Hi! I’m a 23 year old with autism and I’m writing a research paper about the lives of autistic people and what it’s like to be you. Going about your daily lives and living in a world not built for autism. Anything about work, school, relationships, positive or negative! I’d love to hear your stories or comments!

Hi @undercoverthunderstormlover

I say your comment and I found some sources that might help with your diagnosis if you wish to pursue it.

Hopefully these help you. I hope you have a wonderful day/night. ♥️

Can we agree that Michonne is autistic?

Genuine question, please has anyone else been thinking this??

Big emotion identification guide for autistic adults.

Hello! So this post is a guide to how I personally identify different big, negative feelings and how I differentiate between them. Please feel free to add/correct anything on here!

PANIC ATTACK - A panic attack can sound like an extremely vague ‘thing’ to autistic people. But for me, I can specifically identify it when my symptoms feel extremely physical. My vision goes blurry (with or without tears), I feel hot or cold, I shiver or shake, I can feel my heartbeat racing, I feel dizzy/like I’m about to pass out. It also classically comes with a sense of extreme dread. Like something really bad is going to happen/will happen. I also find that I usually get them when I am nervous about something happening later on. Like going to a party or a job interview. However I have also gotten them when I am scared of being misunderstood, or before intimate times with my partner. This is not an autism-specific term. Panic attacks usually last for less than a day, usually less than an hour. But you may have days where you get many panic attacks in a row. After a panic attack you may still feel extremely anxious, or you may feel really tired. Panic attacks can be normal in some situations, such as a traumatic event, however you should see a doctor about panic attacks if you can.

MELTDOWN - A meltdown can sometimes feel similar to a panic attack. It can be very physical in how it feels. However for me it has some distinct differences AND different triggers. For me a meltdown can feel so intense. I feel uncomfortable in my own body, like I want to scream and run around and hit things. Sometimes I may hit myself on the head, chest, arms or legs. It can feel like something is bubbling up inside me and I’ve just exploded. For me it can be triggered by my routine being different, having too many things on at once, being over-tired, being hungry or sensory overload. You may also experience temporary loss of speech. This is an autism-specific term. A meltdown usually lasts less than an hour, but it can also be triggered by panic attacks or other strong emotions. Usually after a meltdown I feel exhausted and don’t have another one for at least a day. Meltdowns are normal for autistic people, but if you are having them consistently it may be worth checking with your doctor.

SHUTDOWN - A shutdown is like an inward meltdown. Instead of exploding it can feel like you are imploding. From the outside it can look like you are perfectly fine. Or you may just seem to go really quiet. But for some you may cry or hide, or perhaps isolate. For me this is usually triggered by similar things to a meltdown, but the difference is, for me, is that it happens in a space where I cannot safely express myself. An example might be, being gaslit at the doctors may cause me to have a shutdown. I also often lose my speech during shutdowns and meltdowns. This is also an autism-specific term. Like a meltdown it usually lasts less than an hour (but can last longer). I also usually just feel really tired after a shutdown and don’t normally have another one for at least another day. Shut downs are normal for autistic people, but if you are having them consistently it may be worth checking with your doctor.

DISSOCIATION - Dissociation can happen to anyone, like a panic attack. It usually presents as “spacing out”. From the outside you usually look quiet and like you are just staring off into space, or daydreaming. Dissociation usually feels like nothing. As if you just go numb and are no longer present in the moment. You may have memories or daydreams, but not really feel attached to anything or yourself. It can be caused by a trigger to a specific traumatic memory, or just happen randomly to a mentally healthy person too. Dissociation can also look like (from the outside) you are just living your normal life, but you just don’t feel present. Dissociation can be complex and varies a lot person-to-person so you may want to research this term more. Dissociation is not an autism-specific term. It can last anywhere from a few minutes to even a couple months in some cases. Dissociation can be normal in small doses. Like if you dissociate for a few minutes every now and then that can be fine. But if it is interfering with your daily life you should see a doctor about it.

DEPRESSION - TW for this one ❤️ Depression is chronic emotional pain. It can present as chronic sadness, chronic anger, chronic numbness. It can make daily tasks difficult and it can feel like the world is on your shoulders. Everyone feels sad every now and then, or feels sad from specific events in your life, but it becomes depression when it is chronic. Meaning you experience negative emotions more often than not, or an unusually large amount of time. It can make it hard to get out of bed, socialise, go to work etc. Many people are still able to ‘function’ while depressed. Depression can also cause s*idical thoughts and thoughts about self h*rm. Depression is not an autism-specific term but autistic people are likely to experience depression. Depression can last anywhere from a few months to an entire lifespan. If you feel depressed you should seek help from a medical professional and please reach out to family and friends to help you.

