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Late diagnosis and childhood memories

Catlover

To those who were diagnosed post 40, thinking back, what are some ‘autistic’ things you can now recall you used to do?

I had a flashback just now, of when I was about 5 at break in school. I used to enjoy observing the grass, and all the different types of plants that grew there. I especially liked clover, and would always try to find one with 4 leaves Rolling eyes I liked the tiny insects as well. Also, I would always imitate sounds (still do, but not quite as often). 

Parents

  • My mum often told me that when I was young I would sit on the floor and arrange all my toys in a semi circle around me. I still do this today, but the toys have been replaced by a laptop, cup of coffee, cigarettes, phone and whatever else I happen to need nearby.

    When I was a child I would hum the theme tune to my favourite TV shows while banging my head against my pillow to get to sleep, it took years of practice to unlearn that habit. These days I just think myself to sleep.

    I was at the park with my mum once, and mistook a dead, stiff, leaf that had fallen on the back of my hand as some kind of insect that was attacking me. The points of the leaf that were touching my hand felt painful. Screamed and ran to my mum. She didn't understand.

  • in reply to Cat Waiter

    I did the arranging stuff too.  And that's never changed.  As much as I adore my son, I was completely useless at the "Mummy, can you play with me?" business.  Given a pile of play people knights and kit, all I could do was sort them out, so all the right knights had all the right kit and were nicely lined up.  To quote my son:  "Mummy, you're no fun".  Ahhh well...

  • in reply to Dawn

    Yeah it's really annoying, these days I usually end up arranging stuff right before I leave the house and end up being late because of it. Right before I leave the house I'll think 'Ooh I'll just tidy the coffee table', 40 mins later I've tidied the coffee table, put the rubbish in the wheelie bin and a variety of other small tasks. Its amusing but causes me no end of problems with time management.

  • in reply to Dawn

    It seems that way, thankfully my support worker suggested I make an appointment to see her manager who has much more experience dealing with mental health issues. When I saw the manager she had some understanding of my issues, and agreed with me that it would be a good idea for me to ask my GP for a referral to an occupational therapist, she also said she might assign a different support worker to me.

    I wrote down pretty much my entire life story and examples of what's going on in my head to show to both my support worker and MindsMatter (when I'm able to self refer to them again) in hopes that I might be able to communicate all this better in writing than I can with speech. Maybe this time they'll all get it. Hopefully.

  • in reply to Cat Waiter

    I think someone neglected to train your support worker, and sadly it sounds like you'll have to train her.

  • in reply to Dawn

    You're where I was before I lost my mum. Her arthritis got worse and worse over the years before she died and I had to take up housework, but due to my major procrastination problem I wasn't able to do a good job of it. Wish I could have done better for her during that time of her life after everything she did for me.

    As for people not listening, that doesn't surprise me, the support worker I have now outright told me she doesn't get why I can't do things without being prompted, because she's spent her career caring mostly for physically disabled people. Autism seems to be the kind of thing you can only understand if you have some amount of lived experience with it.

Reply
  • in reply to Dawn

    You're where I was before I lost my mum. Her arthritis got worse and worse over the years before she died and I had to take up housework, but due to my major procrastination problem I wasn't able to do a good job of it. Wish I could have done better for her during that time of her life after everything she did for me.

    As for people not listening, that doesn't surprise me, the support worker I have now outright told me she doesn't get why I can't do things without being prompted, because she's spent her career caring mostly for physically disabled people. Autism seems to be the kind of thing you can only understand if you have some amount of lived experience with it.

Children
  • in reply to Dawn

    It seems that way, thankfully my support worker suggested I make an appointment to see her manager who has much more experience dealing with mental health issues. When I saw the manager she had some understanding of my issues, and agreed with me that it would be a good idea for me to ask my GP for a referral to an occupational therapist, she also said she might assign a different support worker to me.

    I wrote down pretty much my entire life story and examples of what's going on in my head to show to both my support worker and MindsMatter (when I'm able to self refer to them again) in hopes that I might be able to communicate all this better in writing than I can with speech. Maybe this time they'll all get it. Hopefully.

  • in reply to Cat Waiter

    I think someone neglected to train your support worker, and sadly it sounds like you'll have to train her.