Newly diagnosed

Thanks guys for the warm welcome.

I realise autism is not the same for every one, thanks for pointing out that I was speaking as though it was. Like saying do autistic people do this? do autistic people do that?

It should have been obvious to me that everyone is different because I never even realised I was autistic, so it was like I was asking now that I’ve been diagnosed with this thing I’ve had all along, will I become a completely different person? I’m not asking that I’m just saying that’s how it must have sounded.

Having pointed out how stupid it was of me to ask questions, I have some more.

I have read that nothing causes autism. But can it lay dormant until a certain event or series of events sets it off? So nothing actually caused it.

I also have a question about how it is classified. Is it a medical condition? Physical? Mental? The internet cannot seem to agree on these points. Don’t tell me its just a diagnosis. A diagnosis of what? What have they diagnosed? Presumably some sort of condition. Can it be treated? Basically is there anything you can do about it, because I don’t want to think of myself (even less others to think of me) as autistic.

As you may have noticed I’ve changed my username from the one they assigned me. I read that many people with autism are PROUD of it and build their whole identity around it. Well my entire identity I’ve built over thirty years was just shattered during the thirty minute conversation with the doctor three days ago. If other people are happy with their diagnoses, then good for them but I’m not. With mine I mean.
Just to say there has been a whole assessment process the conversation with the doctor was only the diagnosis.

I guess my negative reaction to my diagnosis is just me trying to process it in my own mind. I’ve heard about people who really want to be diagnosed and then truly embrace it. I don’t think I could ever do that.

I was in the car with my parents and sister yesterday. My sister was YouTube-ing old songs. There was one (by Don McLean I think) and some of the lyrics were “I've heard about people like me, but I never made the connection”. I was just like oh, ***. Because l have heard about people who seem to be very similar to me who I knew were diagnosed. But I never thought I could be autistic.

So following on from my rant about ‘diagnoses'. A, why is it good to be diagnosed (considering I am already legally disabled, so I already get those kind of benefits)? And B, what happens next, they just give this label and expect you to come to terms with it? Really, thanks. Why would I want another diagnosis to add to the three I already have?

By the way, I don’t like this word ‘neurotypical' I have come across while reading about autism. It just seems to be an acceptable word for ‘normal' but essentially it means the same thing. Also there are lots of reasons why you wouldn’t be ‘neurotypical' if you didn’t have autism. I have lived with a neurological condition for as long as I can remember but I was still neurotypical apparently. I have a lesion in my brain so I’m not that neurotypical.

Anyway thanks for reading my crazy ramblings that went of some weird tangent about Don McLean.

P.S. You should watch Good Will Hunting its really good.

Good for you I guess said:

Does autism affects the look of facial features? Would other people be able to tell? I have always thought I looked bad in photos but then, does anyone like photos of themselves, also I tend to tense up when people take photos.
I understand that autism limits your ability to read others' emotions, and that we/ I find socializing difficult. But to what extent is your/our ability to read others' body language impaired?

Greetings. Autism is not like "Downs Syndrome" or similar, and so, No, it does not affect appearence in that way.

I do not like being photographed either, but, as you see my UserName, this happens a lot anyway and I do not like it when it is without my own consent. Thus - upon being photographed, one may not appear as "cheery" as those who do like to be photographed.

I read the emotions of others just fine, yet sometimes I must ignore them and carry on with what I need to do.

...In short - Autism is different for everyone... just like being not Autistic!

(I have never seen any of the programmes which you list, sorry. And that is yet another difference.)

It worked, your post got through! This site can be temperamental at times but it's well worth bearing with it for the chance to connect with others going through the same, or similar, things. Welcome!

I received my diagnosis three months ago and have been reading up on autism / Asperger's as much as I can since then. Although I can now say that I understand it / myself a lot more now, I'm certainly no expert - however I've never come across anything mentioning autistic facial features! Seeing as most of the people I've met on here were also diagnosed later in life I'd say that no-one can tell an autistic person simply by looking at them so you've no need to worry on that score. 

The Big Bang Theory and Good Will Hunting, among others, aren't really any more "horribly inaccurate" in their portrayals of autism than they are in their portrayals of men, women, scientists, waitresses, or anyone else. There's a lot of truth in there with each of the portrayals but it's just been sexed up a bit for effect like anything in the media. All of the different features / traits of autism affect each person differently so I'm sure, like me, you'll read some things and think "Yes, that's exactly me!", other times "No, that's not me AT ALL.", but a lot of things will also make you think "Hmmm, that's SORT of like me. Sometimes, depending on ...". There's no one way to be autistic and I'm sure that by learning more about it / yourself as you go along you'll find your own way. 

I don't like having my photo taken either!