• Replies 17 replies
  • Subscribers 33 subscribers
  • Views 2399 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

does anyone else sometimes doubt they're autistic?

Jordan

I'm doubting I'm autistic because I don't have the stereotypical personality traits of autism, I'm quite talkative to people who I'm familiar with like I'm really shy when I first meet them, but I can do small talk about stuff I've heard and seen for today and what's gone on today etc. to someone who I'm comfortable with 

I'm not gifted nor am I good at maths and science, I wouldn't call myself intelligent, I have judged people before and I have not long ago, and I was proven wrong and I ended up liking the guy 

I'm not good at puzzles or riddles, it seems I don't fit in with autistic or none autistic people, feels kind of lonely or I'm just stupid 

I've also been on autism forums and sometimes I see "I hate when NT people do this" and sometimes I'm like "I do that though"

Parents

  • I can’t say that I do and I certainly wouldn’t like to comment on your personal situation and try to convince you to think or feel a certain way. However, I would also like to highlight the word ‘stereotypical’ that you made use of in your post.

    The features you made reference to are exactly that; stereotypes. Each autistic person doesn’t need to display any or all of the aspects you mentioned in order to be autistic. Rather, I like to think of the spectrum as a very broad thing, with people finding strengths and areas of difficulty within it. I like the phrase ‘when you’ve met an autistic person, you have met one autistic person’. My challenges, strengths and presentations are personal to me and will differ to the next autistic person. 

    I don’t know how useful you’ll find this post, but I just wanted to point out that many autistic people will be happily able to navigate the aspects you described, where as many will not. We are all unique to ourselves, but find commonality with those who experience the same as us or similar to us. So perhaps doubting whether an individual is autistic is something that is tricky when you consider the uniqueness of a person’s diagnosis, but equally, you are more than entitled to feel the way you do. The journey to self discovery is a long one, and is one I’m still on. 

    Best of luck with everything.

Reply

  • I can’t say that I do and I certainly wouldn’t like to comment on your personal situation and try to convince you to think or feel a certain way. However, I would also like to highlight the word ‘stereotypical’ that you made use of in your post.

    The features you made reference to are exactly that; stereotypes. Each autistic person doesn’t need to display any or all of the aspects you mentioned in order to be autistic. Rather, I like to think of the spectrum as a very broad thing, with people finding strengths and areas of difficulty within it. I like the phrase ‘when you’ve met an autistic person, you have met one autistic person’. My challenges, strengths and presentations are personal to me and will differ to the next autistic person. 

    I don’t know how useful you’ll find this post, but I just wanted to point out that many autistic people will be happily able to navigate the aspects you described, where as many will not. We are all unique to ourselves, but find commonality with those who experience the same as us or similar to us. So perhaps doubting whether an individual is autistic is something that is tricky when you consider the uniqueness of a person’s diagnosis, but equally, you are more than entitled to feel the way you do. The journey to self discovery is a long one, and is one I’m still on. 

    Best of luck with everything.

Children
No Data