Hi, new here. Looking to socialise to improve my mood, so…
I’ve been diagnosed with autism since I was sixteen, but (likely because I grew up with a younger brother with obvious high needs ASD) I only really started to realise what that meant for me when I was nineteen. Only realised at 20 that time freezing when exposed to bright sun was sensory overload, that lack of motivation was executive dysfunction and not daydreamy forgotfulness or laziness, the works.
I have OCD, started around 12, diagnosed at 15; and despite the fact that it may as well be a devil (or to put it more kindly and practice self-compassion, cheeky rats unknowingly chewing on the wrong wires), it’s directly due to it that I found out I had ASD. So, every cloud has its silver lining, and all that.
Never fit in with peers my own age, starting to get to be the age where I disagree with family a lot and, since they were my closest confidantes up until a while ago, that’s left me very lonely recently. I’ve considered getting in touch with somebody about a service dog, especially for when I get a house of my own (in this economy), but worry that everyone sees me as too well put together to actually benefit from one.
Mostly just looking to lurk or ask rare questions like ‘am I too high-functioning for a service dog’ or ‘how do I start looking for a house when I have no idea what the system/procedure for that is’.
Sorry for the ramble, and- oh- I know my username’s a bit long, so just call me Rat. I like rats.
