Howdy, everyone!

Howdy, everyone! I am new to this server, but by no means new to all autism support groups. I would enjoy getting some perspectives on strategies that work for others who are on the spectrum and your feelings and emotions about living with autism, but also I long to make connections with others who are also on the spectrum. Since I was a kid, I knew I was unique and different than everyone else. I had uncommon gifts and my emotions were uncannily strong, so were my talents and energy. I tend to outlast the rest of my family and friends unfortunately. I am looking to maybe meet others like me. I am not sure if my hyperactivity and high levels of anxiety are more well related to my autism or well other disabilities, but I can easily do 48 hour days. Even my primary doctor says this is not healthy or normal. I am not sure what the solution is, but well even when I was a kid I would lay awake in bed at night and stare at the ceiling fan or watch the car lights pass the windows. I am 40 now, and well not much has changed. I heard every psychiatrist and medical source tell me autism is hardwired and for life, so does that mean I will be hyperactive and do 48 hour days for life. Not even meds stopped the 48 hour days. The meds tended to exaggerate my emotional disturbances, heighten my anxiety, and I had lots of negative side effects, dizziness, vertigo, and bad weight gain. The side effects outweighed the benefits. And I was using my willpower to do what the meds were unable to control. I am simply living out my wiring now instead of fighting it. I hear everyone my primary physician, my psychiatrist, my own mom and dad tell me it isn't good. I should fight my wiring and well make myself eat, shower, and well sleep regularly. I only do those things when I am able to. When I am in autistic burnout, I tend let regular self care go. My current situation is when I got back with my online gf even though our relationship is dead now, a glorified friendship I was able to at least brush my teeth, eat, and sleep somewhat more often. I see this is as a small victory, but well everyone else says I shouldn't date someone who treats me this way. We met in a virtual world I play online and as long as I have it I manage to survive without much if any real life interaction. I can't handle real life relationships anyways because of my autism. It is about my survival not the optimum romance or social life at this point. And she says it is ok if I see others on the side, so before that was the major issue that I couldn't remain exclusive with her. At this point, even though I have many talents, much knowledge (a jack of all trades sorta), and many skills mosty self taught I am not stable enough to work a job or live on my own. I know this is a long introduction, but I wanted to give everyone a good background and current status of my life as an autistic high functioning 40-year-old biological male.

Hello and welcome, @AspieGamer408. I hope you have a meaningful experience here.

Have you ever explored ADHD? There are quite a few folks here who have ADHD in addition to being autistic.

Glad to have you with us, @AspieGamer408

I agree with @Rodafina. You likely have ADHD on top of Autism. In other words, Autism with a ADHD comorbid. Folks here like to refer to it as AuDHD.

Aside from hyperactivity. Do you experience:

- Shifting/low attention span

- Feeling like you need to be doing something at all times.

- The need for constant stimulation, otherwise you are bored all the time.

- Find it difficult to do tasks you are not interested in, but are nessissary to your life.

- Anxiety to intense degrees about everything and everyone. (ie. Bombarding 'what if' thoughts constantly, a insecent and unhealthy level of uneasy feelings about certain environments and/or situations.)

Keep in mind. You don't need to have all these symptoms. But if any of this sound like you. Then you may likely have ADHD. Also. I may not of listed everything that goes with it. Others who DO have AuDHD, can help you more there.

Anyway. I hope you enjoy your time here with us. Don't be afraid to ask for help with anything you don't understand.

Welcome, and I agree that ADHD is a likely consideration.

AspieGamer408 said:

I am not sure if my hyperactivity and high levels of anxiety are more well related to my autism or well other disabilities, but I can easily do 48 hour days. Even my primary doctor says this is not healthy or normal. I am not sure what the solution is, but well even when I was a kid I would lay awake in bed at night and stare at the ceiling fan or watch the car lights pass the windows. I am 40 now, and well not much has changed. I heard every psychiatrist and medical source tell me autism is hardwired and for life, so does that mean I will be hyperactive and do 48 hour days for life. Not even meds stopped the 48 hour days. The meds tended to exaggerate my emotional disturbances, heighten my anxiety, and I had lots of negative side effects, dizziness, vertigo, and bad weight gain. The side effects outweighed the benefits. And I was using my willpower to do what the meds were unable to control. I am simply living out my wiring now instead of fighting it. I hear everyone my primary physician, my psychiatrist, my own mom and dad tell me it isn't good. I should fight my wiring and well make myself eat, shower, and well sleep regularly. I only do those things when I am able to. When I am in autistic burnout, I tend let regular self care go.

Click to expand...

You are you, no matter what others say. Everyone is different in how they handle things. This is ESPECIALLY true of us ASD folks. If 48 hours of no sleep doesn't cause any significant detraments. Then I'd not worry too much about it, then. Others will see it as a issue. But they are not you.

Medication is a tricky thing with ASD. Especially if you have a comorbid that typically is treated on it's own. Like ADHD, OCD, Bipolar Depression, etc. What may work on a condition in isolation, will not as much when it's a comorbid of Autism. Which sounds like what happened to you.

In my case. I have learned that my anxiety is largely psychosomatic. The SSRI I was taking for anxiety did work. But I found, on a bigger dose, that I grew more apathetic and less motivated to do anything. That's not me at all. So yeah. Meds can help, but it can mess with your Autism, more often than not. Sometimes all you can do is power through it yourself, without meds.

But as far as burning out. I'd try avoiding that, if you can. That'll help improve alot of things. You cannot change what happens with you. And it's okay.

Welcome.

No one knows you like you do. Not parents, not doctors, not autism specialists. If you like 48 hour days, go for it.

I’m 71 now and learned in my 60s that many of the things others told me were wrong for me didn’t understand autism and me.

HI and Welcome