♾ If you are autistic, have you had any of the experiences in the video that are commonly mentioned by autistic adults? Drop what resonated with you and your thoughts in the comments! ⤵
@spiritoftheocean4110 Sorry for the change to your Friday routine... We left a message on the community board about the adjustment. We'll be keeping the new time consistent for a while, so hope you'll be able to join again soon? Missed having you there today!
@spiritoftheocean4110 I missed you in the chat today! In fact it was two hours early. And for next week three hours early due to the changing to winter time.
Is it just me or is this video especially hard to watch because of all the pain that comes up? I feel like i had to skip back a hundred and twelve times already... Chris, thank you for your videos, especially for your humorous ones. (Edited, because it sounded mean in retrospect) Also in case you ever run out of ideas... i personally would love to hear some tips that help on how to deal with doctors visits and the aftermath but also on invalidation you cant get away from in general.
Oh yes, and just me overexplaining things in a new way after getting a lot of "but aren't we all a little autistic?" recently... but also, all autistic people are so unique and different. Nothing is as clearcut or simple as one way when it comes to us autistic folks 😅
The first part made me wonder if maybe I’m not autistic. Because I can have fun talking with a bunch of people. And I can collaborate with a group. But then I thought about how stressed I feel and how much I hate those things. 😂 When I talk with a group, I am amazing for a couple of minutes and then I am desperate to leave and get out of it! In collaboration, I fake it. I do whatever I can to make the experience efficient and secretly I’m rolling my eyes and gritting my teeth. Decades of high masking
So true. My family, who are all ND can have multiple conversations at the same time and answer questions from different conversations but it's harder with NT people.
I love spending time with my clients who are on the spectrum! I couldn’t tell you why, but it’s almost a homecoming feeling, even if we just met. Sort of “here is My People”!
@@PamelaSConleyArtist As I've gotten older, that is not the case for me. I hear everything, and I can't tune out anything. One person speaking at a time is hard enough. 😂
Thank you for representing what it actually feels like to be autistic and the experiences that are truly difficult to explain. Your videos are spot on, every time, you have the perfect way of putting words together to identify the root point to every struggle! I hope every person looking to learn more about autism comes across your channel!
57 and finding myself having to rethink everything because I really thought I was neurotypical. My family laughs at me as I am constantly saying "but doesn't everybody . . ." and my family goes nope that's a common neurodivigent thing, mom!
This video quintupled down on my belief that I am autistic. I still ruminate about a company that told me to do something unethical - years later. I quit almost immediately. Oh, and interruptions and certain changes (move my stuff and watch me melt) - oh the wrath I feel inside. Multiple step activities - nope! Mailing a card might as well be learning nuclear physics. Too many steps and too much crap to do for something with a low return. They’ll get the card and it’ll likely be forgotten and in recycling in a week. Meanwhile, I keep certain cards indefinitely if they mean a lot. LOL!
I'm good at pretending to pretending to be good at group projects but I HATE them 🤣. I was a restaurant manager for years and couldn't understand how it seemed so easy for my coworkers while I was hanging on by a thread till I got fired. So now at 35 I feel like I'm putting my life back together. 🤦♂️
My father noticed that I didn't make eye contact when I was four. I was already reading at an adult level. My dad told me, "You need to learn to read faces like a book." I was so fascinated that there was lexical information in faces. So I learned to read faces "as a second language" -- it became a special interest, lol. And as a result, I had to learn to deal with eye contact. But a lot of what are being presented in this video is maybe more personal than general. I understand that they are anecdotal examples, but they weaken your generalization about what is or isn't typically autistic. Remember that undiagnosed adults have drunk the Kool Aid of their masking and may think they are doing just fine. So this video will be used by these people to not seek a diagnosis when they need one.
Wait, so the surgeries and tests I did to find out what was wrong with my body that it would physically bloat up and stab me for 5 days straight because of a social setting that made me uncomfortable isn’t just anxiety? Haha I don’t know why watching these videos always give me little reminders of why I firmly trust in the fact that I have ASD along with my diagnosed ADHD. I do wish my parents weren’t so scared of the diagnosis or else my childhood probably would’ve made a lot more sense. Like the constant lightning headaches, bullying, rash flare ups from certain fabrics, night terrors, going blind or getting fevers from panic attacks from wearing clothing that was too tight, etc. I wasn’t just sensitive or different or difficult, there actually was a reason all along
Peering into your own soul is the worst. I legit got scared of reflective surfaces for a while after I got creeped out by my own reflection. My AuDHD probably helped me forget about it, but still I don't let myself linger on that memory..
7:15 I can’t let go of people packing the dishwasher incorrectly! Nor can I let go of how badly it affects me to see visual chaos, cupboard doors open or even cups hung with dissimilar one!!!!
My biggest trouble with overlapping conversations is I can’t isolate voices. I hear everything on the other side of the room and can’t hear the person right in front of me. Sometimes I can lip read my way to success but that doesn’t always work.
Every point resonates with me! I’ve always just thought of myself as someone that gets frustrated a lot and is very irritable, can’t engage in normal conversation (often because I’m bored or disinterested) and dislikes being around people… but since my diagnosis, I now know WHY I’m like that. I’m not a crappy person - I’m autistic 😂
When my husband says that we need to go back the other direction in Costco because we forgot something, I physically feel ill in that exact moment and my brain freezes and I feel like I need to either go into autopilot or I need to stand there and just wait and pray to god I’m not standing in someone’s path lol When we have friends over, if they are there for more than a little while, I always have to excuse myself and lay down in the bedroom for a while and breathe and watch my own stuff or just let my heart stop panic beating. I always feel like I’m such a bad host but I can feel my anger and shortness rise faster and faster if I don’t do this. I’m so thankful for an understanding partner
I didn't get an diagnosis because I couldn't help but masking during the entire process (I'm female and the sessions lasted too short to having to drop the mask - my parents weren't alive anymore, so the childhood assessment couldn't be done). Giving them what I figured out they wanted to see - I'm also very good at that as the only label that I did get (at 35 or so) was "gifted". So it was my giftedness that was causing my discomfort. And now I feel even less understood. And I can't let go of that, the irony.
When you talk about the faint smell of the cleaning solution, I laughed. I can always tell when my husband puts on lotion, even if he did it in another room with a fan on, the window open, and the day before
Yes there is a lot of overlap in symptoms, which makes it so hard to get a proper diagnosis. Many doctors don’t have a full understanding of these issues.
