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Autism

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Raemond Nov 2023 4:25pm, 15 Nov 2023 11,078 posts	Quote Pin Raemond For the most part it seemed like I was able to get through life just fine before knowing I'm autistic, but there were always things I struggled with that other people didn't seem to. Not knowing that it was because my brain worked very differently meant that I thought I must not be trying hard enough, and so did everyone else. Now that I do know, I'm kinder to myself and can work out ways around the things I struggle with rather than thinking I should be able to push through them if I just try a bit harder.
EvilPixie Nov 2023 4:27pm, 15 Nov 2023 48,811 posts	Quote Pin EvilPixie that is really helpful Rae thanks for that insight
Homeless Kodo Nov 2023 4:44pm, 15 Nov 2023 2,116 posts	Quote Pin Homeless Kodo I have my first assessment next week with the local NHS Autism unit. It’s only taken 5 months, they said it would take at least a year from receipt of self assessments. If I am assessed as Autistic it won’t change much other than it will explain why I react to unexpected changes & disruption of routine like I do & why I prefer solitude/very few people to be around. I’ve been told all my life that I’m weird, awkward, difficult, useless which I’ve internalised. So understanding there’s a reason brain works differently will help with the shame & depression I have associated with all that.
Flatlander Nov 2023 5:17pm, 15 Nov 2023 2,964 posts	Quote Pin Flatlander Musashi that appears to be kind of response that many people have when they get their diagnosis. I personally didn't have shame and depression, but my diagnosis did explain things to me and, like Rae, enabled me to deal with my struggles in a way that suited me better. The friends I have told treat me no differently since they have known.
Flatlander Nov 2023 5:29pm, 15 Nov 2023 2,965 posts	Quote Pin Flatlander EvilPixie When I was a child (many decades ago, probably before autism was widely known about) I also was "never bad enough" for it to be a problem, it was only when I was older that it became one. Having a diagnosis at that time (even if diagnostic testing were available then) would have had no benefit since then there was no awareness, understanding, protection, or help. As a mature adult, it became beneficial for me to have a diagnosis to help with my hypersensitivities in hospital and other places, and explain to others (e.g. emergency services such as police) why I might not react or respond in the way that they would expect me to.
Flatlander Nov 2023 5:34pm, 15 Nov 2023 2,966 posts	Quote Pin Flatlander EvilPixie I hope that Gnome's diagnosis will help him in the way he hopes it will. There are some very good employers out there as several Fetchies have noted, either on this thread or in blogs, who have made adjustments to the work practices to enable the Fetchies to function better and without distress, i.e. do their work. Unfortunately, there are still some employers/bosses/colleagues who will use a person's autism against them, as JamieKai noted. As I wrote in my diagnosis blog 4 years ago, in one way, it might have been good for me to have had my diagnosis while I was still working, since Occupational Health would have got involved and might have given me some protection, and my colleagues might have been understanding. On the other hand, with the culture at work, it is more likely that I would have been ostracised even more for being weird and the attitudes of colleagues would have hardened. Whilst I would have had legal protection, that would have counted for nothing since my boss would have found legal ways to get rid of me. I am not sure what the situation is regarding informing a prospective employer of an autism diagnosis, whether non-disclosure would count as withholding pertinent information and therefore be a sackable offence. If it is disclosed, then hopefully a good employer will make adjustments to the job to get the best out of the applicant. If an employer doesn't even give an interview simply because of an autism disclosure, then they are probably not worth working for. Sorry, that was a bit long.
EvilPixie Nov 2023 5:35pm, 15 Nov 2023 48,814 posts	Quote Pin EvilPixie Thank you again these are making more sense now
DocM Nov 2023 5:44pm, 15 Nov 2023 48,404 posts	Quote Pin DocM my child diagnosed (about a year ago) with ASD and ADHD sailed through school seemingly with no problems at all. But their world fell apart when they moved off to independent living and initially we couldnt grasp why. Thats when they were then diagnosised (by the psychiatrist who they were referred to for their then severe depression). But since the diagnosis they have been able to understand why the rest of us are so ridiculously illogical and difficult to deal with, leading to them actively looking for strategies to deal with us. They still have a long way to go but I hate to think where they would be now without the diagnosis. they are now discovering who they actually are and where they might fit into wider society.
jelly Nov 2023 12:08am, 16 Nov 2023 5,846 posts	Quote Pin jelly It’s an interesting thing Flatlander, as I chose not to disclose my autism when I applied for this job, but most of my colleagues are aware. I worked before I knew I was autistic and I didn’t want it held against me!
Homeless Kodo Nov 2023 6:41pm, 16 Nov 2023 2,117 posts	Quote Pin Homeless Kodo Thanks Flatlander, that’s good to hear.