Kitty data ghost
New Member
I'm not asking for anyone to tell me if they think I'm on the spectrum or to what degree. It just ever since a few months ago when thing got so hard that being autistic was a possible option I've been stuck on understanding it and how it presents in me. I just need to share with some so I can feel like I've finished it and I can send it to the doctor evaluating me and just try to focus on everything else I have going on.
# Personal Background and Current Concerns
### Age
- 25 years old
### Occupation
- Involves structured tasks within the banking sector
### Reason for Assessment
- Seeking a diagnosis to better understand personal experiences that may align with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
## Social Communication and Interaction
### Discomfort and Sensory Overload
- Experiences discomfort in crowded environments; uses noise-canceling headphones to manage sensory overload.
- **Example:**
- "Last Halloween, before I started using noise-canceling headphones, I went to a haunted house with a few friends. It was cold and wet, the line was long and crowded, and loud music was blaring from the entrance. While my friends seemed to enjoy themselves despite the conditions, I found it overwhelming. By the time we got to the entrance, I was no longer looking forward to the experience; I was just focused on getting in and out of the building. My memory of the event is patchy—I only recall entering, leaving, and then being back at the start of the line talking to my friends. The haunted house wasn't scary, but I don't remember anything from it. I didn't even notice one of the actors following me until a friend pointed him out."
### Eye Contact and Social Cues
- Struggles with maintaining eye contact and often misses subtle social cues, leading to misunderstandings in social interactions.
- **Example:**
- "I struggle with maintaining eye contact and often find it easier to look at someone's face instead of their eyes. This way, I can focus on their words without feeling overwhelmed by the additional information eye contact requires me to process. For instance, when I visited my ex-boyfriend's family for dinner, there were about eight of his family members present. After dinner, I was told that I kept missing social cues and needed prompting from my boyfriend. I answered questions too directly and missed several jokes. At one point, his great-uncle made an impolite joke about my skin color, and I was confused when everyone went silent because the sudden silence threw me off."
### Structured vs. Casual Conversations
- Manages professional interactions effectively using structured scripts; finds casual conversations challenging and stressful.
- **Example:**
- "I rely on scripts for most conversations, especially in professional settings. When I don't have a script, I often need to pause and think carefully before responding to ensure I don't miss details or say things out of order. Vague questions are particularly challenging because I find it difficult to generate a response without specific context. For example, when our senior VP recently asked us what our clients were saying, I had to rephrase the question to myself because I couldn't immediately determine whether he meant feedback about our accounts, credit cards, or something else."
## Behavioral Patterns and Routine
### Routine and Predictability
- Strong preference for routine and predictability; becomes upset and anxious if routines are disrupted.
### Repetitive Behaviors
- Engages in repetitive behaviors as coping mechanisms during stress or discomfort.
### Structured Environment
- Establishing a rigid routine and environment that minimizes unexpected changes helps manage anxiety and sensory sensitivities.
## Sensory Sensitivities
### Overwhelmed by Noises
- Particularly in crowded places; uses adaptive strategies like noise-canceling headphones.
- **Example:**
- "Last Halloween, before I started using noise-canceling headphones, I went to a haunted house with a few friends. It was cold and wet, the line was long and crowded, and loud music was blaring from the entrance. While my friends seemed to enjoy themselves despite the conditions, I found it overwhelming. By the time we got to the entrance, I was no longer looking forward to the experience; I was just focused on getting in and out of the building. My memory of the event is patchy—I only recall entering, leaving, and then being back at the start of the line talking to my friends. The haunted house wasn't scary, but I don't remember anything from it. I didn't even notice one of the actors following me until a friend pointed him out."
### Discomfort with Touch
- Experiences discomfort with unexpected touch, preferring to control physical contact.
- **Example:**
- "I find skin-to-skin contact particularly uncomfortable. It can feel like the other person is wearing a glove of needles or fiberglass. While I have fewer issues if I'm touched on my clothing or if the other person is wearing gloves, I still find it distracting. It often feels as though the person's hand is bigger or they are applying more pressure than they actually are."
### Clothing and Lighting Preferences
- Prefers soft, tight clothing for a sense of security and comfort; favors dim lighting to avoid sensory overload.
- **Example:**
- "I've always disliked clothes with tags or fabrics that feel scratchy or stiff. Loose-fitting clothing makes me feel hotter, even though most people wear it to stay cool. I prefer tight-fitting clothing that hugs my body and isn't too loose. I've also found that wearing fingerless compression gloves provides a bit of resistance to my hands, which I enjoy. Regarding lighting, while I don't mind bright lights, they become annoying if I'm already feeling nervous, which is often. At work, I chose a more dimly lit station to avoid feeling like I'm on center stage. At home, I turn off the main lights in the living room because they feel too bright at times and use a lamp with soft bulbs. I've always kept only one bulb in any ceiling fans in my room, pointing it at the wall I tend not to face. Alternatively, I use smart bulbs that I can dim when needed and never have them above 50-60% brightness."
## Developmental History
### Early Social and Sensory Sensitivity
- Described as sensitive and unsocial from a young age; had delays in speech development and late toilet training milestones.
