Other Autism??? - I know many of you have autism and I would like to hear your take.

[Lost in the Woods]

I have questions about autism. The woman I have been dating I used to date 35 years ago. Sometime between then and now she was diagnosed with autism. We both have PTSD and talk about it often so she knows all my stuff. She suggested that I look into autism and I am shocked at how closely my ways of navigating life are described in those with autism. But then again many of the characteristics are common to many so called disorders. I am really quite stunned by all this. I debate getting a full assessment but on the written tests I score high to very high on all of them.

I was very slow learning to read and write. I was the last kid in my class to be able to spell out my last name. At one point the school. Did some testing (early 1960s) and they were surprised at my high IQ. I do focus on my interests obsessively, I always have but the interests do change. I do try to be social but my alone time is when I recharge. I am careful about getting involved in things that I can’t get out of. Changes in plans are hard for me. I have no repetitive physical manifestations.

As I read about autism I am constantly thinking I do that. These are ways of addressing life that are not discussed in PTSD literature. I know many of you have autism and I would like to hear your take as you may have been down this same road.

Thanks

 

[parrotthepolly]

Those are some clear signs and you did score high on the tests so it's very likely. Appearing behind in school with high intelligence is very common in someone with neuro divergence because the brain wants to focus elsewhere, as in the brain functions differently.

I have some signs myself but it's not impacting my life up to the point of needing a diagnosis. A lot of the symptoms blend in with trauma responses, OCD and/or anorexia. Starvation can exacerbate symptoms of every single thought pattern so maybe I don't even have PTSD but I do dissociate way too much and it is to cope with trauma but adds more, oh well. No idea what's going on!

 

[Lost in the Woods]

Thank you. It is like a whole other layer of the onion.

 

[beaneeboo]

You could go and be tested and see what you think. It doesn't change anything either way but may be of interest to you what they say. It may be helpful to learn strategies to help the areas in which you struggle, regardless of diagnosis. Whether you get formally diagnosed or not, this is what you experience. So it's whether a diagnosis is a helpful thing for you to do or not. If it causes distress in any way, why put yourself through it? If it could be helpful in explaining stuff or understanding ways to move forward differently in life to help you, why not do it? Either way, you are you and your life is your life.

Good luck with it.

 

[arfie]

somewhere in the 90's members of my therapy support network started nagging me to be tested for autism. the nagging has only escalated since. i respect the members of my therapy support network enough to have investigated and they might well be right. i declined the hoop jumping for a formal diagnosis because i don't see the gain. the therapy for autism appears to be pretty much the same as the treatment i am already receiving. it's just another label.

just opining. . .

 

[Nairobi]

Hi!! I am a supporter, I dont have PTSD. But I am autistic
I Am here to better understand my friend, but this forum is also useful for me, because I feel identified with some of the problems of people with PTSD, and the advices you give for deal with them, sometimes are useful for me

And also, I find a lot of things in common with my friend. Sometimes I have even thought that maybe he is also autistic, but he says no.

He says many times that I am the only one Who understand him. I am not a profesional of the mental health, but I think that this is because there are common issues in autism and PTSD

 

[Lost in the Woods]

I am going to have the formal testing done. I know I have PTSD but it is really looking like autism might be a factor too. Lots of overlap but autism seems to have some distinct features which I have and some are questionable. Just reading about it I am learning more about the subtle ways I navigate the world that I was never aware of.

 

[Teasel]

Good for you @Lost in the Woods
Figuring out that I'm autistic and adhd has prolly been the best thing that's ever happened to me.

It would be cool to hear about how the diagnostic process is for you. When I got my diagnosis I got a few pieces of paper with names of charities on and that was it.

I've joined quite a lot of online groups, been to in person things, read shed loads of books and articles and watched tv / YouTube vids galore.

And only recently did I find out that making a sensory diet with an occupational therapist is a very helpful thing for autistics.

When I first began to realise I was pretty sure I was autistic, it felt a bit like my brain went about reprocessing almost everything - memories, ways of seeing things and myself, it felt like my brain was whirring constantly through all the files in my brain, recategorising and processing them with this new information.

Wish you well with the process
Missed seeing you around here

 

[Lost in the Woods]

That is exactly what I am doing. I was the last person in my class to be able to spell my name, I was slow learning to read and write. When I was 7 the school did some testing and then told me I had a high IQ and that was it. I am excited about the evaluation, i should get my referral on Monday.

 

[beaneeboo]

Good for you @Lost in the Woods
Figuring out that I'm autistic and adhd has prolly been the best thing that's ever happened to me.

It would be cool to hear about how the diagnostic process is for you. When I got my diagnosis I got a few pieces of paper with names of charities on and that was it.

I've joined quite a lot of online groups, been to in person things, read shed loads of books and articles and watched tv / YouTube vids galore.

And only recently did I find out that making a sensory diet with an occupational therapist is a very helpful thing for autistics.

When I first began to realise I was pretty sure I was autistic, it felt a bit like my brain went about reprocessing almost everything - memories, ways of seeing things and myself, it felt like my brain was whirring constantly through all the files in my brain, recategorising and processing them with this new information.

Wish you well with the process
Missed seeing you around here

I'd be interested to hear about the sensory diet (if the op is too)

 

[captain jigglypuff]

I’m at perfect peace with my autism. When I got diagnosed with it, a lot of things about me and what would happen made so much more sense. The meltdowns weren’t for attention like the school psychologist had claimed and whenever I would stop working during timed tests, it was because I was “lazy and stubborn” but rather what I kept saying was happening to me which was I couldn’t continue doing the tes5 be my body was refusing to move and I couldn’t control the situation and it was happening because I was overwhelmed. My brain was shutting down and stopped all body movements to calm down and recover. I could actually feel my brain turning itself off.

 

[user56652]

Wish I was at peace. I found out I was autistic a long time ago and despite everything I've tried to ease my mind its still horrible. For me life with autism is like driving a car down the motorway at 150mph with no lessons. Its pile up after screeching halt after near miss.