Wait, people can control their brain? And it works? HOW?? I've learned to adapt pretty well, mostly by just listening, I don't talk in groups, unless I'm in charge. And people have to be careful of putting me in charge, I make people cry without meaning to. I rarely have meltdowns, shutdowns though, that's my life. I can't remember what it's like to not feel like this.
I can’t tell you how many times over the last few weeks I’ll be watching a video, and you’ll say or do something describing something you’re going through that triggering your autism, or how you physically react and I will verbally exclaim “oh God,no?!” While laughing and thinking get the fuck out of my head Chris!!! I have also cried so many tears of joy watching these videos. It’s helping me understand myself better and why I’ve had such a soft spot for autistic kids, especially my two cousins that were and are currently nonverbal. I remember looking at my cousin Josiah‘s eyes during one of his rages. His older brother was picking on him and he couldn’t get the words out, but I could hear him cussing his older brother out six ways to Sunday. After seeing your videos, I’m realizing we have several people on my mom side of the family that are high masking autistics
I'm doubting my autism soooo hard [not officially diagnosed] and was hopeful to be assured that I don't have it, but.... I guess I should go after that diagnosis after all and get that checked.
I don’t have trouble with eye contact in-person and don’t have hypersensitivity to textures/smells, but do identify with other autism/adhd symptoms and haven’t been able to cope well in life for the last year and a half. Is it just adhd and/or just perimenopause and/or also autism… it’s hard to figure out. Especially when governments aren’t even providing minimal support to autistic people who need lots of support. I’m finding your videos are helping me feel more open about how I feel and really appreciate your information, perspective, humour and expressive moments. Oh - and I’ve discovered Schylling Needoh squishies because of you, and are LOVING them!!! I love the Dream Drop and Gumdrop, but do also like the Nice Cube 😃
I also relate to a few of these and I was diagnosed with ADD as a teen. Perimenopause has been brutal. My attention span, memory, and overwhelm have never been worse. Hang in there, I've heard it gets better once we reach menopause! ❤
Talking to more than one person? Brain melt down. Don't move my carts! Grocery store? Noooooooo. Social battery? Hahah. Anxiety? Yes, depression, ADHD . Sounds ..
I've spent a year coming to a self-diagnosis, but it's been so hard, because I identify with about... half of these things. I'm definitely monotropic: I hate interruptions, changes to my routines, last-minute changes to plans, etc. I'm also super detail-focused, am sensitive to textures and temperatures, and have what I'm pretty sure are meltdowns. But on the other hand, I love socializing, I'm a very good communicator (both verbal and non-verbal), and I don't generally have problems with being called "too direct" or "too honest." I'm pretty sure my social battery is bigger than for most autistic people. Ultimately what convinced me is the knowledge that most allistic people don't spend a year doing deep research and asking themselves whether they might be autistic, because they want to be absolutely sure before claiming the label. 😅
I thought that I didn't have a problem with being too direct, but then I started noticing how much I crafted my sentences. I revise emails multiple times for "tone", heavily script important anticipated conversations and carefully pre think my words "on the fly". So I'm rarely ever actually blunt in the words the other person receives, and I've been doing this for so long it feels like I'm "naturally" adept. I also realised that I don't do this when I'm telling stories where I feel a degree of drama because people find that funny. I am not a funny person, I can't be originally funny deliberately to save my life but I have good pattern recognition and somewhere in my brain recognised a long time before I ever considered that I might be autistic that if I turn off the filter I didn't even realise that I was using I'd often get a laugh... My filter is now encouraging me to add that I hope this information doesn't cause you a whole lot of uncomfortable mental load. Which is a true wish but not where I would have naturally ended this if my tone filter wasn't revising 😅
I have a similar issue, where most of the stuff applies to me, but I’m just too social for what most people consider autism, and I also am not socially awkward in group settings (I’ve gotten plenty of feedback over the years that leads me to believe I’m not) . I think part of the reason is that being confident in myself being a distinct individual was really ingrained in me by my parents? And also I genuinely think most people aren’t particularly good at socializing and a lot of this “neurotypical ability to socialize” is overblown. People are awkward literally all the time. I watch it happen constantly. Autistic or not. I think neurotypical people don’t ruminate that much about not doing a great job socializing and it just doesn’t bother them that much often. However, I aggressively ruminate and pick apart things I’ve said and done after socializing, and analyze things constantly as they are happening. I can recognize when the way that I express myself throws people off, and I know how to not throw people off if I want to at the expense of being fully authentic. Sometimes I think that the way high masking autism is talked about doesn’t leave room for an autistic person being confident in themselves and therefore not feeling socially inept, but also not having a normal experience of socializing. What I do could probably be considered masking, but I don’t really feel like everyone I know if entitled to my true self in the first place, so I’m not super bothered by it. I don’t expect to not “mask” in a group of people I don’t really know or have closeness with. Maybe this is something you relate to?
One thing that makes me strongly suspect I have autism is that the physical, sensory, and health issues, etc, were so so much worse in childhood. Also, kids seemed to bully me a lot, but I never understood it was bullying until I analyzed it when I was an adult. I still have problems with being misunderstood, but I also misunderstand people a lot. They expect me to understand things that they are only implying, and I can't seem to pick up on it. Otherwise, I am a very flexible person, and I am fine with traveling or eating random food, and not having routines (although I have tried to establish them and I like them, my life just doesn't allow for them to remain for more than 3 days before the routine is upended), and my sensory issues have gone down except for sound. This one electric socket drives me nuts as it won't stop buzzing but no one else seems to notice. I have told people I suspect I have autism, and they deny me, so I don't know. I feel like other autistic people tell their friends and family and are told "oh that explains everything." It might be CPTSD, but I think that although my family life was very dysfunctional it wasn't so horrible that it would deserve such a label. I think if I was autistic, it would explain why my family treated me the way it did and why I am the way I am. I mean even though I am an adult I cried recently when I had to put on a material that I hate. Natural fibers are the best. I don't know why synthetics have to be in everything :(
Videos like these absolutely help with discernment but if you’re self-diagnosed, it’s never too late for confirmation. I was diagnosed in my early 30’s after several years of depression.
