Page 1 of 2 [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next


Were you relieved when you discovered you have Asperger's?
Yes, it explains a lot. 80%  80%  [ 8 ]
Not Sure 10%  10%  [ 1 ]
Not happy about it but it helps to know. 10%  10%  [ 1 ]
Not really 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 10

NumberFive
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 9 May 2021
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 11
Location: California

09 May 2021, 3:17 pm

Hello!

I've suspected for years that I have Asperger's but I didn't pursue a diagnosis.

But recently I was reading about an art historian & BBC presenter who revealed he has Asperger's and that inspired me to look into it again. After reading adult accounts of Asperger's and reading through more literature, I felt like I was reading through my own history. So many things I never understood about myself suddenly made sense. It's a relief.

I'm happy to have found this community and look forward to meeting other adults who deal with similar issues.


_________________
I'm a visual artist who loves dogs, gardening, cooking and making things with my hands.

I've been like this all my life so I don't think changing is a realistic option. I'm going for acceptance and maybe even celebration.


Dry Dry Sea
Raven
Raven

Joined: 9 May 2021
Gender: Male
Posts: 115
Location: Earth or Oslo

09 May 2021, 3:35 pm

Hello Number 5 :)

I'm technically also new. I wanted to say Hi. I say hi to almost everyone i meet.

Technically I was a "Lurker"


_________________
A Believer is a word which come from the word (امن) so the person here is called (مؤمن) ... a Believer is essentially a Source of Peace and Security - Arabic/Polyglot


Mountain Goat
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 13 May 2019
Gender: Male
Posts: 14,202
Location: .

09 May 2021, 3:52 pm

Hello new people.


_________________
.


Double Retired
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 31 Jul 2020
Age: 69
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,143
Location: U.S.A.         (Mid-Atlantic)

09 May 2021, 5:08 pm

Though I think a better word would've been "happy". It really did explain a lot...and there was a lot to explain because I was 64 when I got the diagnosis.

Technically, I was diagnosed per DSM-5 so my primary diagnosis is Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1 (Mild)--but I provided the psychologist with enough information about my first year of life that she was able to determine I also met the criteria formerly associated with Asperger's Syndrome.


_________________
When diagnosed I bought champagne!
I finally knew why people were strange.


cbd
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

Joined: 12 Apr 2021
Gender: Male
Posts: 246

09 May 2021, 6:13 pm

Welcome NumberFive

i knew what i was looking at way ahead of anybody else really acknowledging it .. only just persuing diagnosis .

i pick people at pretty quick cos once you know what you're looking for it's obvious .

another good thing is to look at famous examples of people with ASD

Lionel Messi
Elon Musk
Bill Gates
Jay-Z
Robin Van Persie
Floyd Mayweather

Christiano Ronaldo (suspected)
David Beckham (suspected)

.. some are unconfirmed . but i know



HeroOfHyrule
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 4 May 2020
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Posts: 9,247

09 May 2021, 6:18 pm

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

I found that realizing I was autistic was very relieving and helpful. I'm glad to hear that it has helped you understand yourself better. :D



NumberFive
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 9 May 2021
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 11
Location: California

09 May 2021, 7:11 pm

Hi HeroOfHyrule

Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful for you too. :)


_________________
I'm a visual artist who loves dogs, gardening, cooking and making things with my hands.

I've been like this all my life so I don't think changing is a realistic option. I'm going for acceptance and maybe even celebration.


Last edited by NumberFive on 09 May 2021, 7:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

NumberFive
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 9 May 2021
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 11
Location: California

09 May 2021, 7:14 pm

Hi cbd

Thanks for the examples - I've been looking for visual artists who were/are autistic. it helps to see how others do things.


_________________
I'm a visual artist who loves dogs, gardening, cooking and making things with my hands.

I've been like this all my life so I don't think changing is a realistic option. I'm going for acceptance and maybe even celebration.


NumberFive
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 9 May 2021
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 11
Location: California

09 May 2021, 7:22 pm

Hi Double Retired,

I'm glad it made you happy - it does explain so much. I's a little unnerving for me to see how much. I'd like to find someone who could help me with a diagnosis. I've been diagnosed with major depression and anxiety and I think the autism is a part of that.


_________________
I'm a visual artist who loves dogs, gardening, cooking and making things with my hands.

I've been like this all my life so I don't think changing is a realistic option. I'm going for acceptance and maybe even celebration.


