Involvement of family- adult diagnosis

Thanks for your reply.  

I also much prefer to write than speak, and writing can come across as very fluent whereas speaking is another thing altogether.  I seem to either ramble on (if something I'm interested in/obsessing over) or find it hard to find the right words and even make conversation a lot of the time.  It's nice to know that there are others out there like me!  I would hope that if I gained a diagnosis then I would meet some people who are similar to me.  Have you had any experience of meeting people post-diagnosis?

It's very interesting to read about the way that you describe rituals and routines.  This was quite a mystery to me.  I struggle with new places too, but more because I don't want to meet any new people or be put in any situations that place too many demands (which often doesn't take much) on me.  I feel uncomfortable with change a lot of the time, again due to uncertainty and a need to control.  I think that as long as I feel in control then it reduces my anxiety, and looking back on my behaviour as a child it was very control-driven.  As a child, I often lived in a fantasy-based world, and perhaps this explains why I am still very dreamy.  I get distracted by light/shadow/patterns a lot, often without being aware until someone comments on it, and wouldn't even notice objects etc. moving as I am completely distracted by something sensory related.  I don't know if it is a female trait, however I have read that many autistic girls live in a fantasy world, and are also often good artists. etc.  This follows with my skills, and is very far away from the stereotype of a boy who loves collecting information related to trains.  Sorry if this is an inaccurate, vast generalisation but it would be an interesting point to research.

In my experience and from some research, it seems that it is not uncommon for girls to try to control situations or people to try to cope.  In older girls this reportedly shows as eating disorders, and other signs eg. anxiety, low self-esteem, depression.  In younger girls I am not sure, for me this showed in terms of gaps in social knowledge and empathy, which resulted in often arguing with others, obsessive contemplation of troubling situations as I was trying to make sense of behaviour, agressive behaviour and screaming tantrums.  Looking back on my behaviour, I was seen as an awkward child by my family, who tired of my difficult and sometimes horrid behaviour.  I can now see why I was branded as such but also realise that I needed some support. I imagine that all autistic boys and girls will show their difficulties in some way, whether at home or school.  It would also be interesting to compare the behaviour by both.

I also find this topic very interesting.  I dream of finding ways to raise awareness of these difficulties and the negative impact they can have.  I would be interested to hear anything else you wish to share.

Thanks!

Thanks for your reply.  

I also much prefer to write than speak, and writing can come across as very fluent whereas speaking is another thing altogether.  I seem to either ramble on (if something I'm interested in/obsessing over) or find it hard to find the right words and even make conversation a lot of the time.  It's nice to know that there are others out there like me!  I would hope that if I gained a diagnosis then I would meet some people who are similar to me.  Have you had any experience of meeting people post-diagnosis?

It's very interesting to read about the way that you describe rituals and routines.  This was quite a mystery to me.  I struggle with new places too, but more because I don't want to meet any new people or be put in any situations that place too many demands (which often doesn't take much) on me.  I feel uncomfortable with change a lot of the time, again due to uncertainty and a need to control.  I think that as long as I feel in control then it reduces my anxiety, and looking back on my behaviour as a child it was very control-driven.  As a child, I often lived in a fantasy-based world, and perhaps this explains why I am still very dreamy.  I get distracted by light/shadow/patterns a lot, often without being aware until someone comments on it, and wouldn't even notice objects etc. moving as I am completely distracted by something sensory related.  I don't know if it is a female trait, however I have read that many autistic girls live in a fantasy world, and are also often good artists. etc.  This follows with my skills, and is very far away from the stereotype of a boy who loves collecting information related to trains.  Sorry if this is an inaccurate, vast generalisation but it would be an interesting point to research.

In my experience and from some research, it seems that it is not uncommon for girls to try to control situations or people to try to cope.  In older girls this reportedly shows as eating disorders, and other signs eg. anxiety, low self-esteem, depression.  In younger girls I am not sure, for me this showed in terms of gaps in social knowledge and empathy, which resulted in often arguing with others, obsessive contemplation of troubling situations as I was trying to make sense of behaviour, agressive behaviour and screaming tantrums.  Looking back on my behaviour, I was seen as an awkward child by my family, who tired of my difficult and sometimes horrid behaviour.  I can now see why I was branded as such but also realise that I needed some support. I imagine that all autistic boys and girls will show their difficulties in some way, whether at home or school.  It would also be interesting to compare the behaviour by both.

I also find this topic very interesting.  I dream of finding ways to raise awareness of these difficulties and the negative impact they can have.  I would be interested to hear anything else you wish to share.

Thanks!