Oop. I like collaborating and I like working in a team (mind you, my "team" mostly left each other alone at work)... but OH BOY when I think I'm right (and someone else is not quite) do I try to justify my ideas to the point where people end up calling it "argumentative." Although I really just went out and found a bunch of research to back up my point. Then I hammered it so hard that I overwhelm the conversation and people are like "fine, all right! Just do it!" I might be a little autistic.
What this video reinforces is how all my life I've been playing non-autistic. I'm kind of good at pretending nearly all these things. Not quite all but nearly. And mostly, I think, without exposing the frantic-frenetic staticky disorientaion maelstrom inside. Yes, I'm pre-e-e-ty good at being non-autistic. If you don't look too close. Or too long. But as I get older my acting skills are shredding. Like, take an echoey social hall that is physically warping under the force of a hundred conversations all at once. Nope. Can't pretend anymore. It's not doable. Goodbye. In the immortal words of the Pythons: Run awaaaay! Run or perish.
I feel the opposite. I am getting better as I age, and I was atrocious when I was younger. I had panic attacks at school because of the crowds and the bright lights. I can handle it much better now.
@@mothdust1634 Yes, in some ways easier, in some ways harder. With many challenges I can now, armed with understanding about autism, intellectualize my way through it, distinguish my own affective-psycho-visceral responses from objective external values ("No, that lady aggressively click-clacking her way along the corridor ISN'T being obnoxiously, self-advertisingly intrusive, it's my hyper-sensitivity and, no, everybody around me isn't pretending not to notice or be irritated"). But with other challenges, like the brain-scrambling social hall of 100 conversations, it's un-intellectualizable. It's simply unbearable physical suffering. In that case the calm, collected, mature and efficient thing to do, no muss, no fuss, is walk out. So it's about choices, and being gracious to oneself, more gracious than, perhaps, you ever were before... or anybody else was aware you needed. Self-advocacy. Doesn't have to be loud and telegraphed, just decisive and, when necessary, uncompromising: "Sorry, no, this is an environment in which I cannot function. Not the end of the world, I just have to leave. See you later."
I can identify all of this with myself. Although, I have a rather strange hobby for that: cosplay. But...I do it as a Mandalorian. Which means - whenever I want to withdraw myself from my surroundings, I just put my helmet on. Ideal for me. No need to make any eye contact, or talk to anyone. Love it. Switch on my helmet ventilation, and I have that nice, even sound of jet engines beside my ears. So nice. Weird, I know. Otherwise, until last year I just considered myself to be just weird. The worst thing for me are events with a lot of people. I always found it almost unbearable to follow a conversation with more than two people. Whenever I could not take it anymore, I shut myself off. But it still hurt, as I find myself unable to ignore the many, many sounds. Not just the spoken words, but rustling of clothes. Steps on the ground. Sound of cutlery. Worst of all - loud music. Then I have to leave. Hurts physically.
I know with me, I often walk away from those multi-person conversations because when the other people start talking to each other for more than a few minutes, I assume they don't want to talk to me anymore.
I can keep eye contact, as a nurse, it was really important in my career. I needed to see things about a patient. However, for the most part I make frequent eye contact and look away--so I can keep my mind on my conversation and keep on track. Otherwise (thanks ADHD) I get distracted from what I am trying to say.
I thought I was autistic because of my trouble with people and specific interests and my isolation. But I actually have PTSD, Social Anxiety and Chronic Depression. So if you relate to a lot of autistic traits you may be like me.
Used to work at a grocery store as a manager and every time anything changed, whether items in the aisles, display change, software changes, it made me SO agitated every time. I never thought it was related to autism because I felt like I was being a pain for caring.
My "unwanted advice" stories are a few times my friends would show me some art project or film they worked on, and I would give them some constructive criticism, and they'd thank me, but later comment about "haters who don't believe in them," refuse to speak to me, and then, future projects they would incorporate my advice and become successful.
A "lifelong" friendship (from when I was 12 up to 37) ended when my friend sent me a short story he'd written and asked for my assessment. Well...I assessed. End of friendship. Sad, but here's how I look at it: if that's all it took it wasn't worth struggling to maintain. If it hadn't been that it would have been something else, he was ready to jump ship and I really don't need to share the cruise with disgruntled passengers. Relationships that are endlessly on the edge of severing are the worst. Just get it over with, let 'em sever, embrace the "empty spot' where that person used to be as a whole new world of possibilities.
ASD woman here. Great video. Here are the traits I experience and the things I don't experience (at the end of the list). Sensory issues!! Absolutely. The sound of the neighbours leaf blower is like a drill in my brain. Other people chewing is unbearable. Changes and unpredictability - have to go and watch a horror film just to relax in the calm predictability of the routine when changes put me on edge. Ruminating and not letting it go, obsessing and asking the same questions over and over again. Getting frustrated by people using 'half speak' to say something. Freaking out over breaking minor rules (if the speed limit is 15km, I will go at 15km even if there are a line of cars behind me), accidentally insulting people by simply asking questions, being talked about like I'm a joke because my clothes are mismatched , always feeling like a clown when I wear make up (it just never works!) , struggling to 'adult' even though I'm in my 40s. Meltdowns because of human interaction tasks. Wondering if I told my next employers that I am ASD in the interview if they would judge me for it or make accommodations because some things are just more difficult. Food intolerances, ADHD, eczema, hay fever, sleep paralysis and anxiety, Things I don't experience or am okay with - Complex tasks are easy (mainly work with complex software architecture solutions and am apparently very good at it) and eye contact is strangely okay for me and love drama/presenting stuff because it's scripted and predictable.
Seeing as it took me years of not knowing, then getting the diagnosis from a professional without me ever even inquiring about autism, I'm pretty confident I am… There's no benefit to me being autistic, in fact, it's gotten me mocked and bullied any time I've had to tell someone/people that I am autistic… Didn't need some rando youtuber or tiktoker to tell me I was. It's the people who do that that are the reason I get called a lair/attention seeker, And I'm f--kin sick of it… only once has telling someone that I'm autistic been vaguely beneficial. “Autism awareness” has done more negatively for me than anything else in my life…
Interruptions are the WORST. I legit feel the urge to scream and throw things at the interruption. Violent rage is triggered when someone or something pulls me out of my zone and I zone hard. Interruptions make me so angry I can feel it in the pit of my stomach and I can't focus again for hours or days.
