Published on 12, July, 2020
Since I went 'public' about my ASD diagnosis I've had more than one person say to me 'We're all on the spectrum mate'. At the time I found the comment slightly offensive, as if they were saying, 'You're not the only one who's got issues, just get over it', but on reflection, perhaps they have a point. In this crazy world where the borders of 'normality' are infinitely blurred, could it be that we are all on one big spectrum, but only some of us in the 'zone' that is currently classed as a disorder? I can't help wondering if everyone did the tests and questionnaires that I did when being assessed what percentage of the population would be diagnosed. The very first test I did came as quite a shock because the questions seemed so very appropriate to how I was feeling, and it returned a result of high probability. I can't decide if that's just because I do actually have ASD or because some of those questions would apply to anyone doing the test. I'd be interested to hear people's opinion on this, especially if anyone out there has done the test and returned a negative result i.e. low probability.
Yes, everyone would fall somewhere within a neurological spectrum, but not an autistic spectrum. I'm afraid they are ignorant to the subject so they are entirely wrong.
Some really interesting thoughts here. The general consensus seems to be a resounding NO, not everyone is on the autistic spectrum, but I still keep thinking that defining the 'ends' of a spectrum is a bit like looking for the end of a rainbow. I think Autonomistict's comment about the spectrum being non linear and rather more spikey makes sense of this. I guess I have to trust my GP diagnosis and stop listening to the naysayers.
On another note, it was a close friend's birthday today and he asked me if I'd meet him and his wife for a beer in a local pub. Without thinking about it too much I agreed. I arrived at the pub first and as I walked into the beer garden I suddenly panicked. I haven't been anywhere with that many people in such close proximity for months and months, and it freaked me out to the point where I almost turned around and ran away. Instead I found a free table right on the outskirts of the garden and sat down with my back to everyone else to wait for my friends. My hands were shaking, my throat was dry, and I sat and fumbled with my mobile phone to try and distract my negative thoughts. It felt truly horrible but I wanted desperately to overcome it. When I suddenly got a text message from my mate saying they had arrived the relief was immense and ultimately I was glad I made the effort. I wasn't aware of it before today but his wife is a paediatric nurse who specialises in dealing with autistic children. We've known each other for a few years and she told me that she wasn't at all surprised about my diagnosis, and that it explained a lot of my behavioural traits that she'd noticed in the past. It may sound odd to say it but I'm finding that the more others recognise this the easier it is for me to accept it. I really thought the opposite would be true.