AS or introversion?

Hi, 

I'm really curious about this question too. 

Increasingly over the past 5 years, I've been trying to work out if I'm 'just' a sensitive introvert, with social anxiety and mild depression or if I have ASC.

I'm a woman in my mid-forties (no kids, so no hints there about my genes) who works and studies. I need to rest a lot outside of work/uni. and stick to low key activities. I have a need to spend a lot of time on my own. 

I do seem to be more emotionally sensitive than my peers and cry easily when I am feeling emotionally overwhelmed (happens quite frequently). 

I notice that sometimes I cry at odd times but the common factor seems to be that a change has just taken place and that it's an expression of anxiety. I have also noticed that my executive function becomes impaired when I'm extremely anxious and feeling overwhelmed. 

The previous comments about struggling to connect and converse with others in large groups ring true (I can manage 1:1 and small groups ok), but feel lost in environments where I have no clear purpose or role. I mostly avoid these types of social settings. 

I walked and talked 'early' when I was young, but my mum can't exactly remember the age. My parents can't remember too much about my early life that was unusual. Both of them have characteristics that could possibly be interpreted as autistic traits, so I may not have been different in their eyes. I remember having an early interest in ship chandlery wholesalers and light industrial goods suppliers (the first 'book' I read was the yellow pages as it had adverts for these types of retailers). My dad has described my ability to focus on things when I'm interested in them as like 'a ballistic missile'. 

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone (especially women who have received a diagnosis later in life)?

Hi, 

I'm really curious about this question too. 

Increasingly over the past 5 years, I've been trying to work out if I'm 'just' a sensitive introvert, with social anxiety and mild depression or if I have ASC.

I'm a woman in my mid-forties (no kids, so no hints there about my genes) who works and studies. I need to rest a lot outside of work/uni. and stick to low key activities. I have a need to spend a lot of time on my own. 

I do seem to be more emotionally sensitive than my peers and cry easily when I am feeling emotionally overwhelmed (happens quite frequently). 

I notice that sometimes I cry at odd times but the common factor seems to be that a change has just taken place and that it's an expression of anxiety. I have also noticed that my executive function becomes impaired when I'm extremely anxious and feeling overwhelmed. 

The previous comments about struggling to connect and converse with others in large groups ring true (I can manage 1:1 and small groups ok), but feel lost in environments where I have no clear purpose or role. I mostly avoid these types of social settings. 

I walked and talked 'early' when I was young, but my mum can't exactly remember the age. My parents can't remember too much about my early life that was unusual. Both of them have characteristics that could possibly be interpreted as autistic traits, so I may not have been different in their eyes. I remember having an early interest in ship chandlery wholesalers and light industrial goods suppliers (the first 'book' I read was the yellow pages as it had adverts for these types of retailers). My dad has described my ability to focus on things when I'm interested in them as like 'a ballistic missile'. 

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone (especially women who have received a diagnosis later in life)?

Possibly Autistic, it sounds like you could be on the spectrum so it would be logical for you to take a few online tests to see if your suspicious are supported.  

I also need to spend time on my own. If I'm in a situation which requires a lot of talking or interaction I need rest. This happens in my job and I've learned the hard way in the past as it had built up every day without me getting rest.

I do also feel more emotionally sensitive than my peers and have often wondered why they seem to be able to just "get on" in life, even though things are obviously stressful for them too. When I moved in with my partner ten years ago it was INCREDIBLY difficult. I couldn't understand it. We have since bought a house together.  I now know it takes me a good two years to acclimatise after a move. Both times it felt traumatic. 

I woukd also like to say that I think if anything in my life gets unbalanced it can cause extreme anxiety. Like, i have been looking into getting some experience in a different department at work. Its not a massive change, but an addition, and it all caused me loads of anxiety the other week. This is a pattern I have realised only past few weeks.

I get the crying as an expression of anxiety. For me,  frustration too. This is something I look back on and did a lot of in my teens and twenties. Like, I didn't know how else to express or understand my feelings.

Love the interest you had as a child! Very niche! I want to talk to my parents about my development but don't know how to broach it.