ANXIETY - Anxiety is experiencing chronic fear and/or anxiety. Again, anyone can have a panic attack or experience anxiety from specific situations, but the condition of anxiety is when it becomes a chronic, almost-everyday feeling. It can be specific. Such as social anxiety or agoraphobia (fear of unknown/public/exposed spaces). Anxiety can last anywhere from a few months to an entire lifespan. Anxiety is not an autism-specific term but autistic people are likely to experience it. If you feel constant anxiety you should seek help from a medical professional and please reach out to family and friends to help you.

SENSORY OVERLOAD - Sensory overload is when you are experiencing too much sensory input at one time, or over an extended period of time. An example may be you are too hot, someone is chewing loudly and you are hungry. This can be an example of having too much intense sensory stimulus at once. It can lead to meltdowns and panic attacks. Sensory overload is often painful for autistic people. Loud noises may feel like your ears are being stabbed, being hungry may feel like your stomach is twisting in knots. For autistic people we often experience sensory processing disorder. This means that normal/typical sensory input is processed as either a lot more intense, or a lot less intense, than a neurotypical person would experience it (hyper-sensitivity and hypo-sensitivity). Sensory overload is sometimes an autism-specific term, but it has been adopted more widely. It can be experienced at any time and for any length of time. Sensory overload is normal for autistics.

ANGER/RAGE - Anger and rage can be hard for autistic people to identify which is why I have included it. It can feel similar to a meltdown, in the sense that it feels like something is bubbling inside you and you feel like you need to physically express the feeling by either hitting something or screaming. It can be caused by seeing or experiencing what you perceive as injustice, unfairness, bullying, or even just simple rudeness. For me I experience a lot of anger while driving in heavy traffic, or trying to learn a new, tedious skill (like sewing or playing a difficult video game). I use experiences like that a frame for how anger feels in my body. This is not an autism-specific term and is just a regular emotion like happiness or sadness that comes and goes. It does not require any professional help unless you are constantly angry/it is interfering with daily life.

Rudeness and Autism - Why Autistic People Can Seem Rude

THANK YOU! I wish I could send this to my boss(es).

Hi! I’m Orion Kelly and I’m Autistic. On this video I explore the topic of why Autistic people can seem rude or disrespectful. Plus, I share my personal lived experiences as an #actuallyautistic person. #orionkelly #autism #asd #autismsigns #whatautismfeelslike

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Signs of Autism in Toddlers

The signs of autism can vary from person to person. Some children display early signs of the disorder, while others don't show symptoms until they're older. But no matter what the age of your child, it's never too late to get a diagnosis and start getting the support they need to live their best life.

Early Signs of Autism in Babies One of the earliest red flags of autism is an infant who doesn't interact with other babies as well as other babies their age. The baby may not smile back and forth or respond to names, and they may avoid eye contact with their parents.

This behavior isn't normal for an infant and should be reported to their healthcare provider during well-baby visits. Caregivers should also ask for tests to determine if a baby has an autism spectrum disorder.

Some early signs of autism include obsessive-compulsive behaviors such as lining up things in a particular order or preoccupation with a specific topic of interest. This can include memorizing facts about maps, trains, or sports statistics.

Performing repetitive behaviors such as flapping hands, rocking, or twirling can also be an early sign of autism in toddlers. Repeated movements like this can be soothing to the child, but they can also distract them from concentrating on other things.

Self-stimulatory Behaviors (or "stimming") Some people with autism have very strong reactions to certain sensory stimuli, such as touch, taste, or smell. They may react quickly and intensely to these stimuli or they may respond very slowly and gently.

These responses can be more pronounced in toddlers with autism than in typically developing toddlers. For example, an autistic child with an obsession with light switches might flip them repeatedly or they might play with toys such as keys and rubber bands in unusual ways.

Other signs of autism in toddlers include difficulties interacting with other children and difficulty learning new social situations. These problems often improve with age, but some children will continue to have these issues throughout their lives.

The signs of autism in toddlers and young children can be subtle, but they can make it hard for family members to recognize the differences. For example, a young child with autism might prefer routines and be easily upset by changes in their daily schedules.

High-Functioning ASD Many individuals with autism are diagnosed as having high-functioning autism, also known as Asperger's syndrome. These individuals can often be very bright and excel in school. They might have impressive vocabularies and a strong interest in particular topics or activities, such as art, music, or science.

They might also enjoy talking in an eccentric way, such as using a very wide range of vocabulary or constantly interrupting conversations with other people. This could be seen as a symptom of adult autism diagnosis, but it could also simply be an eccentricity.