### Childhood Routine
- Strict routines were essential for comfort and security; disruptions caused significant distress.
## Current Challenges and Adaptations
### Daily Planner Use
- Uses a daily planner to manage tasks and reduce anxiety; still adapting to this tool.
### Written Feedback
- Prefers written feedback to verbal feedback as it allows time to process and respond appropriately.
### Coping Strategies
- Developed effective coping mechanisms to manage daily life, masking some challenges to appear more "high functioning."
## Interests and Skills
### Deep Interest in Video Games and Media Lore
- Intense focus on video games, RPGs, and media lore; spends considerable time researching and engaging with these interests.
### Online Engagement
- Active in online forums; finds misinformation particularly frustrating and difficult to ignore.
## Social Preferences and Friendships
### One-on-One Interactions
- Prefers one-on-one interactions or small groups with familiar individuals.
### Friendships Based on Shared Interests
- Makes friendships based on shared interests but finds maintaining them challenging without regular, structured activities.
## Reaction to Feedback or Criticism
### Initial Defensive Reaction
- Initially feels defensive; works on recognizing and differentiating between constructive and deconstructive criticism.
### Preference for Hands-on Examples
- Understands and applies feedback more effectively when given practical, hands-on examples.
## Reflections on Childhood
### Childhood Environment
- Grew up in a suburban area (Rosenberg, near Houston).
### Family Structure
- Lived with mother, father, and older brother; close relationship with maternal grandmother.
### Favorite Spaces
- Preferred the computer room or upstairs playroom at home; favored the far corner of the playground on a swing at school.
### Social Interactions
- Preferred solitary play; experienced difficulties and exclusion in peer interactions; often misunderstood in social settings.
### Educational Experiences
- Initially excelled in science; struggled with reading and maintaining academic performance in later grades.
### Family Dynamics
- Routine was critical; experienced both harsh and indifferent responses to mistakes or challenges from family members.
### Sensory Sensitivities and Habits
- Disliked lotions, overwhelmed by crowds, preferred specific dietary textures, enjoyed spinning and being tightly wrapped in blankets.
## Additional Insights
### Friend Observations
- Friends have noted traits aligning with being on the spectrum, describing you as "high functioning" due to effective coping strategies.
### Masking and Camouflaging
- Have developed skills to mask and camouflage autistic traits, which may lead to appearing more neurotypical to those not closely familiar with you.
### Context-Specific Functioning
- Functioning well in structured, predictable environments but facing more challenges in unstructured or socially demanding settings.
### Impact on Daily Life
- Coping mechanisms help manage daily life, but there is a significant impact on well-being and functioning, especially in sensory-rich environments or with routine disruptions.
# Personal Background and Current Concerns
### Age
- 25 years old
### Occupation
- Involves structured tasks within the banking sector
### Reason for Assessment
- Seeking a diagnosis to better understand personal experiences that may align with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
## Social Communication and Interaction
### Discomfort and Sensory Overload
- Experiences discomfort in crowded environments; uses noise-canceling headphones to manage sensory overload.
- **Example:**
- "Last Halloween, before I started using noise-canceling headphones, I went to a haunted house with a few friends. It was cold and wet, the line was long and crowded, and loud music was blaring from the entrance. While my friends seemed to enjoy themselves despite the conditions, I found it overwhelming. By the time we got to the entrance, I was no longer looking forward to the experience; I was just focused on getting in and out of the building. My memory of the event is patchy—I only recall entering, leaving, and then being back at the start of the line talking to my friends. The haunted house wasn't scary, but I don't remember anything from it. I didn't even notice one of the actors following me until a friend pointed him out."
### Eye Contact and Social Cues
- Struggles with maintaining eye contact and often misses subtle social cues, leading to misunderstandings in social interactions.
- **Example:**
- "I struggle with maintaining eye contact and often find it easier to look at someone's face instead of their eyes. This way, I can focus on their words without feeling overwhelmed by the additional information eye contact requires me to process. For instance, when I visited my ex-boyfriend's family for dinner, there were about eight of his family members present. After dinner, I was told that I kept missing social cues and needed prompting from my boyfriend. I answered questions too directly and missed several jokes. At one point, his great-uncle made an impolite joke about my skin color, and I was confused when everyone went silent because the sudden silence threw me off."
### Structured vs. Casual Conversations
- Manages professional interactions effectively using structured scripts; finds casual conversations challenging and stressful.
- **Example:**
- "I rely on scripts for most conversations, especially in professional settings. When I don't have a script, I often need to pause and think carefully before responding to ensure I don't miss details or say things out of order. Vague questions are particularly challenging because I find it difficult to generate a response without specific context. For example, when our senior VP recently asked us what our clients were saying, I had to rephrase the question to myself because I couldn't immediately determine whether he meant feedback about our accounts, credit cards, or something else."
## Behavioral Patterns and Routine
### Routine and Predictability
- Strong preference for routine and predictability; becomes upset and anxious if routines are disrupted.
