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I'm new here.

Glizbeth

Hi guys, I go by Liz online. (She/They, if anyone is wondering.)

I joined this forum out of curiosity and mostly to see how situation is for autistic people is in the UK. (Or Scotland.)

I'm currently in the process of getting an assessment and let's say I haven't really heard much good things about it from UK content creators. Since it seems to be infantilizing in some parts. (I'm still to look into how the assessment works.) Thinking

A bit about myself:

I'm a 23 year old from Spain with Scottish and Nigerian heritage. Moved to Scotland in 2019 for education reasons. I love my arts & crafts, astrophysics, engineering, anthropology and medicine. I've always seemed to have I hard time to make friends after primary school and it has always worried my parents. Teachers have also mentioned I don't interact in class a lot either but have said I'm meeting the academic goals.
Living like I'm an alien or an outsider independently of where I am, it's soo isolating. SobSobSob

Life is getting a bit to hard for me now adulthood is in full swing for me. Can't really manage a job as well as I did as a teen. My irritability and need of personal is more than before. Sob
I don't even go out as much as I did when just entering my 20s. I've practically given up looking for friendships in person since I can't quite "break the ice" with people and I'm scared of being rejected. Due to being misunderstood practically my whole life.
And it's painfully hard to advocate for myself since I've been shamed to be more "palatable" for others.

I prefer online interactions since I can take time to think of a response without having the pressure of answering in a socially appropriate manner. I thought there was something wrong with me for the longest time and never even considered I could be neurodivergent. And only recently I've taken the possibility of being autistic seriously due to a then stranger who's diagnosed asking me if I was too. Since we clicked like it was nothing. Blush


I mainly hang around on artists communities online since I tend to vibe with them better. Art (I guess a lot of neurodivergent people tend to be in art is true. Joy)


I'm still looking, reading and consuming information on autism and ADHD, every time I do my life makes a lot more sense. I've only recently came to terms that there's a high possibility I'm on the spectrum. I've done all the screening questionnaires. And I'm very aware of what I do now and how it relates to them.

(I'm not too sure about how terms are used in this community but if I used them wrong let me know. I love to learn. Grin Thumbsup

Lmao soz for the wall of text. I really don't know what the vibe is on here Sweat smile)

  • Welcome Liz

    I am Scottish  and a lateling (late diagnosed if you were wondering!!!)

  • Hi Liz! 

    Scottish and Nigerian heritage?! The food in your house must be cracking! 

    As you said, if you just 'get it' when you're with some people and feel you stick out with another crowd. Then follow the "Good Vibes."

    As for terms, use what you like. Research as much as you can, but do not build a concrete scenario in your head. As nearly everybody here will tell you, getting the diagnosis should be freeing; however, it is invariably the start of a different sort of trouble. 

    As for walls of text, that's nothing. You are in the realm of biblical tomes. A fantastic by-product of creative lunatics (meant affectionately, of course), the majority of which have plenty of time on their hands. 

    If you love to learn, you're artistic and prone to occasional tantrums. You will fit in perfectly 

    B&I Wave

  • Welcome Liz good to have you and thanks for the interesting post

  • Hey Im Matthew from Scotland to Blush . Ive also found it hard to interact socially and make friends so i totally get it 

  • You say "I love to learn" Glizbeth........and so do I.

    Welcome.

  • Hi Liz, I am 21 also living in Scotland. I was diagnosed at 15 and I found the process a bit stressful but overall a positive experience. My hobbies are reading, writing and bullet journaling, but I also love arts and crafts when I find time to do some. 

  • Hi and welcome to the community. I'm a woman in my sixties and retired now,and I enjoy reading and playing video games. I'm not officially diagnosed, I'm "self discovered".

    What you said about preferring online interactions so you can think of a response without pressure really resonates with me. In face to face situations I've often answered people in a way that I've regretted afterwards, and also when I'm with people I feel pressured to try to answer in a way that pleases them, which I'm not always pleased with when I think about it later! 

    Hope you enjoy chatting with us.

  • Hi I love astrophysics too! I hope your assessment goes well and it seems we are quite similar with what we are going through

  • Hello,

    Welcome to the community forum.

    Looks like we have similar interests as I like art and crafts. Mainly making cards. Ive made a bracelet using beads and gem stone wrapped in wire.

    Also I like reading, watching the birds and photography.

    To take my mind off I enjoy listening to music, colouring and puzzle books.

    Occasionally I go to Women's Institutes where I meet people and do different things. Looking forward to the next meeting on 1st April, afternoon playing board games.

    41 years old female from UK. Prefer online interaction as its instant messaging etc.

  • Nice to hear from you Glizbeth.

    Glizbeth said:
    I haven't really heard much good things about it from UK content creators

    Most people here have either been through the process of assessment / are awaiting one or are self-diagnosed and are happy with that.  I don't wish to disparage the content creators you've been viewing, but you might find a truer picture here, based upon more experiences.   

    I am not saying everyone has a great assessment process - far from it - but there are far more members here than there are content creators talking about ASD assessments!

    Most of us here will appreciate & understand your words about isolation & how hard it is to 'break the ice' and form meaningful relationships. 

    Glizbeth said:
    I'm not too sure about how terms are used in this community but if I used them wrong let me know. I love to learn.

    You'll pick up terms as you go along, but feel free to use your own.  If someone doesn't understand, they can ask - you've broken the ice !!

    Wall of text???   I do it ALL the time !!

    I'd personally go to the HOME page & enter some terms into the search bar, read some past posts & see where it leads you.  You'll be commenting & getting involved before you know it.