I listened to the part at 3:28 and immediately got reminded of me making videos for my own channel and how I get sidetracked most of the time when I'm talking out loud (obviously not just in there lol) and then suddenly I realize I'm at 4:21 into this video and I'm like "wait- wait- wait- what were you talking about" and I immediately chuckle cause I'm literally always doing that EXACT thing and then I'm like crap I missed it!😂😂😂
Regarding letting things go... As a child I pushed a peanut into a nostril of one of my brothers. And because I couldn't get it back out by myself, I had to tell my mother. I blamed it on my other brother. They couldn't blame it on me, because they are mute 🙈 4 decades later, I still occasionally feel guilty about it. And it's not like I ever confessed it, because it's way too embarrassing 😂 So yeah, first time talking about it 😂
I really hate interuptions too. And also like to speak straight forward and truthfully. I dont think Im autistic but Im not neurotypical either. I often feel very different
Now I'm in a dilemma. There are tons of videos with titles like "you might be autistic if...." and very often I feel, that that's not be. I'm just somehow socially awkward, introvert and usually depressed for no particular reason. But after watching two thirds of this video and finding that so far none of the exclusion criteria is a match, I have to reconsider.
I find that I can make eye contact while the other person is speaking to me, but when it comes time to process what they said and process / give my response, that is when it becomes very difficult. I can force it, but my eyes just naturally want to wander everywhere. If I do force it, that's when I start thinking about it, and the thoughts about eye contact will distract me from what I was trying to say, and I'll forget what I wanted to say.
This happens to me, I’m so focused on making eye contact, trying to make it look natural and thinking about whether my facial expression is ok… that I’m often not listening to what the other person is saying!
8. I always go to same Asda for grocery shopping. I try to buy things to last me as long as possible before I need to go there again. In many years (10 i think) doing it over and over, I know this particular store so well, I can shop with my audio book in my ears and my eyes closed 😂 and oh, WHAT a HORROR! Last month they rearranged all the isles completely! 4 times I've been there since, 4 times I missed things, 4 times I loose the rest of the day due to no energy left... hate it! 9. To not go on weddings, I moved to other country away from my huge family 😂 i don't have unmarried friends and I am "very busy" 13. After overwhelming outing when I come back home, there is my sweet dog greeting me. As all dogs he can feel human's emotional conditions. Usually at that moments he is happy to see me, but he is very calm. I lean down to pet him, his smell and fur give me such a comfort, i sit down on the floor, then I lay down on the floor and we can stay like that for looong time 😂 he even did fall asleep few times 😂 i am so grateful that he came into my life, he helps me, my autistic son and my hormono teen to unwind after a long days at school and outdoors ❤
Thank you for clarifying this. (Personal) I think that after watching more and more of these videos that it's getting pretty darn obvious, I am likely very autistic and that the people around me since youth were just absolutely turning a blind eye. Therapists just blamed everything on my parents and didn't try to look past that. Maybe I sound bitter, but I'm definitely pissed about this because now I've got problems that could've been prevented, and a society that has used ableism and shame on me since birth. It's not my fault, but it sure still creates some aggressive imagery in my mind when thinking about these incompetent excuses of psychologists.. I honestly hope they'll get their karma for their sloppiness.
I had an apartment mate in college who was studying to be an elementary school teacher. She very early on mentioned to me that I did not make eye contact when in a conversation. She worked with me until I could. Many years later I was in a class for the company I was working for. We were in groups of three for an assignment. Don't remember what the course was but we had to listen to one of the other people talk to me and try to convince me of something. I sat quietly and just stared at her with no emotion on my face. After about a minute and a half she yelled, " Quit that! You are freaking me out!" If I am on the spectrum, I know I am a very highly masked female. But I worked with engineers and computer science folks for most of my career - I understood most of them.We all had "the version 2" brain wiring! Right now I am hiding from all the political stuff because I just figured out that I have been meltdown mode for about 2 years at least. I talk to my animals and 2 friends.
I just got the results of my general psychological testing today. The test wasn't really specific for autism, but I told them that I suspect I'm autistic. Even in Slovenia, autism tests are very expensive :( Anyways, of course the tests showed that I'm not autistic. I was only diagnosed with anxiety and depression. And they said I have kind of eating disorders and sensitivity problems. Well anxiety and depression - nothing new for me. All doctors told me that so far -.- I know for myself that I'm autistic. After watching your videos and all the research, reading, I feel in my heart that I am. I finally know that there is nothing wrong with me, I just cope with everything differently. Like everything makes sense now, why I am the way I am. So I'm autistic. Does anyone understand me?? Deep down, I hoped that I would be diagnosed as autistic. So that my loved ones would believe me. Now my family and friends say you don't look autistic. It pisses me off. I know I'm like the best actor at masking😂 I've been masking all my life. So how can someone find out that I really am autistic? Does anyone have any advice? HEEELP
I watched this and it only served to make it more obvious I am autistic 😂 Also some of the numbers were duplicated which confused the hell out of me as I was taking numbered notes and comparing them with what you said 🤣
I actually thought I’d watch this and realize my ASD diagnosis was wrong. 😂 Nope. I’m most definitely Autistic. Every single one of your points resonated so deep I feel seen like never before… and strangely like I need a nap. 😆
You totally look super smart with those glasses! I can collaborate well with others that also collaborate well. It took me years to develop the skill of collaboration, but I had to for my chosen career. Yes, it drives me crazy sometimes when I think my collaborators are foolish, but I think this skill can be developed. Note: I was in my 30s by the time I got good at it with a lot of really hard work.
eye contact is just way too intense and intimate. when I catch myself not making "enough" eye contact and I reset where I'm looking to back at the person AND they're looking at me, my breath literally catches for a fraction of a second and I have to reboot the whole program. i cant tell if people notice because I buffer-speak anyway (that's just what I call it, basically lots of random pauses with ums and uhhs thrown in while I'm buffering) and the whole reboot only takes as long as an "um" but boy do I feel it everywhere in my body I've been trying to make more eye contact w my manager because I realized that me staring into the distance while shes talking to me is probably not inspiring confidence in her, but of course when I successfully make eye contact I can only remember about half the things she tells me compared to when I dont
When I'm wrting something like a letter and I'm really "in the zone," totally immersed in a glorious ideational kaleidoscope that, despite its complexity, is completely under my control, with every facet and nuance lining up to play its part, and I've just about brought it all into being on the page, in an exhiliration of realization, and ---- the screen goes blank. All of it is... LOST. Stunned horror, shock, desperation that, please, no, please, it can't be... but it is. It's gone. It's like a hybrid of catatonia and death-grief, like, why on earth can't I just lay down and die right now? The sheer visceral psycho-emotional devastation of that shock, it seems to disembody me, dissociate me all meaning and substance. It's just... horrible. I've used a lot of words here, but none of them's good enough. There really are no words for it.
