How You Experience Autism

@gingerw , I am placing an order for hot wings and pizza, popcorn and mustard pretzels, and all of you in my den, with us watching the latest new flick on Netflix.

Let's spend a virtual Saturday night together, just kicking off our shoes and relaxing. I can't think of anyone Id rather spend time with than you guys. For those of us who are Auties, we need these moments with special friends who accept us and understand us. Those who get it when we go quiet or have to leave early.

Have a great rest of the weekend. And I hope you enjoyed the imagery. I really enjoyed imagining there for a moment.

Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

@ginger and @colleenyoung ,
Well here we are, still in ICU. Her pneumonia is being treated, and everything else that was an issue is under control. So we are very, very grateful. It's not over yet. But we're getting there.

Now as for me, I am going to have to do a lot of self care this weekend. I have held everything in for the most part, and tried to be myself as I advocate for my daughter. Now is not the time for masking. I really dont care if I fit in here or not. I want everything possible done for her while she cannot speak for herself.

If I don't schedule some "me time" I will likely have a melt down. That is just a fact. I have had to be the strong one, due to circumstances beyond our control. Sirgalahad keeps telling me to watch funny movies, put lavendar oil in an infuser, and drink a hot cup of herb tea. No need to tell him I prefer Diet Dr.Pepper, my vanilla candles, and Netflix movies/Action/Adventure.

I may even attend a baby dedication tomorrow. I havent set foot in church in forever. Our whole family has been so sick, one after the other, the parishioners might think we are guests when we actually do show up!

As far as being sensitive, I am very sensitive right now. So far my battle of the mind has won over the dark thoughts and negative things thrown our way. I have calmed down about the mistakes that were made the first day. I believe I have a better understanding after speaking with the head nurse.

You know, I wish I wasnt so sensitive, sometimes. But it has made me be the person I am. God knew what He was doing when He made me a human sponge!

But I digress. Fun fact:When you've met a person with Autism, you've met one person with Autism!!!! We are not all Math whizzes. We don't all have superior, dog like hearing.....But I do. We all are not developmentaly delayed. Many of us are gifted, or just plain smart. Some can teach themselves foreign languages. Many graduate school with high honors. Some have dyslexia yet have genius level IQ's.

Did you know that the Israeli Army recruits Aspies for their Intelligence Division? Pattern recognition and all that.
Autism is not a death sentence. It is actually quite liberating.

Thanks again for all your support, everyone. I love you all.

Mamacita Jane

@gingerw , I am placing an order for hot wings and pizza, popcorn and mustard pretzels, and all of you in my den, with us watching the latest new flick on Netflix.

Let's spend a virtual Saturday night together, just kicking off our shoes and relaxing. I can't think of anyone Id rather spend time with than you guys. For those of us who are Auties, we need these moments with special friends who accept us and understand us. Those who get it when we go quiet or have to leave early.

Have a great rest of the weekend. And I hope you enjoyed the imagery. I really enjoyed imagining there for a moment.

Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

@mamacita,@gingerw- I'm so glad that you have stated this. From the time that my youngest nephew was a young lad most of my family were aware that he had behavioral problems. As he got older, less sociable and in his own world most of us in the family suspected that he was within the Autistic Spectrum. However, none of his doctors ever tested him for this until this year. He's in his middle 30's! The poor kid had every possible personality test and anything else his many, many doctors could think of but not for Autism.
Would you describe what the tests are? Are there blood tests involved?

@mamacita- I must have had too many pretzels! But I feel very warm with my memories of last night! And the beer was terrific! This year I just started having some instead of wine or Whiskey. Thank you for inviting all of us to join in part of your "self-care" weekend! My house next time!

@merpreb and @gingerw , good Monday morning to you.

It occurred to me that my response to your question about assessment and diagnosis was more centered on childhood Autism.

Ginger addressed at length about the assessment process for adults. I dont have too much to add at this point, other than my own experience.

There are many tests out there that one can take to give you an idea of what is going on. Many really good books and articles by well known authors. I will mention some of my favorites later. Many adults, like me, were misdiagnosed so many times. ADD is one of my "gifts." And honestly, when I took the medication for it, it helped a lot. Until 3:30pm every day.

And you know what? ADD medicine did nothing for my anxiety and depression. Nothing for the "looping" behavior that is so common in those on the Spectrum. And what about the anxiety that I was only just recently diagnosed with, but have had all of my life?

Let me tell you my non professional opinion. Of COURSE people on the Spectrum are more likely to have extreme anxiety than just the ordinary person walking down the street. When your hearing is off the charts, and you hear Everything....when all of your senses are maxed out, there is going to be a certain level of anxiety. Period.

I masked the other day at the hospital. It is so easy for me to do that, I just naturally get into that space in my head and run with it. Unconciously. Until later, when I rehash what I said and did . And I wonder why I wasn't authentic.

Today I probably looked like a homeless person, as I trekked to the neighborhood store to purchase coffee. We were out. Having coffee in the morning is a necessity. More important than being dressed appropriately or having makeup on. I looked like a Lumberjack's wife, circa 1850. Buffalo plaid flannel jacket over a Brown Praire Skirt. Yes, I was quite the sight. The jacket belongs to my husband, and it comforts me.

But you know what? The little check out girl at the register smiled at me and asked me how I was doing. Even though I was a mess. She still made that connection. That's real people , right there.

Those kinds of people are the salt of the earth, by the way. Anyway, we adult Auties tend to mask so well, want to "fit in" so well, that, we lose ourselves in the process. That prevents an accurate diagnosis, in all too many cases.

