1. < Autism (ASD)

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.

sirgalahad | @sirgalahad | Jul 15, 2019
In reply to @mamacita "Function levels are out dated and inappropriate. They only serve to reflect ability or lack of..." + (show)
@mamacita

Function levels are out dated and inappropriate. They only serve to reflect ability or lack of it, during one moment of time. Functioning levels are like a quick snapshot, as opposed to a portrait, painstakingly crafted in the most beautiful detail.

If you saw a picture of me, only one picture, you would have in your mind a picture of an older lady standing in the hot son. Perspiration dripping down my face. Dress sticking to me, eyes squinting as I look around to the many relatives who have just gathered at my cousins' burial.

What I have just described is the picture you see of me when you read or comment in Mayo Clinic Connect, Adults on the Autism Spectrum. But that is not me in my entirety. I am so much more than that. And I got here with the help of friends who would do anything to help me. And did. You are so much more than a functioning label. Let's talk about strategies, skills, and resources to help us live up to our awesome potential, instead.

Who's with me?

Mamacita

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function is being pushed unfortunately some moron and I have forgotten his name based in Brussels or Netherlands has successfully pushed for diagnosis of autism by level or comorbidity and functionality or dysfunctionality .I was assessed I am autistic but due to my level of insufficiently not dysfunctional enough I have been declassed as not technically autistic but pervasive developmentally delayed only those severely impacted by autism and comorbidity can be classed as autistic .Those and my clinical psychologist whom first diagnosed me autistic /aspergers /high functioning and under DSM-5 .I PHYSICALLY AUTISTIC BUT RELABELLED AS PDD

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1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 15, 2019
In reply to @sirgalahad "function is being pushed unfortunately some moron and I have forgotten his name based in Brussels..." + (show)
@sirgalahad

function is being pushed unfortunately some moron and I have forgotten his name based in Brussels or Netherlands has successfully pushed for diagnosis of autism by level or comorbidity and functionality or dysfunctionality .I was assessed I am autistic but due to my level of insufficiently not dysfunctional enough I have been declassed as not technically autistic but pervasive developmentally delayed only those severely impacted by autism and comorbidity can be classed as autistic .Those and my clinical psychologist whom first diagnosed me autistic /aspergers /high functioning and under DSM-5 .I PHYSICALLY AUTISTIC BUT RELABELLED AS PDD

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@sirgalahad Not often I will tell someone that I am an autie on the spectrum. I relate it to a pendulum, in that some days I can handle things better than other days. Usually there is a response "but you don't look sick". That is the same phrase used with my lupus, even nurses have said that to me. People want to clearly and irrevocably define someone, which is just not possible.
Ginger

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smilie | @smilie | Jul 16, 2019

Hi! I’m suffering from depression and anxiety and I don’t feel like going anywhere or doing anything!!!! I had breakfast, I took my pills, I had a shower and I thought that I would feel better but I’m not!!!! I want to have a nap.

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2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 16, 2019
In reply to @smilie "Hi! I’m suffering from depression and anxiety and I don’t feel like going anywhere or doing..." + (show)
@smilie

Hi! I’m suffering from depression and anxiety and I don’t feel like going anywhere or doing anything!!!! I had breakfast, I took my pills, I had a shower and I thought that I would feel better but I’m not!!!! I want to have a nap.

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@smilies How are you feeling now? Do you still feel like you are drowning? Are you still feeling low energy? I am worried about you. What kind of a diet are you on, are you eating healthy? That can have a lot to do with your energy levels. And sometimes when our energy levels are down we have no interest in things. I know I've been there before! Have you been able to get outside today and go for a walk, even for 5 or 10 minutes and feel the sun shining on your face? Did you call and talk to a friend or family member and just get some positive thoughts going? Please let us know, we care here at Mayo Connect.
Ginger

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1 reply
sirgalahad | @sirgalahad | Jul 16, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@smilies How are you feeling now? Do you still feel like you are drowning? Are you..." + (show)
@gingerw

@smilies How are you feeling now? Do you still feel like you are drowning? Are you still feeling low energy? I am worried about you. What kind of a diet are you on, are you eating healthy? That can have a lot to do with your energy levels. And sometimes when our energy levels are down we have no interest in things. I know I've been there before! Have you been able to get outside today and go for a walk, even for 5 or 10 minutes and feel the sun shining on your face? Did you call and talk to a friend or family member and just get some positive thoughts going? Please let us know, we care here at Mayo Connect.
Ginger

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I would also suggest eating foods high in serotonin to lift your serotonin levels in your brain and also melatonin so you can sleep .please enquire about adrenal gland and possible running out of adrenaline and loss of epinephrine and eiter producing too much epinephrine and that's flooding your hypocampus and amygdala .this occurs often in autistics and I haveexperienced it quite a lot .I would suggest exercise and doing stuff like acapella singing or acting to or painting to focus outside yourself and that lifts your mood

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Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Jul 16, 2019
In reply to @smilie "Hi! I’m suffering from depression and anxiety and I don’t feel like going anywhere or doing..." + (show)
@smilie

Hi! I’m suffering from depression and anxiety and I don’t feel like going anywhere or doing anything!!!! I had breakfast, I took my pills, I had a shower and I thought that I would feel better but I’m not!!!! I want to have a nap.

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Hi, @smilie - so sorry to hear you are suffering and feeling like you are drowning.

Since you posted on this thread about adults with autism, I also wanted to inquire whether you have an autism diagnosis?

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smilie | @smilie | Jul 17, 2019

Hi! No I don’t have autism! I just needed to vent. I have depression and anxiety.

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smilie | @smilie | Jul 17, 2019

Where am I supposed to post for depression and anxiety or can I post anywhere because I need to reach out to someone?

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2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 17, 2019
In reply to @smilie "Where am I supposed to post for depression and anxiety or can I post anywhere because..." + (show)
@smilie

Where am I supposed to post for depression and anxiety or can I post anywhere because I need to reach out to someone?

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Morning @smilie
Let's get you back to the discussion about anxiety and depression where you were posting before, and where people know your story. Click this link and post there:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/depressed-and-scared/

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