A person with high-functioning autism might have a variety of different skills and be able to learn at a faster rate than other people their age. These skills might be a great benefit to the person with autism, but they can also be a barrier to social interaction.

i'm yearning for eat your young to finally come out. told my mum about it and shit and she was just like. okay. wtf. i've seen so many hannibal edits already and i am desperate for more. my hyperfixation rn 📈

Okay I'm not autistic, but I just wanna say something rq. I was on Hugh Dancy TikTok and there was a video of his Character Adam he's an astronaut and he's on the spectrum BUT every video I watch of him the comments are filled with really weird things.

Like each video shows a clip of Adam in a truck and he's rocking back and forth and apparently that makes him "precious"....

He's a grown man he just has autism. Like ik ppl infantilize autistic ppl but C'MON there's even a clip where he's yelling at his wife and ppl who've watched the movie say how they're BOTH toxic but Adam is a "poor baby he deserves better" HE'S AN ADULT!!!

I just know if it's weird for me, someone who's neurotypical, it's like 10000000x weirder for someone who is neurodivergent and is being directly targeted.

I think, the Disney character I relate most with is Maleficant. Deep down this kind creature yet the world doesn’t care she’s just a monster.

They took her wings and did they expect her to thank them? No.

🚨 New Episode 🚨

✨ I interviewed my local trauma informed personal trainer @johazellwatkins! We talk about what is Trauma Informed Personal Training, what she does and how to cope with someone exposed to trauma.

✨She does classes at @core_gym_oswestry and @zestoswestry DM @johazellwatkins for more details!

✨Available on all streaming platforms (link in bio)

✨Please could you leave a review! Vast Thank you’s to you for your support

✨Big ups to 🇸🇪 for getting to top 54 in the podcast charts

Hi everyone,

I found an article from HuffPost talking about some of the signs of autism in adults. The article lists the following:

A Feeling Of Being ‘Different’ From Others

Difficulty With Social Cues

A Confusing Relationship History — Both Romantically Or Platonically

Sensory Differences

A Desire For Routine

A Need For Solitude

More Intense Interests

A Dislike Of Small Talk

A Desire For Direct Communication

The full article goes further into these. I’ll leave the link below so you can check it out if you’d like. I hope many of you find this helpful.

Autism

a bottom-tier autistic experience is being told throughout your entire childhood that you are just an overthinker when it comes to social situations and later finding out that your friends did, in fact, hate being around you and tried to communicate that through weird little hints

Autism Spectrum Disorders - What Are the Main Symptoms of Autism?

Autism is a neurological condition that affects how people see, hear and feel the world. It is a spectrum disorder and can be diagnosed by doctors in different ways, depending on which symptoms are present.

How does autism develop?

A child with autism usually has a very difficult time learning to communicate with others. This is known as social communication disorder (SCD). Their language skills can be very delayed and they may not be able to read facial expressions or tone of voice. They often have problems with interpreting other people’s body language and they may make unusual movements such as shaking their arms (commonly called stimming).

It can also affect their motor skills. They may move very slowly or in a very clumsy way. They can also have poor attention and concentration.

They may also have a very limited imagination and enjoy things that are not real. They can also have repetitive behaviors and extreme interests in specific topics like sports teams or science.

How can my child be screened for autism?

A doctor or other specialist will look at your child’s behavior and developmental milestones. They might use a simple questionnaire, or they may perform a more in-depth evaluation.

When you have a child with autism, the most important thing is that they get early, effective treatment. It can make a big difference in their lives.

What are the different types of autism?

Autism is a complex brain disorder that can be hard to diagnose. It can have different effects on a person, ranging from mild to severe. The main symptoms of autism are trouble with social communication and interaction and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests.

Some people with ASD can learn new skills and improve over time. This can help them gain more independence.

They can also get better at using gestures or pictures to communicate. They may have trouble with certain sensory sensitivities and problems regulating their emotions, such as anxiety.

Other symptoms of autism can include a lack of empathy or feeling overwhelmed by other people’s emotions, as well as issues with impulse control and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In some cases, children with autism can have a learning disability or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) as well. These conditions can make it harder to be successful in school and at work.

What should I say when talking to someone with autism?

The correct way to talk to a person with autism is not to use the words “autistic” or “on the spectrum.” It is better to refer to the individual as someone who has a developmental disorder or an intellectual disability.

If you are unsure about what to say, the best thing is to ask the person with autism for advice. They will know more about what it is like to live with autism and will be able to give you the right advice.

Some people have been able to change their behavior and learn to function in a more normal way by taking special education courses or other forms of treatment. This might include occupational therapy, behavioral therapy or speech and autism therapy.

going to the museum, coming back with self made friendship bracelets using yarn because all three of you are neurodivergent and liked all of the children's activities the most because they were actually engaging