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Hello, I'm not Sia.

Sia

Hello everybody.

My name isn’t Sia. The singer Sia once helped me feel empowered, and it's kind of ironic and funny now that she's considered a controversial name in the autistic community. Anyway…

I’m not new to the online community. I'm a long-time lurker who was diagnosed as autistic in January this year. I also have ADHD. My ADHD and autism were diagnosed in 2024 and 2026 respectively - to the surprise of absolutely nobody who knows me. At the time of writing, I'm 34.

With that said, I'm trying to reach out into supportive spaces where I can. It turns out that knowing a lot about autism and identifying as autistic (and ADHD!) still doesn't fortify you against the "But you were fine yesterday / last week / last month / last year / in your last job / when you were at school" brigade.

Here are a few things about me:

I have a brother with profound autism.

I currently work in the social care sector.

I love all kinds of music, especially metal, electronic music, 80s pop, and some genres I can't even begin to explain.

I love a good cover song.

I love oversized clothes.

I enjoy video games. I'm currently playing through Baldur’s Gate III and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, depending on the mood.

I love writing. It's incredibly therapeutic.

I play piano by ear.

I love learning. I recently completed a Level 3 mental health course just for the joy of it.

I’m either incredibly loud or incredibly quiet and "invisible". There's no middle ground.

I'm usually rubbish at remembering to check my messages, forums, and the like (thanks, ADHD), but I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's stories and maybe sharing some of my own. Or, maybe just have some lighthearted conversations about cover songs.

  • in reply to Sia

    I do love moths and butterflies, they have pretty amazing names, life cycles and such variety of wing to look at! 

    Sia said:
    It sounds like your daughter is learning some very important life lessons. Or, maybe she's teaching you?

    Yes indeed, it's a huge step that she's playing online, she's scared of real life games so it was lovely for her to teach me what she's gotten into, as its not my normal type of game! 

    I also saw you love Lion King, this was one of my super interests as a kid, I even had planned my own Lion-King-esque movie. I used to walk around the house singing the songs on my disc man (showing my age a bit there). And had a giant cuddly plush puppet.

    I look forward to more of your posts!

  • in reply to Lonehare12

    Hello and thank you Slight smile

    Sia write and directed a film called Music, about an autistic girl, that wasn't well received for a number of reasons. Mainly: she casted a (as far as is known) neurotypical girl as the lead character, and had a horrible attitude when confronted about her ideas of autistic representation. I'm able to 'separate the art from the artist' though, and I still enjoy some of her songs. 

  • in reply to Mads

    Hello to you and Mads! Is Mads friendly? An oversized jumper and a cuddly cat sounds like a dream to me.

  • in reply to DormouseAtRest_25

    Hello and thank you so much. This list is fantastic. I can't wait to discuss it with my highly respected musical teacher, and much loved dad. There are definitely some on the list that we both haven't heard before. I had a giggle at the enthusiastic and cheeky tone of the article as well.

  • in reply to Cinnabar_wing

    Thank you so much for your kind words. How beautiful are cinnabar moths? I have a soft spot for moth and butterfly friends. 

    It sounds like your daughter is learning some very important life lessons. Or, maybe she's teaching you?

    I'm looking forward to chatting more with everybody, and being more active in the community Slight smile

  • in reply to leveller61

    Ah, the AuDHD contradiction. "I need structure" but "ew, no not like that". "Yes, I have a to-do list written down somewhere - in the notebook I haven't seen for a week." Or: "I'm soul-destroyingly bored and I've got a free day… Too bad today is my designated, non-negotiable admin day, which the integrity of next week definitely relies on."

    I'm really glad you've found your way here while recovering from burnout too. It takes more courage and mental energy than people realise just to reach out and start connecting again.

     

    If you ever feel like chatting about music, AuDHD life, or finding some other bits of common ground, I'd be interested.

    P.s. Amy Winehouse's Valerie is the best Valerie.

  • Hi and welcome 

    Hope you settle in here soon.

    I love Sia BTW…her music… I don’t know about any of the controversy.

    Blush

  • Welcome to the community Sia. My names Joey Mads is my cat. Currently in oversized clothing because I love it and it makes me feel extremely cosy!

  • Hello and welcome.

    If you like an eclectic mix of music genres, covers in particular - this curated list by Turntable Kitchen, plus the lists and chat by people in its comments area, of 7+ years ago, provides a rewarding excursion:

    https://www.turntablekitchen.com/2016/07/the-26-best-covers-of-all-time/

    The number 1 spot went to Aretha Franklin's cover of "Respect" - which could be an Autism Community anthem - I feel.

  • I found out December 25 and Feb 26 about my AuDHD, I’m new here too I’m hoping to find some like minded individuals. I play a lot of girly gamer games such as sims, schedule 1, star dew valley , supermarket simulator the list goes on. I’d love to chat more about why you went on to get tested x

  • Hey Sia, lovely to talk to you! 

    Congrats I hope on the recieving both your diagnosis at last, I hope it is a positive thing for you! Fellow gamer here, though I don't always get to pick these days, (tonight my daughter was getting me to play capture the flag on Minecraft with her). That's incredibly cool you play piano by ear, you must have a good sense of music!

    I like wildlife a lot, hence my username. It is really satisfying to learn more about subjects that fascinate you!

    Hope to chat with you more, enjoy the forum!

  • Hi  . My name isn't Leveller61 either but I studied the English Civil War and was excited by the Leveller movement - their radicalism appealed to my autistic sense of justice. I like the band named after them as well.

    I am also a AuDHDer, diagnosed with both last year.  Life isn't dull with the contradictions and push-and-pull of AuDHD! One week for me it's 'I need structure' then it's 'no, boring, can't stick to that, let's be creative'.

    I love music (lots of), nature, reading, cooking and I have a dog. I am recovering from deep burnout, so investing a chunk of time here to find my tribe and hopefully make some new ND friends.

    Very happy to riff on music or AuDHD or other stuff. Two very good covers: Don't Leave Me This Way as done by The Communards, and Valerie as done by Amy Winehouse.