their assailant.

Another point is that this conversation seems to be about autistic men's chances of dating, when in reality autism is typically inherited from the mother's genes. Again, dating and marriage don't always factor into autistic women's reproductive rates especially now that RvW was overturned in some states.
 
Jonn said:
It would be better to go to a psychiatrist who is familiar with autism, obviously.
Our characteristics can be misinterpreted for something else.
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When my brother was diagnosed being on the spectrum was not a thing, my dad's cousin was a child physiatrist.
I can see it now having diagnosed myself and joining this site.
 
I was diagnosed by a neuropsychologist.

Psychiatrists aren't even allowed to diagnose, here. Psychiatrists push medications and work for big pharma. Autism can't be medicated, except of course for off-label experimental anti-psychotics to help with aggression.

In contrast my ADHD was dx by a neuropsychiatrist, because ADHD is treatable with meds.
 
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