Adults On The Autism Spectrum

Posted by Mamacita, Alumna Mentor @mamacita, Apr 29, 2018

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!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autism (ASD) Support Group.

Mamacita, Alumna Mentor | @mamacita | Aug 23, 2018

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Thank you @mamacita. You gave me inspiration for my day!" + (show)

@hopeful33250 , you are a bright light and bring hope and joy to so many people. Thank you so much for everything you do and are!
Love and hugs,
Mamacita

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Aug 23, 2018

In reply to @mamacita "Hi everyone! Benjamin Franklin once said something to the effect that , if we don't have..." + (show)

@mamacita

Hi everyone! Benjamin Franklin once said something to the effect that , if we don't have too high expectations in the first place, then we won't find ourselves disappointed all the time. Close enough. Interesting for him to say. He invented bifocals, experimented with electricity, and was an ambassador to France. He was a well loved statesman and wrote under an assumed name. Yet he still struggled. He felt that his character was lacking in some respects, and set about to change.
I'll stop right there and say that I believe he had good intentions. He achieved what many would call success in his life. I have often wondered if perhaps he was on the Spectrum. Autism is not new. It has been around for a very long time. Did he ever get up in the morning, have his cup of tea, look out his front door and think "What can I do today that will make a difference in the world?" Or did he simply do what many of us have learned to do? Make the best of a very challenging life...living every moment to the best of our ability. Enjoying our friends, our family, the beauty of nature...

But what if there are severe problems in our family, our friends, our community? Do we sit idly by and hope for the best? Or do we step up, step out, doing whatever we can to understand and care for situations that land on our doorstep? It has been said many times that if you see the problem, then you are meant to address that problem in some way.
I cannot be where you are and do what you can do. I cannot compare myself to you and feel jealous that you appear to be getting more attention than I am. It is not a race. I am not in competition with anyone. We are in this together. We can each do our part to advocate, to spread awareness, to model acceptance. We are better together! Can I pop in later to see how you are all doing? I miss all of you when I don't hear from you once in awhile! Hugs!
Mamacita

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@mamacita Ever since joining the Mayo Connect group, I have felt a peace of heart, knowing that although I am but one cog in the Wheel of Life, it is an important cog. Without the input from all, there is "just a bit less" in the effort going forward. Your words inspire me this morning.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Aug 23, 2018

Hello @gingerw I just love your phrase, "Without the input from all, there is 'just a bit less' in the effort going forward." How very true!

As @mamacita always says, "we are better together"!

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Aug 23, 2018

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Thank you @mamacita. You gave me inspiration for my day!" + (show)

@mamacita Hello, I get far more from Connect than I give. It is such a pleasure to work with such good, good people. Love and hugs back to you1

sirgalahad | @sirgalahad | Aug 23, 2018

In reply to @tinkherbal "@sirgalahad you said "Autistic are extremely empathetic and we do have feelings its due to the..." + (show)

CAN I ALSO add to advise that we stim which is moving our hands and body or we rock and we ultra focused to also calm ourselves and then we scream and verbalize and burst out yelling and continue to on and on until we get all our frustrations

sirgalahad | @sirgalahad | Aug 23, 2018

can I also add I was just informed that I either have cholestoma or dehiscence of the semi circular canal and will be up for surgery to get ear drum off inner wall of the middle ear and may have to rebuild the bone between the ear and the brain. dehiscence is the possible death of the cilia hair inside the semi circular canal and or the little balls attached to the hair and this is responsible for balance and dizziness

Mamacita, Alumna Mentor | @mamacita | Aug 27, 2018

In reply to @sirgalahad "can I also add I was just informed that I either have cholestoma or dehiscence of..." + (show)

@sirgalahad, that is quite an ordeal you have ahead of you! Thank you for sharing your story with us here. How long does all of this intricate work take? I must admit, I will have to look all of this up. I have a very basic knowledge of the ear structure going back about thirty something years ago. But my thoughts and prayers are with you as you navigate this process. I will be looking into this procedure so that I can comprehend just a part of what you are going to be having done. Love you big!
Mamacita

sirgalahad | @sirgalahad | Aug 28, 2018

cholestoma is condition whereby the ear drum adheres to the inner wall of the middle ear and this can lead to bon diease and breakdown of that bone which protects the brain . semi circular canal sits high in the inner ear and it conducts the sound to the auditory nerve and onto the brain and its also responsible to manage balance and stabilize you when moving turning ahead or looking up and down and it allows you to do this with out feeling giddy and permamnently sea sick
the other thing is possible death or the tympanic bones and which takes the sound from the drum to the semi circular canaland onwards to the brain

sirgalahad | @sirgalahad | Aug 28, 2018

In reply to @sirgalahad "CAN I ALSO add to advise that we stim which is moving our hands and body..." + (show)

we also go through silent meltdowns or autism burnout

Mamacita, Alumna Mentor | @mamacita | Aug 28, 2018

In reply to @sirgalahad "cholestoma is condition whereby the ear drum adheres to the inner wall of the middle ear..." + (show)

Hello,@sirgalahad, I did some reading on the subject of the issues you are having inside your ear. I must tell you, I had never heard of it before. I am so glad to know that you are seeking proper treatment for this. Surgery is no fun, but in this case you will likely be so relieved when it is over and done with. You are someone who takes good care of himself and always seems to be on track when dealing with medical personel.
Medical procedures can be veryr anxiety provoking.
With that in mind, please know I am on your team. I will be sending tons of positive thoughts, prayers, and hugs your way. Before long, you will be all patched up and ready to go! Let me know a ballpark figure of when you will be having the procedure done. I know that everyone here wishes the best for you as well. Good night, friend!
Mamacita

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