Autism, Mental Health, Being a Highly Sensitive Person, Loneliness

Chris said:

how would i know if i have Autism or Mental Health or if im just a highly sensitive person or just suffering from loneliness and rejection or if i have all of them

Some of this is going to sound obvious. If you feel lonely, you're probably lonely.  If you don't feel lonely, but think you're more alone than you want to be, you may also be lonely.  That and rejection aren't clinical diagnoses, and everyone is sensitive to some degree.

Without waiting 2 years for the assessment, do you think you're autistic, or do people around you? Autistic people are more often depressed or anxious than non-autistic people, and more often isolated, but being depressed and anxious isn't 'core' to what is being autistic. It doesn't mean you are.  What else makes you think you might be autistic?

Yes, it's hard to get answers, and it might not be a black and white answer. Do you need to wait for answers before you try to do things to improve your life and state of mind?

Chris said:

im not sure if i dont understand my emotions because i have suppressed them my whole life or if its because i dont know how to express them due to Autism

I was very confused by that same thing. I don't think my feelings are the same as many people would expect them to be, and I usually don't know what I'm feeling.  I don't think my feelings are either repressed or suppressed, but knowing I'm liable to depression I do try to not dwell on stuff and to do things that might make me feel better.

Talking to other people, professionals or friends or family or whoever, can help you find what's important to you. If you are having suicidal thoughts, you should definitely talk to whoever you can about them.  Samaritans on 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org/

Can you do something nice for yourself today?

Chris said:

how would i know if i have Autism or Mental Health or if im just a highly sensitive person or just suffering from loneliness and rejection or if i have all of them

Some of this is going to sound obvious. If you feel lonely, you're probably lonely.  If you don't feel lonely, but think you're more alone than you want to be, you may also be lonely.  That and rejection aren't clinical diagnoses, and everyone is sensitive to some degree.

Without waiting 2 years for the assessment, do you think you're autistic, or do people around you? Autistic people are more often depressed or anxious than non-autistic people, and more often isolated, but being depressed and anxious isn't 'core' to what is being autistic. It doesn't mean you are.  What else makes you think you might be autistic?

Yes, it's hard to get answers, and it might not be a black and white answer. Do you need to wait for answers before you try to do things to improve your life and state of mind?

Chris said:

im not sure if i dont understand my emotions because i have suppressed them my whole life or if its because i dont know how to express them due to Autism

I was very confused by that same thing. I don't think my feelings are the same as many people would expect them to be, and I usually don't know what I'm feeling.  I don't think my feelings are either repressed or suppressed, but knowing I'm liable to depression I do try to not dwell on stuff and to do things that might make me feel better.

Talking to other people, professionals or friends or family or whoever, can help you find what's important to you. If you are having suicidal thoughts, you should definitely talk to whoever you can about them.  Samaritans on 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org/

Can you do something nice for yourself today?