Autism is a real disability to some,,,,,,, are you such a person ?

the fact you are trying is progress and your mind is already changing

Thank you. I have saved this video and will look when I have a bit more time!

I don't think that's is what was meant. 

Yes I understand about the "change" thing. Because everyone has the capacity to change whether they are AS or not. We are not static through our lives. Ive already made a bit of progress thtough srlf duagnosis then making some progress through understanding my diagnostic report and CBT which I've recently finished. Also from bits which I've read about meditation/compassion etc. Just need to keep working on it. It's not about changing myself for anyone but me. To try and be the best version of myself but it takes work and doesn't happen instantly.  Coming on here helps but I think I can get a bit bogged down in it. I'm open to change and can be more proactive now I know what I'm working with... I think that's a good place to start from. 

Autism is for life you can't grow out of it. Yes you could learn to deal with certain aspects of it more effectively but to suggest you can spend time and effort and grow out of it is just not correct. You can't. 

read one of his books 

yes there is but it takes time  and commitment. 

OK i have to be carefu here autism is a really serious thing... its really hard to change. I know from my own experience i have changed but it is so slow and over years not weeks or months.

You have to want to change.

It's a disability for me. There are people who are much more disabled than I am, but I am very disabled in the sense I can't work or do many things (plan holidays, home maintenance etc) that non disabled people don't need help with. I receive disability benefit. I really struggle to keep friendships or even have a relationship, so at age 33 I am still single. I have a severe need for control and routines, and really struggle with give and take empathy. I have bad executive functioning, and get side tracked easily, so can't live an abled adult lifestyle. My autism is Asperger's type but I am more disabled than many people with that type of autism. I often feel more similar in need to someone with a mild learning disability, which makes sense considering my non verbal is less than 70 (my verbal by contrast is in the superior range but little use when I can't change  light bulb!).

The negative effect it's had on me in terms of interviews has been soul eroding for me.

I choose eroding for a reason because it's been a slow eroding of my confidence.

When I was young, it seemed like I could make mistakes and that got put down to being a young buck. In middle-age, there's been no room for error. I've asked for feedback and quite a few interviewers have kindly provided it ... but the trend has just shown that there's very little margin for error and so for someone like me, that's a soul-killer because in a one on one, I will stutter, I will struggle for confidence and come out with the wrong thing -like nervously coming out with a weakness when people are expecting a 'strength, strength, strength' kind of deal.

I know I'm extremely talented and resourceful. I know I get on very well with people in a workplace. And yet I can't break through the outer shell. And it's the slow processing speed, the troubles with executive function that are the principle weaknesses holding me back. My brain just can't work fast enough to cope with the demands of interviews.

I struggle with the application forms but the one two blow of them and the interviews just kill me.

I have the odd little superpower. Sadly, slow processing/executive function is my super weakness. Ah well 

For me, I would class myself as a person with autism and mental health. I believe it is an aspect of ourselves but does not have to define us as people. I personally choose to embrace it and each person with autism has a unique perspective on life. Social integration is always challenging for me and can come under being misunderstood or not catching on to important social cues, especially relationships with partners because of the need to take time out on the rollercoaster of managing emotions. Deep down people can be who they want to as we all bleed the same.

https://youtu.be/JKHW0XpY6eQ

I don't like saying I have a disability and I don't think mental anguish means a disability although it might be a "side effect" / symptom . .. I'd rather call it a difficulty or a difference. 

When stuff like this happrns it's like the emotion just comes on really quickly and I end up crying. It must be frustrating for my other half. But I have to remind myself, this is how I am. I'm hoping to find a professional I can talk things through. Maybe there are more effective ways of dealing with this stuff that I don't yet know about.

sounds like you are really in mental anguish and thus, to me you, have a disability.

Just bumbling through life. ..put a post up last week on my own topic about feeling a bit at sea etc...this kind of links in with that thread and here...

Had a miscommunication with partner earlier. I had to remove myself from situation.  He took this as me not getting my own way. i explained that's a misunderstanding...it was all just too much for my brain so i had to escape. We sorted it out then I just needed to cry. Then a bit more. It fekt like my head was stuffed full with cotton wool. I've felt drained all evening. I ferl this is out of proportion with actual event. Then I in my mind it feels like it's the end of the world.  I've realised today, even though he understands my situation and is very supportive and I can see he's trying really hard to accommodate my recent diagnosis, I just feel I'm always going to be on the back foot in life because of how I process things. 

This is awesome. I believe there is another study gauging how well NT+AUTISTIC vs same groups communicate & found that as long as like/like were paired the communication was easily understood. As if to say, even though we may be speaking the same language- it's like we're speaking another language. This is an incredible video-thank you for posting this.

Some evidence that supports the idea that being an autistic person is just being a different type of human being and are perfectly "normal" when in an environment that is suitable for them e.g. with other autistic people. The issues only show up with you try to mix the autistics with the neurotypicals. 

www.youtube.com/watch

If you haven't been diagnosed then why are you making a comparison of symptoms of whatever it is that you have to cope with and autism? You can't make the comparison until you know its that. It might be something else you don't know. By the sound of it you need to get an autism assessment to check if that's what you are dealing with. Its a big spectrum so if you do end up being diagnosed by an expert then if I was to make a guess you might have other comorbidities that are causing most of the issue (in my case for example I have horrific depression, anxiety and stress as well as sensory issues. Those are not autism and are what cause me the most difficulties) or you are in environments that you are not suited too due to a potentially having ASD. If functional autistic people i.e. those without learning disabilities are in environments that are suited to them, they are usually ok, not great or even good but ok. 

I'm 38 and never been diagnosed but I find it my symptoms very restricting and massively life impacting.

I hope so :) and yeah the shoe laces thing was really embarrassing.

funny i was reading up on psychopathy and its not a disability. u cant be classed as insane in USA, Not sure about UK.

psychopathy no longer exists and it is now  antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)

oddly u cant get the diagnosis until u are 18 but it does appear earlier like 16 onwards !

my friend was a psychopath, the symptoms are listed in the link, he has every single one !  it like a description of him 

he can never work.  No one will ever employ him if they know his record. He has lied/charmed his way into all sorts of places eg the army, with the sole purpose of getting a gun. They threw him out.

He has "friends" and criminal associates and girlfriends and children but I would never want to have ASPD like he does.

His life is one big mess but he doesnt care or notice LOL