Next time I will bring up a hot topic....stimming. What is it? What does it look like? What is it's purpose? Why should we permit it?

You guys are the best. That's why I needed to check in with you, see how you're doing.

Until next time,
Mamacita Jane

@merpreb and @gingerw , good Monday morning to you.

It occurred to me that my response to your question about assessment and diagnosis was more centered on childhood Autism.

Ginger addressed at length about the assessment process for adults. I dont have too much to add at this point, other than my own experience.

There are many tests out there that one can take to give you an idea of what is going on. Many really good books and articles by well known authors. I will mention some of my favorites later. Many adults, like me, were misdiagnosed so many times. ADD is one of my "gifts." And honestly, when I took the medication for it, it helped a lot. Until 3:30pm every day.

And you know what? ADD medicine did nothing for my anxiety and depression. Nothing for the "looping" behavior that is so common in those on the Spectrum. And what about the anxiety that I was only just recently diagnosed with, but have had all of my life?

Let me tell you my non professional opinion. Of COURSE people on the Spectrum are more likely to have extreme anxiety than just the ordinary person walking down the street. When your hearing is off the charts, and you hear Everything....when all of your senses are maxed out, there is going to be a certain level of anxiety. Period.

I masked the other day at the hospital. It is so easy for me to do that, I just naturally get into that space in my head and run with it. Unconciously. Until later, when I rehash what I said and did . And I wonder why I wasn't authentic.

Today I probably looked like a homeless person, as I trekked to the neighborhood store to purchase coffee. We were out. Having coffee in the morning is a necessity. More important than being dressed appropriately or having makeup on. I looked like a Lumberjack's wife, circa 1850. Buffalo plaid flannel jacket over a Brown Praire Skirt. Yes, I was quite the sight. The jacket belongs to my husband, and it comforts me.

But you know what? The little check out girl at the register smiled at me and asked me how I was doing. Even though I was a mess. She still made that connection. That's real people , right there.

Those kinds of people are the salt of the earth, by the way. Anyway, we adult Auties tend to mask so well, want to "fit in" so well, that, we lose ourselves in the process. That prevents an accurate diagnosis, in all too many cases.

Next time I will bring up a hot topic....stimming. What is it? What does it look like? What is it's purpose? Why should we permit it?

You guys are the best. That's why I needed to check in with you, see how you're doing.

Until next time,
Mamacita Jane

@merpreb and @gingerw , good Monday morning to you.

It occurred to me that my response to your question about assessment and diagnosis was more centered on childhood Autism.

Ginger addressed at length about the assessment process for adults. I dont have too much to add at this point, other than my own experience.

There are many tests out there that one can take to give you an idea of what is going on. Many really good books and articles by well known authors. I will mention some of my favorites later. Many adults, like me, were misdiagnosed so many times. ADD is one of my "gifts." And honestly, when I took the medication for it, it helped a lot. Until 3:30pm every day.

And you know what? ADD medicine did nothing for my anxiety and depression. Nothing for the "looping" behavior that is so common in those on the Spectrum. And what about the anxiety that I was only just recently diagnosed with, but have had all of my life?

Let me tell you my non professional opinion. Of COURSE people on the Spectrum are more likely to have extreme anxiety than just the ordinary person walking down the street. When your hearing is off the charts, and you hear Everything....when all of your senses are maxed out, there is going to be a certain level of anxiety. Period.

I masked the other day at the hospital. It is so easy for me to do that, I just naturally get into that space in my head and run with it. Unconciously. Until later, when I rehash what I said and did . And I wonder why I wasn't authentic.

Today I probably looked like a homeless person, as I trekked to the neighborhood store to purchase coffee. We were out. Having coffee in the morning is a necessity. More important than being dressed appropriately or having makeup on. I looked like a Lumberjack's wife, circa 1850. Buffalo plaid flannel jacket over a Brown Praire Skirt. Yes, I was quite the sight. The jacket belongs to my husband, and it comforts me.

But you know what? The little check out girl at the register smiled at me and asked me how I was doing. Even though I was a mess. She still made that connection. That's real people , right there.

Those kinds of people are the salt of the earth, by the way. Anyway, we adult Auties tend to mask so well, want to "fit in" so well, that, we lose ourselves in the process. That prevents an accurate diagnosis, in all too many cases.

Next time I will bring up a hot topic....stimming. What is it? What does it look like? What is it's purpose? Why should we permit it?

You guys are the best. That's why I needed to check in with you, see how you're doing.

Until next time,
Mamacita Jane

@mamacita Good morning back to you. I dress for my comfort. Where I lived before, my wardrobe was a mix of what-to-wear-to-fit-in-kinda, and what I was comfortable in. Here, in this little town, I have been able to ditch for the most part, those clothes that were not all that comfortable, and be "me" more. right now my favorite over jacket is a sherpa fleece lined plaid men's jacket. It appeals to my comfort of feeling the soft fleece embrace me.

On my left wrist I wear a braided silver bracelet, 24/7. There is a small silver loop near the catch that can be manipulated. If you watch, you will find me often automatically going to the little loop, rotating it over-and-over, creating that sense of calm I need when anxious, a tangible relief. I used to wear a cuff bracelet and constantly run my fingers over the pattern. When I wear my medical alert bracelet, I can use features of that to stim and calm me. Each autie person has a favorite way to stay grounded, as it were. At times when it's required to not have the bracelet, I feel very anxious and nervous. Should it be allowed? Absolutely, for me.
Ginger