Signs of autism in your childhood

Looking back now, I think I can see some signs. My best friend as a boy was 6 years younger than me, so when I was about 8 he would have been around 2-3. I was really happy, but that is a pretty strange age gap.

I was exceptionally tidy as a child. Not obsessive, just keeping things in their correct place. I thought that was normal and all children grew to understand they had to look after their things... until I've spent every week for years convincing my own 3 children to tidy their rooms and not understanding why I have to repeat this every single time.

I did experience some emotional shutdown while I was waiting for my exam results, I just could not talk to anyone about anything because I was so anxious. It got to the point where both my parents told me off because they were fed up of me not communicating even simple things, and they never told me off for anything because I always followed "the rules" (another sign perhaps).

I hated all the usual activities boys are supposed to enjoy (football being a particular one for me) and enjoyed all the things that no one else cared about. I remember at a camp once when I was around 13-14, the leaders were playing old cartoons on a projector. I was laughing along to them because I really liked cartoons, but my friends pointed out that the kids on the table next to us were laughing at me not with me, so I learned that it wasn't cool to enjoy what I liked anymore.

University was the worst though, I lived in halls of residence for 3 years (I doubted I could have house shared with anyone). I would avoid everyone I could, so I would listen out for people in the hallway of my room and wait until it was empty, so I wouldn't have to meet or talk to anyone. Even if I did I avoided everyone's gaze. Longest 3 years of my life.

Looking back now, I think I can see some signs. My best friend as a boy was 6 years younger than me, so when I was about 8 he would have been around 2-3. I was really happy, but that is a pretty strange age gap.

I was exceptionally tidy as a child. Not obsessive, just keeping things in their correct place. I thought that was normal and all children grew to understand they had to look after their things... until I've spent every week for years convincing my own 3 children to tidy their rooms and not understanding why I have to repeat this every single time.

I did experience some emotional shutdown while I was waiting for my exam results, I just could not talk to anyone about anything because I was so anxious. It got to the point where both my parents told me off because they were fed up of me not communicating even simple things, and they never told me off for anything because I always followed "the rules" (another sign perhaps).

I hated all the usual activities boys are supposed to enjoy (football being a particular one for me) and enjoyed all the things that no one else cared about. I remember at a camp once when I was around 13-14, the leaders were playing old cartoons on a projector. I was laughing along to them because I really liked cartoons, but my friends pointed out that the kids on the table next to us were laughing at me not with me, so I learned that it wasn't cool to enjoy what I liked anymore.

University was the worst though, I lived in halls of residence for 3 years (I doubted I could have house shared with anyone). I would avoid everyone I could, so I would listen out for people in the hallway of my room and wait until it was empty, so I wouldn't have to meet or talk to anyone. Even if I did I avoided everyone's gaze. Longest 3 years of my life.