### Repetitive Behaviors
- Engages in repetitive behaviors as coping mechanisms during stress or discomfort.
### Structured Environment
- Establishing a rigid routine and environment that minimizes unexpected changes helps manage anxiety and sensory sensitivities.
## Sensory Sensitivities
### Overwhelmed by Noises
- Particularly in crowded places; uses adaptive strategies like noise-canceling headphones.
- **Example:**
- "Last Halloween, before I started using noise-canceling headphones, I went to a haunted house with a few friends. It was cold and wet, the line was long and crowded, and loud music was blaring from the entrance. While my friends seemed to enjoy themselves despite the conditions, I found it overwhelming. By the time we got to the entrance, I was no longer looking forward to the experience; I was just focused on getting in and out of the building. My memory of the event is patchy—I only recall entering, leaving, and then being back at the start of the line talking to my friends. The haunted house wasn't scary, but I don't remember anything from it. I didn't even notice one of the actors following me until a friend pointed him out."
### Discomfort with Touch
- Experiences discomfort with unexpected touch, preferring to control physical contact.
- **Example:**
- "I find skin-to-skin contact particularly uncomfortable. It can feel like the other person is wearing a glove of needles or fiberglass. While I have fewer issues if I'm touched on my clothing or if the other person is wearing gloves, I still find it distracting. It often feels as though the person's hand is bigger or they are applying more pressure than they actually are."
### Clothing and Lighting Preferences
- Prefers soft, tight clothing for a sense of security and comfort; favors dim lighting to avoid sensory overload.
- **Example:**
- "I've always disliked clothes with tags or fabrics that feel scratchy or stiff. Loose-fitting clothing makes me feel hotter, even though most people wear it to stay cool. I prefer tight-fitting clothing that hugs my body and isn't too loose. I've also found that wearing fingerless compression gloves provides a bit of resistance to my hands, which I enjoy. Regarding lighting, while I don't mind bright lights, they become annoying if I'm already feeling nervous, which is often. At work, I chose a more dimly lit station to avoid feeling like I'm on center stage. At home, I turn off the main lights in the living room because they feel too bright at times and use a lamp with soft bulbs. I've always kept only one bulb in any ceiling fans in my room, pointing it at the wall I tend not to face. Alternatively, I use smart bulbs that I can dim when needed and never have them above 50-60% brightness."
## Developmental History
### Early Social and Sensory Sensitivity
- Described as sensitive and unsocial from a young age; had delays in speech development and late toilet training milestones.
### Childhood Routine
- Strict routines were essential for comfort and security; disruptions caused significant distress.
## Current Challenges and Adaptations
### Daily Planner Use
- Uses a daily planner to manage tasks and reduce anxiety; still adapting to this tool.
### Written Feedback
- Prefers written feedback to verbal feedback as it allows time to process and respond appropriately.
### Coping Strategies
- Developed effective coping mechanisms to manage daily life, masking some challenges to appear more "high functioning."
## Interests and Skills
### Deep Interest in Video Games and Media Lore
- Intense focus on video games, RPGs, and media lore; spends considerable time researching and engaging with these interests.
### Online Engagement
- Active in online forums; finds misinformation particularly frustrating and difficult to ignore.
## Social Preferences and Friendships
### One-on-One Interactions
- Prefers one-on-one interactions or small groups with familiar individuals.
### Friendships Based on Shared Interests
- Makes friendships based on shared interests but finds maintaining them challenging without regular, structured activities.
## Reaction to Feedback or Criticism
### Initial Defensive Reaction
- Initially feels defensive; works on recognizing and differentiating between constructive and deconstructive criticism.
### Preference for Hands-on Examples
- Understands and applies feedback more effectively when given practical, hands-on examples.
## Reflections on Childhood
### Childhood Environment
- Grew up in a suburban area (Rosenberg, near Houston).
### Family Structure
- Lived with mother, father, and older brother; close relationship with maternal grandmother.
### Favorite Spaces
- Preferred the computer room or upstairs playroom at home; favored the far corner of the playground on a swing at school.
### Social Interactions
- Preferred solitary play; experienced difficulties and exclusion in peer interactions; often misunderstood in social settings.
### Educational Experiences
- Initially excelled in science; struggled with reading and maintaining academic performance in later grades.
### Family Dynamics
- Routine was critical; experienced both harsh and indifferent responses to mistakes or challenges from family members.
### Sensory Sensitivities and Habits
- Disliked lotions, overwhelmed by crowds, preferred specific dietary textures, enjoyed spinning and being tightly wrapped in blankets.
## Additional Insights
### Friend Observations
- Friends have noted traits aligning with being on the spectrum, describing you as "high functioning" due to effective coping strategies.
### Masking and Camouflaging
- Have developed skills to mask and camouflage autistic traits, which may lead to appearing more neurotypical to those not closely familiar with you.
### Context-Specific Functioning
- Functioning well in structured, predictable environments but facing more challenges in unstructured or socially demanding settings.
### Impact on Daily Life
- Coping mechanisms help manage daily life, but there is a significant impact on well-being and functioning, especially in sensory-rich environments or with routine disruptions.
