One thing that scares me about my autism

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Things to remember:

“Learning disability” means “intellectual disability” in the UK. People with “learning disabilities” in the US most frequently do not have an intellectual disability.

A person with a US “learning disability,” in the UK, is said to have “learning difficulty.”

The lifespan of a person with an intellectual disability can be shorter because of a genetic condition which affects lifespan.

In and of itself, people with “learning disabilities” in the US, or “learning difficulties” in the UK don’t have a reduced lifespan. Same with Asperger’s. It’s possible that co-morbids do reduce lifespan, but not inevitably.

People with learning disability tend to have poorer life outcomes in general, due to reduced income potential, reduced social success, and poorer life skills. It's not the disability that shortens lifespan, it is a poorer life in general.

In autism, "learning disability" is, I believe, primarily language learning difficulty, so it is the primary differentiator between aspergers and other forms of autism. I believe it DOESN'T refer to social learning.

I had language regression. While I seem to have mostly overcome it, it set me back socially during an important socializing period of childhood. While I have better communication skills than most people on the spectrum, I also seem to be less likable and less affable. I can interview alright, I can communicate with doctors alright, but in friend-making I seem to be as profoundly affected as anybody. And for getting anybody to help me with anything at all, oh, FFS.

Thanks, Isabella!

I think the only thing that might make me die young is the fact that I have sensory issues with pain and cannot cope with anything being inserted into me unless I'm under anaesthetic, so putting PAP tests and colonoscopies off is a surefire way to kill yourself should you get bowel cancer or cervical cancer, which are common. But the doctors won't put me under anaesthetic for that. So I just have to hope and pray that I don't get cancer.

You can accept this (the mind is a powerful tool) ; I choose not to. I am in good health and I plan on being around for a long time. Having Aspergers is advantageous. You can use your extreme focus to maintain better health. Some things I have done is incorporated a baby aspirin daily in my routine; also exercise 5 days a week; take 3-6-9-oil daily; meditate daily; avoid fast foods ( I personally feel fast-food restaurants should be held accountable for serving trash - high fat & low nutritional value) I also drink lots of water daily. You can accept this prognosis and it will happen. Instead I feel it's best to say screw-it and plan on living a long time.

It’s possibly for a disabled person to have a reduced lifespan. But to say that this is inevitable is wrong.

People should realize that they can sometimes hold off what is supposedly inevitable.

If I read that I have autism, and that means I’ll live 10 years less, I would study about where they came to this conclusion….not automatically assume that I will live 10 less years because I have autism.

People read something like this, and feels it automatically applies to them. Then they create self-fulfilling prophecies for themselves.

No one said it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, or that they want to have these risk factors.

I didn’t say that. Not at all.

Why in the world would I say that people “want” those risk factors.

All I’m saying is that a reduced lifespan is not inevitable when you’re disabled, and not to assume it automatically is.

Some people read pronouncements, and believe what they read automatically applies to them—so they must assume they have a reduced lifespan, and live accordingly.

OK thanks. I didn't see anyone saying it's automatically inevitable.

They were just explaining the reasons for statistics.

I have a feeling I'll be around a very long time.

I want you to be around a very long time!

With an excellent quality of life.

Thank you. You too.

I trust that everyone's doing the best they can.