Midlife Crises.

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My Mum said before that what I have been through is a midlife crises and she did not think that I was on the autism spectrum. Ok, but what is a midlife crises? I don't own a Porsche or a Harley. I could not afford one if I wanted to.

A midlife crisis is when a person of middle age, usually 45 to 55 years old, goes through a "phase" where they experience stress, anxiety or depression over things such as aging, inevitable mortality or lack of accomplishments in life. But you don't have to go out and buy flashy expensive cars to be going through a midlife crisis. That's just a stereotype. I know because I'm going through one and I don't have any kind of car.

However, modern research has shown that most middle-aged people aren't actually going through a midlife crisis and some people don't believe its existence.

That sounds a lot like many of the members in their early thirties here... I suppose they're just symptoms of being unhappy with your life in general?

I have had several burnouts the last few years, though it could be breakdowns. I don't know. But with the shutdowns my Mum says "Everyone has them" and I need to ignore them. Uhmm. I don't think she realizes what they are as you can't ignore them! Not when your whole body stops working and your eyesight decides to go black and you are on the floor! I guess my Mum is too used to me doing that, but there again I have been doing it since I was a child... So it is normal for me.

Mountain Goat, your mother sure isn't getting the Parent of the Year Award.

She is a remarkable Mum. If it wasn't for her I don't know how I would survive. She just does not understand things and does not see herself as being on the spectrum. I was in the same position as over the last decade I can recall quite a few times where people noticed certain things and asked me if I was either autistic or had aspergers syndrome, and one guy told me I was an aspie. Due to the wierd circumstances, I just did not know what to think. But one thing was that I thought through my life that I was normal and everyone else was wierd! Haha! I ALWAYS felt different, but I thought that was because I had quite a different upbringing. My parents were different. My Mum thought in ways like I did which seemed to be different from my Dad. My Dads died about a decade ago but I was thinking he was NT, but I am certain now, that his sudden tempers which would slowly build up with stress or sudden changes to the plan, were meltdowns? If he was on the spectrum then he would be at the other side of the spectrum to what my Mum and I would be on... That is if we are on the spectrum.
Now my Mum and her sister (My aunt) reminded me so much of Aunt Silvie on the 1987 film called "Housekeeping", especially my Aunty!

dear mountaingoat me think your only awaiting diagnosis . Dont let terms tie your brain into knots
Lets just say your special .do you have any special sensory issues ? that you have noticed . beyond things that are hobbies .. daily stuff . Your Shut downs are in the least very suspect .So think the fact that your asking these questions , kinda points in the direction of someone, undiagnosed .

I know I'm different. Trying to work out if I am on the spectrum or not... I believe I must be as it is the first time in all my life that so many things make sense (That is if I am). But if I am not then nothing makes sense.
It was funny joinging this site because I started analysing every single little part of my life that I could think of! It was wierd. I joined just trying to find out if there was some sort of link between what I now know to be shutdowns, and what is described as a meltdown, because I saw some similarity via watching "Ask An Autistic" on youtube, and I could not work it out.
It has been a year since then and the first four to six months I was in shock because I kept finding out experiences, or traits that were similar to my own experiences. At first I was thinking "No. I am imagining it. It can't be!"
Am I or am I not? Big question! Haha.

think you may have answered your own question then ..... welcome to WP, MG ......looolz
when was finally diagnosed , so many years back .. Was not conceptually digesting the diagnosis.
It was a long realization , until realizing all the dots connected.
Cause had grown up with a non verbal sister .. so my ideation of Autism was dramatically different.
i was dramatically different . but recieved no favourable treatment whatsoever.
So my understanding of Autism was different .. now the dots connect and am very my through biggest part of life experience . My diagnosis gave great understanding to my lifes reality .

Thanks Jakki.