Allistic here. I seldom make eye contact, nor was I socialized to do it as a child. Maybe because I was a black female growing up in the 1950s. Never got any pushback about it at work so maybe I did it a little bit. I seldom know what color people's eyes are. At this point in my life I couldn't care less about making eye contact. When I used to read books where people talked about characters' beautiful eyes I was mystified. I wondered how they had so much information about how people's eyes looked.
I struggle with being touched, more so the older I get. Related with all of these points, thank you for making these videos, some of it was hilarious, can’t say I get the saliva build up that I’ve noticed anyway 😂
10:08 I learnt the hard way by a girl having my neck in her hands and pinning me to the felt board behind my desk for saying something about her appearance…back in grade 6. 11:36 this happened (still happens) in professional team meetings such that my boss had to deal with project manager he knew and did business for, in his words acting “out of character”. How I managed to do that I had no clue, but it kept the good ‘ol rumination going. Result was my boss telling me on another project with the same project manager he needs to be in the meeting to “read the room”.
My biggest issues ive had regarding work is someone asking a question and me assuming the want an honest answer and them getting mad when i gave them an honest answer. Example 1: them: how are you? Me: ehh. I had a hard time sleeping cause i kept having nightmares so im a little groggy and sad. But itll get better… (wrong answer) Example 2: them: why didnt you finish the task given to you? Me: you gave me the task but then pulled me out of my office to run inventory. I finished that and went to my office, and then you asked me to update the bulletin board because the main office was coming today. You pulled me out of the office quite a bit actually. But i finished what i could in between them. (Wrong answer) Example 3: them: well is there anything i did that upset you? Me: *stays silent noticing it may be a trap* Them: no, seriously. If i did something to upset you, please let me know. Me: we were in training, and you got a phone call. Its not a big deal, i just thought it was kind of rude that you didnt take the call in the hallways. It was distracting and i have a hard time focusing already. (WRONG MF ANSWER) *ive noticed that i dont last more than 3-6 months at a job.. and i dont understand why. This is the FIRST job where i have walked in with the disclaimer hoping that letting people know that i am autistic would give them a little more insight but if anything, it has made things worst. Because now they bring up my autism when correcting me. My boss brought me to the office last week actually, and the third sentence she said, before i even spoke a work, was “it is not my job to understand people” … the second to last thing she said before sending me home was “i could have told her ‘i dont know girl, it must be her autism’ but i didnt because it is not an excuse” Ive come to the conclusion that them not understanding me isnt the issue, the issue is that instead, im learning to expect the misunderstanding and learning to hate their response to the misunderstanding instead of asking me for clarity.. Yes.. i know you can see i am triggered…. And bitter…. Very bitter actually…
hmmm and this is why i don't know, some things are yes i have issues with that others are "nah that's not me" like if my grocery store gets rearranged i'll iust quit and order whatever i was there for online; i don't have the energy or bandwidth to relearn an entire grocery store... screw walmart and their complete rearranging every 3 years. (always wind up shopping there again at some point anyway.) 😅
I am diagnosed with ADHD and have long suspected I’m autistic but I’m not totally sure. All of these things resonate with me other than eye contact, which always makes me second guess. Eye contact feels comfortable and good to me but mostly with people I’m close to and not while I’m talking, I just like to stare at other people when they talk lol. But everything else on the list is like yep I’m prob autistic but eye contact is such a big one so idk 🤷♀️
Group collaboration/ No. There’s never enough of a clear plan, and I get highly irritated with everyone. Multiperson conversations/ Lol 😆 That’s not happening. Eye contact/ I can and do…for brief peeks. I distinctly being a teenager and having a panic attack when I realized I did not know which eye I was supposed to be looking at! I’ve been freaked out ever since. Letting things go?/ I hold a grudge longer than anyone. I literally lose sleep for years at a time, ruminating. Misunderstood/ all my life I’ve said that if there is one word that describes me, it’s Misunderstood. Interruptions/ I rarely have interruptions in my current life, luckily. But, I usually say, “I’m busy right now. Remind me later.” Changes to routine/ I’m not as bad as my autistic husband. I tend to stuff things down. Multistep instructions / um. No. When I unload the dishwasher, I can only take one type of thing out of the dishwasher at one time. Yes, I make 4000 steps back-and-forth to the dishwasher, but at least my brain can handle it. I try to carry several different types of things, I have to set them all down on the counter, start over, and take on one thing at a time to put away. Social battery/ my battery life is about 30 minutes. Co-occurring medical/ ibs, anxiety, depression, autoimmune disease Sensory issues/ ohh gawwwd. Sound, Light, various textures on my body…. Meltdowns and shutdowns/ I’m embarrassed to admit this. Yes.
I'm fully prepared to admit I'm not autistic. Group projects: oooof Participating in group conversations: I *think* I'm okay with this. I don't like it, but . . . Saying what you mean: Ouch. I felt that. Farm thoughts: yup. Restroom excuse; I need to file that away! Struggling with social cues: what are "so-shull queues"? Eye contact: I read Dale Carnegie in like 5th grade. I learned to look at people's mouths. Is that the same thing? Never had the spit thing happen. 😢 I'm sorry about that for you. Letting things go. Unethical shit. Can NOT let that go. Control of thoughts? What's that? Running dialog in my brain runs runs runs runs rums runs runs. Getting in trouble in school? Let's substitute WORK. Too many times. Have gotten fired for it. I VALUE TRUTH! Interruptions: not pretty much fine. Interruptions to Zone: not okay. I've gotten okay with Lost Thoughts. My ADHD makes it so often, I've resigned myself. Noises and Interruptions: gaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh Didn't think changes in routine made me crazy, but after travelling, I find myself feeling stressed when faced with going to other than my usual haunts. Also, things being out of place . . . . .gah. I can SOMETIMES do everyday things without being overwhelmed. I didn't realize why I always crashed after social events. Oh have I got co-morbidities!! Sensory overload: everything. All the time. All at once. Meltdowns/shutdowns: meltdowns rarely. Shutdowns: frequently.
