Just diagnosed

Wish I had been taught how to make friends, as odd as that sounds. And what not to do, to avoid losing them, what hurts others feelings. Sounds obvious but it wasn’t to me.

It would have helped me decades ago to know why other kids thought I was weird, I think knowing would have made it more ‘OK’ as at the time did not understand why I was bullied. Then again it could have made me more introverted to know I was different, but would have helped to have a reason. It’s important to know how to show friendship, find others with common interests, to be able to help build the social skill set that comes to neurotypicals naturally.

good luck to your daughter, everything will be OK  

Only when I first started driving - few motorcycle crashes, but nothing serious. I think being an aspie makes me a better driver - in situations time slows down and I see things in slow mo. I am virtually 'out of time' anyway - no concept of time passing by. So if someone skids out of control in front of me on the motorway it goes in slow mo and is easy to avoid.

The big thing I would like to have been told is that everything I do that appears 'odd' is a result of not being able to process stress and anxiety.     Literally everything can be boiled down to the hyper-anxiety of the "fear of the unknown" and all the stress that brings.

Sort out all the unknowns, have backup plans, safety nets and support and everything else can be manageable.

i am similar  ---- have u had any accidents ? I have been hit 3 times ( not my faults )

Of course - the first unexpected consequence was when they were gonna make it illegal for Aspies to drive!! FFS.... I know they did a u turn but for a few weeks it was looking like I would loose my license for getting diagnosed. I've driven about 400,000 miles in 31 years and suddenly someone thinks We as aspies were not fit to drive!

I wsih they'd have told me that I would be left in the lurch, alone, going through hardest ever change - mind and body - in my life, with no help or support or be able to talk to with someone who truly understands ASD. And that it would take years maybe decades to come to terms with it. 

I regret getting diagnosed now - although there is no  doubt I am seriously autisti, I was way happier masking to myself for 45 years. Getting diagnosed is like a HUGE gaslighting exercise. Totally changing your reality in a bad way. Its utterly pointless. Like Brexit - shooting yourself in the foot.

yes !

that you are still you, and having ASD doesn't mean you are (or should be) the same as all other people who also have ASD

the lack of post diagnosis support ? where to seek help eg this site