NumberFive
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 9 May 2021
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 11
Location: California

09 May 2021, 7:24 pm

Thank you Mountain Goat!


_________________
I'm a visual artist who loves dogs, gardening, cooking and making things with my hands.

I've been like this all my life so I don't think changing is a realistic option. I'm going for acceptance and maybe even celebration.


NumberFive
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 9 May 2021
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 11
Location: California

09 May 2021, 7:26 pm

Hi Dry Dry Sea

Welcome to you too! I'm going to try really hard not to lurk. I think a lot of my fears about participating won't be an issue here. :)


_________________
I'm a visual artist who loves dogs, gardening, cooking and making things with my hands.

I've been like this all my life so I don't think changing is a realistic option. I'm going for acceptance and maybe even celebration.


cbd
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

Joined: 12 Apr 2021
Gender: Male
Posts: 246

10 May 2021, 6:57 am

NumberFive wrote:
Hi cbd

Thanks for the examples - I've been looking for visual artists who were/are autistic. it helps to see how others do things.


Stephen Wiltshire Being one of the most Promenant modern examples . His Broad attention to detail is phenomenal.

from looking on Google .. many examples of Austic Artists border Surreal / Abstract Artistic direction



NumberFive
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 9 May 2021
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 11
Location: California

10 May 2021, 8:53 am

Thank you cbd!


_________________
I'm a visual artist who loves dogs, gardening, cooking and making things with my hands.

I've been like this all my life so I don't think changing is a realistic option. I'm going for acceptance and maybe even celebration.


Double Retired
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 31 Jul 2020
Age: 69
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,143
Location: U.S.A.         (Mid-Atlantic)

10 May 2021, 10:12 am

NumberFive wrote:
Hi Double Retired,

I'm glad it made you happy - it does explain so much. I's a little unnerving for me to see how much. I'd like to find someone who could help me with a diagnosis. I've been diagnosed with major depression and anxiety and I think the autism is a part of that.
Happy...yes.

I started wondering if I had some medically-defined difference when I was in my mid-50's. "Autism" wasn't something I even considered...because I knew so little about it. When I was 64 life gave me a hint, I and my bride started doing research on the Internet, and everything fit! That lead me to getting a formal assessment.

Being in my 60's and blissfully retired gave me an ideal vantage point. I wasn't learning about obstacles in front of me. I was learning about all of the obstacles that I had muddled my way past already. So I was happy to find out it wasn't my imagination, my path had had obstacles that NTs didn't face and I'd done OK.

I assume the younger you are the less happy the diagnosis would be. For someone young it's a warning of obstacles yet to be met.

When I started a search for someone to do an adult autism assessment I found this link very helpful:

https://www.findapsychologist.org/

I looked for psychologists near me that took patients my age and worked with autism.

Apparently adult autism assessments aren't in big demand so their web pages might not mention it. When I first called the psychologist practice that did my assessment the Office Manager didn't even know if they would do an adult autism assessment...she had to ask the psychologists if they did.

Do not worry about ABA certification! That is for treatment and apparently few psychologists have that certification. My insurance provider incorrectly told me I needed a psychologist with ABA certification and that delayed the process by months.

Good luck!


_________________
When diagnosed I bought champagne!
I finally knew why people were strange.


autisticelders
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 23 Feb 2020
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,946
Location: Alpena MI

11 May 2021, 5:35 am

Definitely a relief, looking at my long and painful life from the new perspective of being autistic made all the difference. At my old age it took a lot of sorting of past experiences, but it has been healing and helpful. I was so glad to know I was not a bad person and that everything was not "all my fault" all those years. It has made a world of difference to my peace of mind to have explanations for so much of the horrors of the past and to be able to adjust my life to do better today. I will be 70 this year and I began to suspect my autism around age 65. Welcome. You are not alone!


_________________
https://oldladywithautism.blog/

"Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.” Samuel Johnson


NumberFive
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 9 May 2021
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Posts: 11
Location: California

11 May 2021, 8:26 am

Hi Double Retired,

Thanks for all the info - I appreciate it!


_________________
I'm a visual artist who loves dogs, gardening, cooking and making things with my hands.

I've been like this all my life so I don't think changing is a realistic option. I'm going for acceptance and maybe even celebration.