Autistic Discussion Thread

[Agarntrop]

new poll

Interesting topic personally, I've seen some aspies on r/aspergers who have been positively affected by lockdown, but honestly I think it turns me into a hermit which does way more damage to my self esteem than the pressures of non-lockdown life. The unpredictability of it all isn't good either.

[Great Aletia]

A preliminary assessment with a psychologist indicated I have enough autistic traits to do a full test. I'm booked in for the 14th. It's going to be looking primarily at aspergers. I'm 27, so if I so have it, there's not much that can be done now.

[Atheris]

Neurodivergent here and I'm unsure what to answer on the poll. Lockdown has certainly affected me negatively although I'm not autistic, but I do have a lot of autistic traits (it comes with ADHD lol).

In other news, I want to get an autism test ASAP.

[SD_Film Artists]

As an 'essential worker' I haven't really had lockdown; I've been unable to go to social groups and visit friends but otherwise it's had a pretty neutral effect on my life. My closest experience of lockdown was when I was in travel quarentine and my introvertedness helped since it was nice to have 2 weeks of me and my laptop with no work to do.

[Stellar Colonies]

An interesting question, and although my answer spans both answers, I went with the second option.

Lockdown allows me to remain within my comfort zone more, because the remote option - when I am cloaked behind an inactive camera and microphone - is less...stressful? Exhausting?...than being in person, amongst other people. In my gut, I like it more.

However, letting me wallow in that comfort zone is decaying my social skills, since I am not forced to interact with other people as much unless I want to do so. They've always been lacking, but were really improving within the last few years, especially over the course of 2019. With the lockdowns across most of 2020, I haven't been forced as much to interact with other people as much, and remote calls are waaay easier than being in person. Interacting with people outside of my family is how I tend to improve my social skills (since my family is used to me being like this and engages with me on that basis), so I've had far more opportunities to basically slide back to my natural state, which involves limiting my interactions to people only in my own household.

*With the above, I am in no way trying to diminish the very real struggles faced by people under lockdown, including their incomes and very lives being thrown into chaos and ruin. I hate the fact that I am enjoying lockdown on any kind of basis while many people are suffering from it.

[Agarntrop]

An interesting question, and although my answer spans both answers, I went with the second option.

Lockdown allows me to remain within my comfort zone more, because the remote option - when I am cloaked behind an inactive camera and microphone - is less...stressful? Exhausting?...than being in person, amongst other people. In my gut, I like it more.

However, letting me wallow in that comfort zone is decaying my social skills, since I am not forced to interact with other people as much unless I want to do so. They've always been lacking, but were really improving within the last few years, especially over the course of 2019. With the lockdowns across most of 2020, I haven't been forced as much to interact with other people as much, and remote calls are waaay easier than being in person. Interacting with people outside of my family is how I tend to improve my social skills (since my family is used to me being like this and engages with me on that basis), so I've had far more opportunities to basically slide back to my natural state, which involves limiting my interactions to people only in my own household.

*With the above, I am in no way trying to diminish the very real struggles faced by people under lockdown, including their incomes and very lives being thrown into chaos and ruin. I hate the fact that I am enjoying lockdown on any kind of basis while many people are suffering from it.

Yes exactly same here

[Atheris]

An interesting question, and although my answer spans both answers, I went with the second option.

Lockdown allows me to remain within my comfort zone more, because the remote option - when I am cloaked behind an inactive camera and microphone - is less...stressful? Exhausting?...than being in person, amongst other people. In my gut, I like it more.

However, letting me wallow in that comfort zone is decaying my social skills, since I am not forced to interact with other people as much unless I want to do so. They've always been lacking, but were really improving within the last few years, especially over the course of 2019. With the lockdowns across most of 2020, I haven't been forced as much to interact with other people as much, and remote calls are waaay easier than being in person. Interacting with people outside of my family is how I tend to improve my social skills (since my family is used to me being like this and engages with me on that basis), so I've had far more opportunities to basically slide back to my natural state, which involves limiting my interactions to people only in my own household.

*With the above, I am in no way trying to diminish the very real struggles faced by people under lockdown, including their incomes and very lives being thrown into chaos and ruin. I hate the fact that I am enjoying lockdown on any kind of basis while many people are suffering from it.

Lockdown's put me through a mental breakdown, huge episodes of RSD and depression, my near failing of the school year, and more self-doubt than I care to admit. Nothing about the last year has been positive for me.

