Published on 12, July, 2020
I went through a diagnosis late last year through the NHS and they have said that I don't meet all 3 criteria. I don't have enough compulsions or rituals.
I don't think they went into it enough, I always step off pavements with my left foot, I count the steps to get past houses etc and I practice stimming a lot to such an extent I have callouses on the backs of my thumbs but, at 58 I don't think there is much they can do anyway so probably not worth arguing about it. So I need to work out, like a few others, am I really Autistic or just weird?
Hello BJS, I was diagnosed last year in my mid-sixties. I am not looking for treatments, but a diagnosis has brought me peace of mind and an understanding of my past struggles. I had thought for decades I was ASD, and even saw some kind of specialist as a child, but this was never mentioned again. I was always told I had chronic anxiety and given endless scripts for valium and the like, which brought addiction to add to my problems. Like you, I count (see my reply to Hookaduckduck today on this thread). I would call this a compulsion / ritual. Maybe you have one or two OCD rituals which you have become so used to you that you accept them as normal. I've just read on your profile that you like odd numbers, surely that's a trait. I love even numbers, when shopping I can't buy three or five of anything. The only exception is 'one', I'm comfortable to buy a single item, it's only multiples that must be in even numbers.
Autistic? Yes, I am.
Wierd? Well, it has been said, oh boy has it been said, but I'm not really that bothered anymore.
I am Ben.