Ageing and autistic traits

Has anyone found that as they’ve gotten older some or most of their traits become more apparent. I’ve spent a little time using Dr Google and there’s plenty saying this increase of traits isn’t due to ageing but due to increased pressures in life which would make sense. My mask started to crumble and fall apart when my mum passed away, I shutdown internally and swallowed the emotions till my nan passed away and I think was the straw that broke the autistics back, life was now completely out of my control and so were my emotions. Life experiences build up over time and create a clearer picture of one’s own identity, wants and needs and also opinions on existence. I’ve always pictured myself as a bottle that was once full but is slowly leaking with every hit life swings as it, each hit slowly draining my internal reserves and causing irreversible damage to the bottle itself. I find myself wanting to spend less and less time around others that I don’t need to, I get a lot more drained from unwanted company than I ever used to. I’m 37 and feel 97 grandad slippers already equipped, just missing the pipe and a Charles Dickens book. 

Parents
  • It was mentioned at my assessment that I have built my ideal world around me, I work totally alone all day, every day.  I need the isolation but don’t feel lonely, being interrupted is really annoying and uses up energy at an alarming rate. I get asked occasionally by customers if they can help with a project, I just cringe, I would end up redoing the work as their work wouldn’t be done to my standard, they wouldn’t have my attention to detail.

    I’m currently moving to a more  remote location with no neighbours, I get accused of becoming a hermit, I see it as jumping off the hamster wheel, I was stuck in burnout and achieving nothing. The day I realised I’m autistic was the catalyst that changed my life forever. Obviously I haven’t become more autistic, I have become more authentic, my traits aren’t hidden so much. I’ve got loads of plans for the future, these are mostly solo projects that I know I will enjoy. I do have a wife so have someone to talk to, we both also enjoy our own space.

    I saw this recently, it made a lot of sense. I won’t let past trauma define me anymore. Masking burns too much energy and wastes what is left in the bottle.

Reply
  • It was mentioned at my assessment that I have built my ideal world around me, I work totally alone all day, every day.  I need the isolation but don’t feel lonely, being interrupted is really annoying and uses up energy at an alarming rate. I get asked occasionally by customers if they can help with a project, I just cringe, I would end up redoing the work as their work wouldn’t be done to my standard, they wouldn’t have my attention to detail.

    I’m currently moving to a more  remote location with no neighbours, I get accused of becoming a hermit, I see it as jumping off the hamster wheel, I was stuck in burnout and achieving nothing. The day I realised I’m autistic was the catalyst that changed my life forever. Obviously I haven’t become more autistic, I have become more authentic, my traits aren’t hidden so much. I’ve got loads of plans for the future, these are mostly solo projects that I know I will enjoy. I do have a wife so have someone to talk to, we both also enjoy our own space.

    I saw this recently, it made a lot of sense. I won’t let past trauma define me anymore. Masking burns too much energy and wastes what is left in the bottle.

Children