[Agarntrop]

An interesting question, and although my answer spans both answers, I went with the second option.

Lockdown allows me to remain within my comfort zone more, because the remote option - when I am cloaked behind an inactive camera and microphone - is less...stressful? Exhausting?...than being in person, amongst other people. In my gut, I like it more.

However, letting me wallow in that comfort zone is decaying my social skills, since I am not forced to interact with other people as much unless I want to do so. They've always been lacking, but were really improving within the last few years, especially over the course of 2019. With the lockdowns across most of 2020, I haven't been forced as much to interact with other people as much, and remote calls are waaay easier than being in person. Interacting with people outside of my family is how I tend to improve my social skills (since my family is used to me being like this and engages with me on that basis), so I've had far more opportunities to basically slide back to my natural state, which involves limiting my interactions to people only in my own household.

*With the above, I am in no way trying to diminish the very real struggles faced by people under lockdown, including their incomes and very lives being thrown into chaos and ruin. I hate the fact that I am enjoying lockdown on any kind of basis while many people are suffering from it.

Lockdown's put me through a mental breakdown, huge episodes of RSD and depression, my near failing of the school year, and more self-doubt than I care to admit. Nothing about the last year has been positive for me.

Sorry to hear that

[Stellar Colonies]

An interesting question, and although my answer spans both answers, I went with the second option.

Lockdown allows me to remain within my comfort zone more, because the remote option - when I am cloaked behind an inactive camera and microphone - is less...stressful? Exhausting?...than being in person, amongst other people. In my gut, I like it more.

However, letting me wallow in that comfort zone is decaying my social skills, since I am not forced to interact with other people as much unless I want to do so. They've always been lacking, but were really improving within the last few years, especially over the course of 2019. With the lockdowns across most of 2020, I haven't been forced as much to interact with other people as much, and remote calls are waaay easier than being in person. Interacting with people outside of my family is how I tend to improve my social skills (since my family is used to me being like this and engages with me on that basis), so I've had far more opportunities to basically slide back to my natural state, which involves limiting my interactions to people only in my own household.

*With the above, I am in no way trying to diminish the very real struggles faced by people under lockdown, including their incomes and very lives being thrown into chaos and ruin. I hate the fact that I am enjoying lockdown on any kind of basis while many people are suffering from it.

Lockdown's put me through a mental breakdown, huge episodes of RSD and depression, my near failing of the school year, and more self-doubt than I care to admit. Nothing about the last year has been positive for me.

I'm really sorry.

I hope 2021 will be better than last year...

[Zemlyakavkaz]

Has anybody else found lockdown to be really good?

[Borderlands of Rojava]

Has anybody else found lockdown to be really good?

No. I feel like I'm wasting my life away .

[Nuroblav]

Has anybody else found lockdown to be really good?

Nope. Boredom all round here. Feeling as if I'm constantly wasting my time etc.

[Atheris]

Has anybody else found lockdown to be really good?

Absolutely not. Lockdown has been nothing short of a personal hell.

[Echo Chamber Thought Police]

Has anybody else found lockdown to be really good?

Not at all.

[Echo Chamber Thought Police]

Honestly I am personally pretty tired of all the "autism is a superpower" bullshit that middle class mums like to put about to try and make them feel better about themselves. It borders on indigo child level of ridiculousness. It's called a disorder for a reason.

It dosen't make me feel better about myself at all either. Because I'm not dumb and know it's fake, so whenever its mentioned I actually feel worse about myself because people are resorting to saying stuff that I know is untrue bullshit to compliment me rather than actually focusing on my real strengths which transcend my Aspergers.

[Atheris]

I hope nobody minds my asking, but has anybody reacted negatively to being diagnosed with autism or some other form of neurodiversity? I was diagnosed with ADHD in third grade, so I've never had the experience of being diagnosed later in life.

One of my headcanons is that one of the main characters in the Ace Attorney Franchise (Athena) is autistic, and I'm planning on writing a fic where she's diagnosed and reacts very negatively towards it due to the stigma around neurodiversity, especially autism. I know what it's like to be neurodivergent (and possibly autistic, although I don't want to say one way or the other until I actually get tested/diagnosed) but I have no clue what it's actually like to be diagnosed since I hardly remember it.

Thanks in advance, and feel free to move to TG's if you don't feel comfortable discussing it on the thread.

