ASD1? 2? And 3?

[vergil96]

There really needs to be some research on what's taking place during this age, too many members here have a similar story of burning out in their 40s-50s.

Maybe increasing health problems factor in? I find that my autism symptoms get worse when I'm not feeling great physically, because it makes me feel tired. I find interacting with others at all challenging when tired.

 

[Kavigant]

There really needs to be some research on what's taking place during this age, too many members here have a similar story of burning out in their 40s-50s.

(raises hand) That's me; just fell apart in my fifties when counseling started to unravel my coping mechanisms

 

[Rachie]

I think severity levels do exist, but change can cause symptoms to flucuate. Many Austitic people may not be able to get support in the community if they do not have a learning disability. I have been able to see an OT because I was level 2 in the area they specialised in.

I haven't seen anything like 2E in any journals. Like sensory processing disorder it is not diagnosable.

I took a few days break from the forum as it seemed like people seemed to be questioning peoples diagnosis and noone can diagnose anyone online. The whole process to diagnosis is a nightmare in itself. I've not seen that before and was not that used to it. I've adjusted to it now. We shouldn't really be judging other peoples autism levels on the forum or whether they are autistic or not.

 

[Jonn]

it seemed like people seemed to be questioning peoples diagnosis

I was in a situation where ppl were actively disseminating disinformation about me not being autistic.
I am probably one of the most Sheldon-esque ppl on this website, in many areas.
Epic fail for my detractors.

 

[vergil96]

I was in a situation where ppl were actively disseminating disinformation about me not being autistic.
I am probably one of the most Sheldon-esque ppl on this website, in many areas.
Epic fail for my detractors.

I constantly heard my whole life that I have Asperger's. Based on stereotypes. Nerd? Aspergers. Introvert? Aspergers. Likes math? Aspergers. Monologue about math? Aspergers. Terrified of public speaking? Aspergers. I had people appraoch me with a "you don't get feelings!" kind of thing, but it wasn't true, I was just tired and wanted to go home and go to sleep or I was just not interested in small talk, I understand what is going on socially, but I don't necceserily want to talk about every subject and I'm somrtimes tired. But if you're passinate about math, that makes you in many people's eyes autistic *shrug*.

 

[Jonn]

I constantly heard my whole life that I have Asperger's.

But you do agree.
I am unmistakably autistic, right?

 

[vergil96]

But you do agree.
I am unmistakably autistic, right?

It's hard to tell just through your posts on the internet I've read *shrug* Not enough info.

 

[Jonn]

It's hard to tell just through your posts on the internet I've read *shrug* Not enough info.

Really?

I lack theory of mind.
I am emotionally clueless.
I work on cognitive empathy rather than inherent/organic.
I have an epic "Foot in Mouth" condition.
Totally obsessed with facts/Truth.
I am excessively/compulsively honest.
I have my special interests, e.g. in psychology.
I have executive dysfunction.
I have ADHD.
I have a delayed recognition of my emotions more often than not. (Alexithymia)

Spoiler

Call me a minor Sheldon, minus the genius I.Q. and be done with it.

 

[Kavigant]

@Jonn if it's not a bother, could you please share how lacking a theory of mind impacts your daily life? Do the actions of others seem completely random to you? (Honest curiosity/confusion, btw)

 

[Jonn]

@Jonn if it's not a bother, could you please share how lacking a theory of mind impacts your daily life? Do the actions of others seem completely random to you? (Honest curiosity/confusion, btw)

I am good at working out why ppl react the way they do after the event, but I am hopeless in predicting their responses to something I do and say.

 

[Kavigant]

I am good at working out why ppl react the way they do after the event, but I am hopeless in predicting their responses to something I do and say.

And you haven't been able, through years of observation, to assemble an internal database of likely reactions to various situations and reference that database?

 

[Kavigant]

I ask because it feels to me as though I have kind of a "manual work-around", intellectual subroutine that I run for dealing with the emotional responses of others, and even to figure out what I am (or should be) feeling at certain times.

 

[Jonn]

And you haven't been able, through years of observation, to assemble an internal database of likely reactions to various situations and reference that database?

