Hello. I hope I'm not crazy

Ratch328 said:

Hi all. My name is Rachel. I'm a 28 yr old mother to a 4 yr old and a wife to a wonderful husband who always puts up with my crazy. 

Hi there.

Ratch328 said:

I have never actually been diagnosed with ASD, but all roads seem to point in this direction. I've even had people ask me if I'm autistic, and I always answer with "I don't know."

A usual 'go to' on seeing if it is worth going for diagnosis or to some extent confirming a self diagnosis ~ is doing the Autistic Spectrum Quotient Test more usually referred to as the AQ-50 test, which is available to be done via the following link:

https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient

If you score 32 or above the chances of being on the spectrum are more likely. There is also a comprehensive range of downloadable tests which are available (including the AQ50) if you feel inclined via the following link:

https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests

Should you feel more certain after having done the tests that you are on the spectrum, maybe give 'The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome' book by Tony Attwood a read, which costs about £19 / $25 or is free as a PDF by the following link:

Ratch328 said:

Anyway, I am hoping that I can connect with some people and at least discuss the oddities of life and the things I don't understand or struggle with, and hope that someone out there can assure me that I'm not insane.

Perhaps consider the sayings "There are none so mad than those who think they are not." that "Individuality is not a crime." and that there 'are' ~ "Different strokes for different folks." Also with going through the tests it does rather help to consider another expression on the different strokes theme, "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism."

Plus also is another website worth checking out more particularly for the characteristics of women and some men on the spectrum is:

https://the-art-of-autism.com/females-and-aspergers-a-checklist/

So hopefully all in all or one or more in particular, these will introduce you to autistic commonalities and different typologies and give you a bit more where-with-all about being on the spectrum ~ so that discussing things here (and elsewhere) can done be with at least a bit more confidence in contextual terms perhaps.

Ratch328 said:

Hi all. My name is Rachel. I'm a 28 yr old mother to a 4 yr old and a wife to a wonderful husband who always puts up with my crazy. 

Hi there.

Ratch328 said:

I have never actually been diagnosed with ASD, but all roads seem to point in this direction. I've even had people ask me if I'm autistic, and I always answer with "I don't know."

A usual 'go to' on seeing if it is worth going for diagnosis or to some extent confirming a self diagnosis ~ is doing the Autistic Spectrum Quotient Test more usually referred to as the AQ-50 test, which is available to be done via the following link:

https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient

If you score 32 or above the chances of being on the spectrum are more likely. There is also a comprehensive range of downloadable tests which are available (including the AQ50) if you feel inclined via the following link:

https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests

Should you feel more certain after having done the tests that you are on the spectrum, maybe give 'The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome' book by Tony Attwood a read, which costs about £19 / $25 or is free as a PDF by the following link:

Ratch328 said:

Anyway, I am hoping that I can connect with some people and at least discuss the oddities of life and the things I don't understand or struggle with, and hope that someone out there can assure me that I'm not insane.

Perhaps consider the sayings "There are none so mad than those who think they are not." that "Individuality is not a crime." and that there 'are' ~ "Different strokes for different folks." Also with going through the tests it does rather help to consider another expression on the different strokes theme, "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism."

Plus also is another website worth checking out more particularly for the characteristics of women and some men on the spectrum is:

https://the-art-of-autism.com/females-and-aspergers-a-checklist/

So hopefully all in all or one or more in particular, these will introduce you to autistic commonalities and different typologies and give you a bit more where-with-all about being on the spectrum ~ so that discussing things here (and elsewhere) can done be with at least a bit more confidence in contextual terms perhaps.