[Echo Chamber Thought Police]

I hope nobody minds my asking, but has anybody reacted negatively to being diagnosed with autism or some other form of neurodiversity? I was diagnosed with ADHD in third grade, so I've never had the experience of being diagnosed later in life.

One of my headcanons is that one of the main characters in the Ace Attorney Franchise (Athena) is autistic, and I'm planning on writing a fic where she's diagnosed and reacts very negatively towards it due to the stigma around neurodiversity, especially autism. I know what it's like to be neurodivergent (and possibly autistic, although I don't want to say one way or the other until I actually get tested/diagnosed) but I have no clue what it's actually like to be diagnosed since I hardly remember it.

Thanks in advance, and feel free to move to TG's if you don't feel comfortable discussing it on the thread.

i was a bit shocked, idk why

[Stellar Colonies]

Statement Regarding Recent Peer-reviewed Study Published in the Journal Autism Research (Yale School of Medicine)

Yale study on distress in autistic toddlers draws ethics concerns (Yale Daily News)

Hm...basically studying how autistic kids versus typie neurotypical kids respond to things such as a robotic spider, mechanical dinosaur with glowing red eyes, and female strangers wearing grotesque masks like vampires or Star Wars ones, amongst other such stimuli.

ok what

(this is from December, but still)

[Borderlands of Rojava]

I hope nobody minds my asking, but has anybody reacted negatively to being diagnosed with autism or some other form of neurodiversity? I was diagnosed with ADHD in third grade, so I've never had the experience of being diagnosed later in life.

One of my headcanons is that one of the main characters in the Ace Attorney Franchise (Athena) is autistic, and I'm planning on writing a fic where she's diagnosed and reacts very negatively towards it due to the stigma around neurodiversity, especially autism. I know what it's like to be neurodivergent (and possibly autistic, although I don't want to say one way or the other until I actually get tested/diagnosed) but I have no clue what it's actually like to be diagnosed since I hardly remember it.

Thanks in advance, and feel free to move to TG's if you don't feel comfortable discussing it on the thread.

i was a bit shocked, idk why

I only told people I knew who have it too. Otherwise its a secret ill take to the grave considering all the fucked up shit I've heard people say over the years about people with autism.

It would be easier to come out as gay to these folks.

[Posadist-Communalists]

It's really sad to see how depressing this thread is.

I don't know a great deal about autism tbh, but my dad is a reiki practitoner who specialises in autism. I don't speak to him, so I don't know if what he does is helpful or bullshit, but if anyone has any experience with reiki and autism, I'd be interested to hear. Btw, I'm a sceptic with regards to all this "energy" stuff.

[Stellar Colonies]

It's really sad to see how depressing this thread is.

I don't know a great deal about autism tbh, but my dad is a reiki practitoner who specialises in autism. I don't speak to him, so I don't know if what he does is helpful or bullshit, but if anyone has any experience with reiki and autism, I'd be interested to hear. Btw, I'm a sceptic with regards to all this "energy" stuff.

I concur with you on being skeptical regarding it, although the placebo effect may offer a certain measure of help in certain situations.

[Xmara]

It's really sad to see how depressing this thread is.

I don't know a great deal about autism tbh, but my dad is a reiki practitoner who specialises in autism. I don't speak to him, so I don't know if what he does is helpful or bullshit, but if anyone has any experience with reiki and autism, I'd be interested to hear. Btw, I'm a sceptic with regards to all this "energy" stuff.

Reiki is a pseudoscience, so probably not that effective.

[Echo Chamber Thought Police]

It's really sad to see how depressing this thread is.

I don't know a great deal about autism tbh, but my dad is a reiki practitoner who specialises in autism. I don't speak to him, so I don't know if what he does is helpful or bullshit, but if anyone has any experience with reiki and autism, I'd be interested to hear. Btw, I'm a sceptic with regards to all this "energy" stuff.

I hadn't even heard of reiki until now

[Echo Chamber Thought Police]

i was a bit shocked, idk why

I only told people I knew who have it too. Otherwise its a secret ill take to the grave considering all the fucked up shit I've heard people say over the years about people with autism.

It would be easier to come out as gay to these folks.

I don't tell people I know either. I want to be accepted as normal, tbh.

I've been masking a lot over the past few months.

[Stellar Colonies]

So there is apparently evidence of people with autism being more likely to be LGBTQ+, although I am not entirely certain as to its validity.