I thought I was going to score on #9 because I can plan multistep things very well (and I do, so that they won't overwhelm me), but as you explained it in more detail I decided nah, I'm 0/13 on these.
Boring conversation scars😂😂😂 I love that term 😂 It seems like most Ppl don’t realize how valuable the honest transparent feedback is coming from autistic ppl😢 very sad
I got a too direct one i guess. So there was this girl i liked back when i was in High School, and she was practically a family friend through my sister. She didnt share the same feelings, but we were still pretty good friends (to this day over 10 years later) I have a really big sense of “protecting people” in my own way. She would get with a guy and id end up telling her that im super sure dude was cheating on her, but she had started to take it as jealousy. I would just walk up to her and be like “hey, im letting you know X is defo cheating on you,” and eventually she had gotten very upset w with me on it ( i was right every time i said it) and told me that i needed to mind my own business. So i did 😅. She asked if I knew and i told her that I did and she got mad at me for not telling her and she didnt really talk to me for about 1-2 years after. I had just responded reminding her that she got upset at me for doing so and stopped. ( we both grew up in an area where many people are horrible and would also blatantly tell people about the cheating like a badge of honor) On a separate note. When i describe food i don’t like, i confuse about 90% of people
I can make eye contact. That’s the only thing I *don’t* have. I think early exposure may have made it less for me? It makes me uncomfortable but no longer at a level of what it was. I’m diagnosed with spectrum disorder. I have monotropic thinking but can work with focus if music is playing. No other sounds though. It’s the only thing other than pretty much silence that feels ok.
yes. I can fake the contact and conversation for a little short bit...but it's fake. Not real at all. And man, when people are repeating to me their health issues I just do NOT WANT TO LISTEN. Seriously. And what the heck...lately it seems like all my peers, now that we are older, only want to talk about all their ailments. (me silently screaming) I LOVE a day alone and totally HATE HATE HATE to be interrupted. I turn off ALL notification sounds. HATE them. I can think of a few times I finally got the courage to speak what I really thought...and consequently lost friends. I mean they ghosted me after being friends for over 10 years. Really. Because I spoke the truth. Most restaurants, parties, events...are totally draining, and now I know why. I now shop on line. Worth the tip. Even worth letting someone else choose my bananas. Just worth it. Not even going into meltdowns...sigh.
Who might you even dare to be in order to tell unto me that I can't be autristic if I want to be? At least occasionally. Bi-weekly? For please, it aids my productivity, tremendously.
I hate the sound of certain AC to USB charging blocks when the phone/whatever is fully charged. I don't know what mechanism they use to turn off the current, but whatever it is makes this annoying high pitched whining noise.
Very good video There is just a tiny thing my brain forces me to point out. You switched the topic at 3, 4 and 5 inside "mutli-person conversation" to "reasons your probably autistic" instead of "reasons why not" and then you start over with 3. This is very unsatisfactory. Its like broken symmetry to my brain. So where is the door? i have to go :3
I dont think Im autistic because i can read others feelings and intentions well and show my own feelings very clear as well. But i sure have many simillar struggles. Speaking truth and very straightforward (if someone says ”i dont want any presents” it mean just that and some say ”that just what one says” why.. what should you they say then if they really dont want presents? And i hate getting interupt also. Til the age of 27 i couldn’t focus on what people Said on meetings and such. And in School I daydreamed all the time. I got alot better after i learned meditation . And i can also get easilly overwhelmed and emptyijg my social battery. I also have chronical fatigue syndrom now. I dont know if Im maybe HPS (hyper sensitive person) and maybe have ADD
I have to disagree a bit on the collaborating well in groups unequal being autistic. Yes, different opinions and views are sometimes hard to take 😅 But if I find out that some other opinion, strategy, approach to things matches the general consent, I can go with the flow. With a little bit of teeth grinding. I think it's part of my high masking nature being able to do that. So luckily group projects are not just all horrible all the time.
There’s that ball again, what’s it’s purpose other than to make me look at it and forget why I clicked on this video? I got bored during #5, I think. Why were there 2 #4’s? Did I miss something? I might come back for the rest of the video, but probably will go see a movie this afternoon instead. Just read the pinned question… what experiences are commonly mentioned? Are any of mine common? I haven’t experienced the one about eye contact you talked about, with not being able to swallow and saliva build-up. Is that a common experience? I do “over make” saliva, but I either am able to swallow it or spit it out. It doesn’t happen during conversation and I practically never look someone in the eye let alone their face, I do look in their general direction and often will look at something just behind them. I think I fool them into believing I’m looking at them when I’m not, they never say anything about it. Are they just being polite or am I paranoid? I forgot why started typing all this into the comments, did I mention the ball in your hand? It’s not bright pink like the other videos but it’s the same size and still in your hands. Ok time for the bathroom or a movie or anything else
ugh, I was drinking coconut milk when you were talking about spit. I see you are inching towards 50k. the videos are a nice mix of facts and examples. good homemade sound effects too. have you considered voice acting?
Is the spotting of an editing mistake part of the diagnostic criteria? How about rewinding multiple times to make sure I wasn't imagining it because I was trying to pay attention to the point when I noticed it?
For the first one.... does it still count when I did participate well in group projects by carrying the whole project on my back because I was the smartest? 😅
♾ If you are autistic, have you had any of the experiences in the video that are commonly mentioned by autistic adults? Drop what resonated with you and your thoughts in the comments! ⤵
I missed it because the videopremiere was one hour earlier. 😢
This broke my routine😮
Hope you had fun with the livestream
@spiritoftheocean4110 Sorry for the change to your Friday routine... We left a message on the community board about the adjustment. We'll be keeping the new time consistent for a while, so hope you'll be able to join again soon? Missed having you there today!
@spiritoftheocean4110 I missed you in the chat today! In fact it was two hours early. And for next week three hours early due to the changing to winter time.
Is it just me or is this video especially hard to watch because of all the pain that comes up? I feel like i had to skip back a hundred and twelve times already...