"If you have met one NT, you have met one NT."

 

[vergil96]

Really?

I lack theory of mind.
I am emotionally clueless.
I work on cognitive empathy rather than inherent/organic.
I have an epic "Foot in Mouth" condition.
Totally obsessed with facts/Truth.
I am excessively/compulsively honest.
I have my special interests, e.g. in psychology.
I have executive dysfunction.
I have ADHD.
I have a delayed recognition of my emotions more often than not. (Alexithymia)

Spoiler

Call me a minor Sheldon, minus the genius I.Q. and be done with it.

I don't even know who Sheldon is other than a foctional character. I've never seen the film or series.

What you listed isn't obvious for a casual internet observer. I might have not read sufficiently many of your posts with sufficient attention. With the depth of information that I have, I haven't noticed anything unusual about you as an internet poster. What would strike me as immediately autistic would be something different about nonverbal communication (in text too, yes). Length, wording, rythm. Just overall style.

 

[Kavigant]

"If you have met one NT, you have met one NT."

Please know: I'm not judging you - I'm honestly trying to understand your experience by comparing/contrasting to my own.

I'm relatively new to the idea of being ASD1 myself, so I'm very interested in the experiences of other autists.

 

[Jonn]

Length, wording, rythm. Just overall style.

"Me"...
My favourite subject.

Well, trust me.
I am more than a little autistic.

What would strike me as immediately autistic would be something different about nonverbal communication (in text too, yes). Length, wording, rythm. Just overall style.

So you haven't noticed how precise/pedantic I write?
"Interesting."

Time to move on, me thinks.

 

[Jonn]

Please know: I'm not judging you - I'm honestly trying to understand your experience by comparing/contrasting to my own.

Well, context is very important.
The context I was using originally was interacting with strangers or casual acquaintances.

For example:
If someone new joins the forum, here, I have difficulty in remembering that they don't understand who I am and and are unfamiliar with my joking style.
Lacking theory of mind in this case causes me to expect that someone would know inherently that I am mostly harmless in good faith and am attempting playful banter.
Half the time it works...
Half the time it doesn't...

Most NTs, in particular, know to be very careful when getting to know a stranger, and they ease into "it".

Now consider:
My understanding of "Theory of Mind", or lack of it, based on The Sally–Anne test, is that we tend to assume others think the same and are on the same wavelength.

What is the theory of mind based on?




Theory of mind refers to the understanding that other individuals have mental states, such as knowledge, intentions, and beliefs (Premack and Woodruff, 1978). By understanding the mental states of other agents, an individual can make inferences about the causes of observable behaviors or predict future behaviors.

Theory of Mind, based on the Mary Jane - Google Suche

I have difficulty predicting the effect of what I say to another person.
Clearly, I lack inherent ToM.

In my case, however, I have built what I call "Intellectual Bridges", allowing me to usually understand the effect of what I have said after the event.
So, yes, I have built a data base to help me, in some cases, to understand what is happening.

I used to feel quite anxious when interacting with ppl bc of the uncertainty aspect, but these days, not so much, partly because I severely limit social interaction, and partly bc I greatly simplify the components of that interaction.

In real life, for example, I virtually never make jokes with strangers any longer.
It gives me peace in being able to control that impulse, these days.

 

[vergil96]

So you haven't noticed how precise/pedantic I write?

At least it's clear what you're saying and your posts aren't confused. Some people write and say word salad - it doesn't lead anywhere.

 

[Jonn]

At least it's clear what you're saying and your posts aren't confused. Some people write and say word salad - it doesn't lead anywhere.

More talk about me...
Yay!
I'll take it.

Yeah, some ppl who don't know me don't realise the amount of logical thought that goes behind what I say.
They learn, often at their cost, "Not to Mess with the Bull, or they will get the Horns."
I am not referring to you or anyone in this thread.

 

[vergil96]

I recently learnt the term "word salad". It's when somone speaks without a filter, stream of consciousness style. Sentences don't have a logical order, organisation. Even within one sentence, there can be confusion, e.g. "Bird roll drawer banans at". Less severe: "I went to the grocery shop, and it was raining in Chile. Let's go dance"