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Adults On The Autism Spectrum
Maybe you were really shy as a child. Perhaps you took home a huge stack of books from the school library, read them, and returned them the next day. Or did your best friend find you crying in your closet, unable to answer the question "Why?" At any rate, your life could be traced to the Self-Help section of the local bookstore. Unfortunately, most of the books were not much help. ADHD seemed to fit, at times. Your shrink said you might be Bi-Polar, although she wasn't really certain. All you knew was that you rarely fit in, anywhere. One day at work, it hit you square in the face: I don't speak these people's language! Really, it was like you were all playing this game, and everyone knew the rules but you. You couldn't tell a joke, and you never "got" any joke your co-worker tried to tell you. People started getting annoyed with you, because you had a memory like a steel trap. They didn't appreciate it when you called them on the carpet. Who knew? This was my life, and worse. I finally aced several tests that pointed me to the answer to my questions. The Autism Spectrum. Guess what? Little kids with Autism grow up to be Adults with Autism. Diagnosed late in life? This is the place for you!
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@mamasitalucita You truly are amazing!
Teresa
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3 ReactionsI wanted to mention that my "pictures" do not get replaced. They are added to a "file" and the further back in my memory, the more difficult they are to retrieve. I can visit them when I want to, and it brings me so much pleasure to remember parts of my childhood. Riding down the creek in a little boat that my Daddy and I built together. Looking at the beautiful, dark face of my Indian Great grandmother, at the funeral home. her pure white hair in stark contrast to her skin tone. The cotton fields in my home town. School didn't start until after Labor Day, because entire families had to work together to get the crop in. Thanks for listening. Mamasita
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5 ReactionsThank you for sharing your lovely pictures with us, @mamasitalucita
Teresa
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4 ReactionsMore to come. The good definitely outweighs the not so good. Mamacita
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3 ReactionsThat's the thing, I clearly do not think of myself that way. It is only when I understand better how neurotypicals think, believe, and behave, I see that I am a fish out of water. Most people would rather I not mention these things, because it is so clearly out of the norm. Some, like the school principal years ago, appreciated me and put me to work. That's what I like. To be put to work. I come in handy, as we say in the South.
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6 Reactions@mamasitalucita
You are much more than "handy." You open vistas for us neurotypicals who can't think in the ways you do!
Teresa
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3 ReactionsOh, pshaw. You are too kind.
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2 ReactionsI am 100% sure my husband is on the spectrum but he refuses to be tested. Believing he is on the spectrum is the only way I have been able to live with him. He is a good man and provider but his behaviors are classic as you’ve described. There is a book for spouses called Alone Together which is exactly how I feel.
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6 ReactionsHello @cathigriffioen
I am glad that you have joined this conversation about adults on the Spectrum. If you are comfortable sharing more, could you tell us how his behavior or socialization leads you to believe that he is on the Spectrum? For example, has it affected his career, personal relationships, etc.? As I'm not familiar with the book you mentioned, Alone Together, it would be helpful to know how you feel about this as well. Have you developed friendships on your own?
I look forward to you posting again.
Teresa
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3 ReactionsAnother book I really like is Be Different. I think you will find it an enjoyable read.
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5 Reactions