Chris, thank you for your videos, especially for your humorous ones. (Edited, because it sounded mean in retrospect)
Also in case you ever run out of ideas... i personally would love to hear some tips that help on how to deal with doctors visits and the aftermath but also on invalidation you cant get away from in general.
I so such at Teamwork unless it is extreamly well communicated who does what and it allowed me to either be passiv or a dictator.
This isn't triggering my imposter syndrome at all, nope, not at all, I'm fine, everything is fine.
Fr
Me waiting for my diagnosis like ._.
@@Naoompje-lw2xf Are you also in the process of getting one? I wish you good luck
Imposter syndrome kicks in reading title even though I'm officially diagnosed. Watch video. Oh yeah... I'm definitely autistic. Lmao
Oh yes, and just me overexplaining things in a new way after getting a lot of "but aren't we all a little autistic?" recently... but also, all autistic people are so unique and different. Nothing is as clearcut or simple as one way when it comes to us autistic folks 😅
The first part made me wonder if maybe I’m not autistic. Because I can have fun talking with a bunch of people. And I can collaborate with a group.
But then I thought about how stressed I feel and how much I hate those things. 😂 When I talk with a group, I am amazing for a couple of minutes and then I am desperate to leave and get out of it!
In collaboration, I fake it. I do whatever I can to make the experience efficient and secretly I’m rolling my eyes and gritting my teeth.
Decades of high masking
Even autistics can be extroverts.
Multi person conversations are totally different if you’re with other autistics or NTs. Wavelengths matter.
It sure does.
I think that's accurate!
So true. My family, who are all ND can have multiple conversations at the same time and answer questions from different conversations but it's harder with NT people.
I love spending time with my clients who are on the spectrum! I couldn’t tell you why, but it’s almost a homecoming feeling, even if we just met. Sort of “here is My People”!
@@PamelaSConleyArtist As I've gotten older, that is not the case for me. I hear everything, and I can't tune out anything. One person speaking at a time is hard enough. 😂
Thank you for representing what it actually feels like to be autistic and the experiences that are truly difficult to explain. Your videos are spot on, every time, you have the perfect way of putting words together to identify the root point to every struggle! I hope every person looking to learn more about autism comes across your channel!
Undiagnosed 59 here and it’s crazy how I went through life thinking many of these things were like normal and everyone experienced them.
57 and finding myself having to rethink everything because I really thought I was neurotypical. My family laughs at me as I am constantly saying "but doesn't everybody . . ." and my family goes nope that's a common neurodivigent thing, mom!
56 here 😅
This video quintupled down on my belief that I am autistic. I still ruminate about a company that told me to do something unethical - years later. I quit almost immediately. Oh, and interruptions and certain changes (move my stuff and watch me melt) - oh the wrath I feel inside.
Multiple step activities - nope! Mailing a card might as well be learning nuclear physics. Too many steps and too much crap to do for something with a low return. They’ll get the card and it’ll likely be forgotten and in recycling in a week. Meanwhile, I keep certain cards indefinitely if they mean a lot. LOL!
I'm good at pretending to pretending to be good at group projects but I HATE them 🤣. I was a restaurant manager for years and couldn't understand how it seemed so easy for my coworkers while I was hanging on by a thread till I got fired. So now at 35 I feel like I'm putting my life back together. 🤦♂️
My father noticed that I didn't make eye contact when I was four. I was already reading at an adult level.
My dad told me, "You need to learn to read faces like a book."
I was so fascinated that there was lexical information in faces. So I learned to read faces "as a second language" -- it became a special interest, lol. And as a result, I had to learn to deal with eye contact.
But a lot of what are being presented in this video is maybe more personal than general. I understand that they are anecdotal examples, but they weaken your generalization about what is or isn't typically autistic.
Remember that undiagnosed adults have drunk the Kool Aid of their masking and may think they are doing just fine.
So this video will be used by these people to not seek a diagnosis when they need one.
Wait, so the surgeries and tests I did to find out what was wrong with my body that it would physically bloat up and stab me for 5 days straight because of a social setting that made me uncomfortable isn’t just anxiety? Haha I don’t know why watching these videos always give me little reminders of why I firmly trust in the fact that I have ASD along with my diagnosed ADHD. I do wish my parents weren’t so scared of the diagnosis or else my childhood probably would’ve made a lot more sense. Like the constant lightning headaches, bullying, rash flare ups from certain fabrics, night terrors, going blind or getting fevers from panic attacks from wearing clothing that was too tight, etc. I wasn’t just sensitive or different or difficult, there actually was a reason all along
Speaking of making eye contact, anyone else find it extremely difficult making eye contact with the person in the mirror?
YES! That guy's the worst, I can't look at him at all!
Yes! Mirrors are a whole nother dimension
Peering into your own soul is the worst. I legit got scared of reflective surfaces for a while after I got creeped out by my own reflection. My AuDHD probably helped me forget about it, but still I don't let myself linger on that memory..
I don't spend a lot of time peering into mirrors.
No. Mentally, I assess the person in the mirror like that is an entirely different person, and critique that person accordingly.
7:15 I can’t let go of people packing the dishwasher incorrectly! Nor can I let go of how badly it affects me to see visual chaos, cupboard doors open or even cups hung with dissimilar one!!!!
When he mentioned the buzz of electricity!! THATS THE WORSE
My biggest trouble with overlapping conversations is I can’t isolate voices. I hear everything on the other side of the room and can’t hear the person right in front of me. Sometimes I can lip read my way to success but that doesn’t always work.
Every point resonates with me! I’ve always just thought of myself as someone that gets frustrated a lot and is very irritable, can’t engage in normal conversation (often because I’m bored or disinterested) and dislikes being around people… but since my diagnosis, I now know WHY I’m like that. I’m not a crappy person - I’m autistic 😂
Happy or neutral to rage in .01 seconds.
When my husband says that we need to go back the other direction in Costco because we forgot something, I physically feel ill in that exact moment and my brain freezes and I feel like I need to either go into autopilot or I need to stand there and just wait and pray to god I’m not standing in someone’s path lol
When we have friends over, if they are there for more than a little while, I always have to excuse myself and lay down in the bedroom for a while and breathe and watch my own stuff or just let my heart stop panic beating. I always feel like I’m such a bad host but I can feel my anger and shortness rise faster and faster if I don’t do this. I’m so thankful for an understanding partner
I feel like I might end up breaking my neck by the end of this video, as I cannot stop nodding my head so vigorously lol!
