*Removed*

Ooo this looks fun :-) 

When will the editing be finished? X

I was happy, but now I'm laughing too.

Hello, mate.  

You're right - I'm lucky to have this advantage. I just have to learn to keep an eye on myself instead of relying on others' insights.

Your thinking as you express it reminds me of my own. 

I now know why people who seem to have my interests at heart (in that moment) have, in the past, told me to "Stop running yourself down".

I could never see it myself, of course. you however, don't have to keep doing it for forty years, because you can read and re-read this thread if you want to which is way better than re-running conversations in your head.

You play tricks on yourself and they work

Use that power wisely Young Padawan Simon

I don't - officially - know yet, Roy. I'm on an 18-month waiting list for assessment. I thought that, at worst, my issues were very minor but the pros I saw felt differently. Because my behaviour harms no-one (including me), their views & my doctor's were a shock to me. Maybe the forms I had to complete and also in-person testimony made them see what I couldn't - I'm not good at recognising my difficulties for what they actually are. For instance, I frequently write paragraph after paragraph to friends stating how I'm learning to avoid over-thinking...and yet I somehow 'miss' what should be obvious: that I'm still, evidently, over-thinking even as I celebrate the end of my over-thinking.

One word, stop. How long have you known, your autistic?

I'm in an incredibly good frame of mind lately!  Is my writing so ridiculous that people think I'm depressed when I'm happy, and happy when I'm depressed?!? Argh! 

Thank goodness, I can’t say why exactly but I was worried about you there. Maybe it was the combination af an eerily quiet night on here compared to last with your crisis of confidence 

Honestly, mate, I'm miles better recently. Happy, in fact. I just need to view the world from outside of my own head a lot more often. 

Yep. You always have great - and beneficial - ideas regarding us, Sam. I wish you had some official role.

I notice that NAS gives us points related to our postings, are they like Green Shield Stamps? Can I get a Breville Sandwich Toaster?

Just think, if you buy a comb, you will never part with it!

Clumsy is better than clamming up and not expressing yourself. That's the main thing this forum needs, an update so people can put trigger words on a setting under their profile so they get potentially triggering posts and replies hidden under a spoiler function like on Discord. Then everyone can say their bit safely.

Is the Red Sea the one Moses parted? I think he parted my hair as well 

Honestly the words anxiety and autism go hand in glove. Sometimes I think, I’m going to have a heart attack, I haven’t, why should I make my wife happy! Sorry it’s the shabbas, I’m going into Red Sea Pedestrian humour now!

Hope that didn’t sound too lecture-y. Mostly intended as a light comment with a serious point. 

Simon, go easier on yourself please. I thought I was bad, but you need a stern talking to. Where’s Sparkly when you need her?