Published on 12, July, 2020
Hey guys,
The NHS has refused to refer me to a specialist and I cannot afford to go to a private specialist to get referred. I know it isn't viable to self diagnose but it would be really helpful if I could have your opinions as to whether you thought I sound like i might be on the spectrum somewhat.
These are the things I deem relevant:
Firstly, I know I definitely am very high functioning. I have never had trouble keeping or maintaining friendships. I am very sociable, and don't experience social anxiety. I do, however experience severe sensory overload. I also have a diagnosis of ADHD. My partner says that I sometimes talk a lot and take up more conversation time than her, so perhaps this indicates a lack of social reciprocity, but I am aware of when I do this, and I know I am very chatty. I am very emotionally sensitive. I experience hyperfocus which I have previously put down to my ADHD, and have deep knowledge in particular subjects. I have a very logical brain and have a degree in mathematics. I don't have any routines that I adhere by and I don't have a problem with change. My language/ speech isn't different. I was always very rebellious as a teenager and was always in trouble at school secondary school- I never understood why because I thought I was being good. I can be a touch direct with people at times and I often like to get the point across directly to people because I think that it's kinder not to lie to somebody, but i do this in a diplomatic and gentle way. On occasion I have behaved in ways that have caused people to react back to me in ways that have surprised me, as in the person has misinterpreted my behaviour to mean something else and I have been badly misunderstood. I never feel awkward in social situations, I am extraverted and am confident socially.
I also have a diagnosis of Complex PTSD which could account for some of the things I mentioned.
I would be so grateful for some feedback.
Thank you so much.
Hannah
I don't know and I'm not qualified to say in any way. You would need an expert to get a diagnosis. It sounds lilke you have both neurotypical and neurodiverse traits. Autism can present differently in girls/women and many girls/women can mask to a varying degree. Being rebellious like everything else is complex. if someone has the trait to follow (social) rules rather than live within the rules, but either finds the rules logically ridiculous or doesn't atune in the first place because they can't easiy detect the fine details of intrinsic social rules, or perceive any prioity in following them, then this is different to being rebellious to gain and maintain high social status in a (relatively) large social group. But even here one can see that even if one thing is primary (rules logically ridiculous) it can lead to the other(higher social status/leadership).Being extrovert is not necessarily anything to do with autism. in my opinion. This is mostly all just my opinion.
There is also something called the HSP personality trait or sensory processing sensitivity. It isn't autism, it's just one trait.
Heya. Thanks very much for your message. Just to be clear, I was only rebellious in secondary school, yet I am far from rebellious as an adult. I will check out HSP, as I am sure I definitely fulfill the criteria for this at the very least! Thanks so much for your help :) x