Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello,I’m Nick and hopefully this will work because I’ve already written this post four times it just won’t post. So here we go again...I’m new to the whole autism thing so if anything I say is kind of offensive, I am sorry, completely unintentional.I was diagnosed with epilepsy 21 years ago, l don’t know if that could be connected but I guess that’s something I’ll have to ask a doctor.I got an autism diagnosis today and I was really surprised but my family seemed to think it was quite obvious. Until quite recently, the only view of autism I’ve had is from the tv and films such as Big Bang Theory and Good Will Hunting, I’m guessing these portrayals are horribly inaccurate. I thought (no offense intended) that all people with autism were either learning disabled or else obscenely clever and since I don’t fit either of these descriptions I assumed I was not autistic. Does autism affects the look of facial features? Would other people be able to tell? I have always thought I looked bad in photos but then, does anyone like photos of themselves, also I tend to tense up when people take photos.I understand that autism limits your ability to read others' emotions, and that we/ I find socializing difficult. But to what extent is your/our ability to read others' body language impaired?I have lots more questions, but for now I’m just going to leave it at that because it probably won’t post anyway.
It worked, your post got through! This site can be temperamental at times but it's well worth bearing with it for the chance to connect with others going through the same, or similar, things. Welcome!
I received my diagnosis three months ago and have been reading up on autism / Asperger's as much as I can since then. Although I can now say that I understand it / myself a lot more now, I'm certainly no expert - however I've never come across anything mentioning autistic facial features! Seeing as most of the people I've met on here were also diagnosed later in life I'd say that no-one can tell an autistic person simply by looking at them so you've no need to worry on that score.
The Big Bang Theory and Good Will Hunting, among others, aren't really any more "horribly inaccurate" in their portrayals of autism than they are in their portrayals of men, women, scientists, waitresses, or anyone else. There's a lot of truth in there with each of the portrayals but it's just been sexed up a bit for effect like anything in the media. All of the different features / traits of autism affect each person differently so I'm sure, like me, you'll read some things and think "Yes, that's exactly me!", other times "No, that's not me AT ALL.", but a lot of things will also make you think "Hmmm, that's SORT of like me. Sometimes, depending on ...". There's no one way to be autistic and I'm sure that by learning more about it / yourself as you go along you'll find your own way.
I don't like having my photo taken either!