Eye contact literally sends me into another plane of existence and all connection to this one switches off.
I didn't get an diagnosis because I couldn't help but masking during the entire process (I'm female and the sessions lasted too short to having to drop the mask - my parents weren't alive anymore, so the childhood assessment couldn't be done). Giving them what I figured out they wanted to see - I'm also very good at that as the only label that I did get (at 35 or so) was "gifted". So it was my giftedness that was causing my discomfort. And now I feel even less understood. And I can't let go of that, the irony.
When you talk about the faint smell of the cleaning solution, I laughed. I can always tell when my husband puts on lotion, even if he did it in another room with a fan on, the window open, and the day before
Are some of these things, like the conversations, ruminating, interruptions, changes, series of steps, social battery also true of ADHD?
Yes there is a lot of overlap in symptoms, which makes it so hard to get a proper diagnosis. Many doctors don’t have a full understanding of these issues.
Wait, people can control their brain? And it works? HOW??
I've learned to adapt pretty well, mostly by just listening, I don't talk in groups, unless I'm in charge.
And people have to be careful of putting me in charge, I make people cry without meaning to.
I rarely have meltdowns, shutdowns though, that's my life. I can't remember what it's like to not feel like this.
I couldnt before. But when i started to meditation i learned to focus. When i was 27. I wish i had started earlier
I can’t tell you how many times over the last few weeks I’ll be watching a video, and you’ll say or do something describing something you’re going through that triggering your autism, or how you physically react and I will verbally exclaim “oh God,no?!” While laughing and thinking get the fuck out of my head Chris!!!
I have also cried so many tears of joy watching these videos. It’s helping me understand myself better and why I’ve had such a soft spot for autistic kids, especially my two cousins that were and are currently nonverbal. I remember looking at my cousin Josiah‘s eyes during one of his rages. His older brother was picking on him and he couldn’t get the words out, but I could hear him cussing his older brother out six ways to Sunday. After seeing your videos, I’m realizing we have several people on my mom side of the family that are high masking autistics
I'm doubting my autism soooo hard [not officially diagnosed] and was hopeful to be assured that I don't have it, but.... I guess I should go after that diagnosis after all and get that checked.
I don’t have trouble with eye contact in-person and don’t have hypersensitivity to textures/smells, but do identify with other autism/adhd symptoms and haven’t been able to cope well in life for the last year and a half. Is it just adhd and/or just perimenopause and/or also autism… it’s hard to figure out. Especially when governments aren’t even providing minimal support to autistic people who need lots of support. I’m finding your videos are helping me feel more open about how I feel and really appreciate your information, perspective, humour and expressive moments. Oh - and I’ve discovered Schylling Needoh squishies because of you, and are LOVING them!!! I love the Dream Drop and Gumdrop, but do also like the Nice Cube 😃
just test both probably gonna be adhd
I also relate to a few of these and I was diagnosed with ADD as a teen. Perimenopause has been brutal. My attention span, memory, and overwhelm have never been worse. Hang in there, I've heard it gets better once we reach menopause! ❤
@@lellachu1682 same
Talking to more than one person? Brain melt down. Don't move my carts! Grocery store? Noooooooo. Social battery? Hahah. Anxiety? Yes, depression, ADHD . Sounds ..
Wait, people can control their thoughts?
Yeah this one got my attention too- that seems like a superpower to me.
Psionics, yes. There's no other explanation.
>.>
Nope ... impossible
Definitely a hoax
Right?? Dark magic, that’s what that is….
I've spent a year coming to a self-diagnosis, but it's been so hard, because I identify with about... half of these things. I'm definitely monotropic: I hate interruptions, changes to my routines, last-minute changes to plans, etc. I'm also super detail-focused, am sensitive to textures and temperatures, and have what I'm pretty sure are meltdowns. But on the other hand, I love socializing, I'm a very good communicator (both verbal and non-verbal), and I don't generally have problems with being called "too direct" or "too honest." I'm pretty sure my social battery is bigger than for most autistic people. Ultimately what convinced me is the knowledge that most allistic people don't spend a year doing deep research and asking themselves whether they might be autistic, because they want to be absolutely sure before claiming the label. 😅
I thought that I didn't have a problem with being too direct, but then I started noticing how much I crafted my sentences. I revise emails multiple times for "tone", heavily script important anticipated conversations and carefully pre think my words "on the fly". So I'm rarely ever actually blunt in the words the other person receives, and I've been doing this for so long it feels like I'm "naturally" adept. I also realised that I don't do this when I'm telling stories where I feel a degree of drama because people find that funny. I am not a funny person, I can't be originally funny deliberately to save my life but I have good pattern recognition and somewhere in my brain recognised a long time before I ever considered that I might be autistic that if I turn off the filter I didn't even realise that I was using I'd often get a laugh... My filter is now encouraging me to add that I hope this information doesn't cause you a whole lot of uncomfortable mental load. Which is a true wish but not where I would have naturally ended this if my tone filter wasn't revising 😅
I have a similar issue, where most of the stuff applies to me, but I’m just too social for what most people consider autism, and I also am not socially awkward in group settings (I’ve gotten plenty of feedback over the years that leads me to believe I’m not) . I think part of the reason is that being confident in myself being a distinct individual was really ingrained in me by my parents? And also I genuinely think most people aren’t particularly good at socializing and a lot of this “neurotypical ability to socialize” is overblown. People are awkward literally all the time. I watch it happen constantly. Autistic or not. I think neurotypical people don’t ruminate that much about not doing a great job socializing and it just doesn’t bother them that much often.
However, I aggressively ruminate and pick apart things I’ve said and done after socializing, and analyze things constantly as they are happening. I can recognize when the way that I express myself throws people off, and I know how to not throw people off if I want to at the expense of being fully authentic. Sometimes I think that the way high masking autism is talked about doesn’t leave room for an autistic person being confident in themselves and therefore not feeling socially inept, but also not having a normal experience of socializing. What I do could probably be considered masking, but I don’t really feel like everyone I know if entitled to my true self in the first place, so I’m not super bothered by it. I don’t expect to not “mask” in a group of people I don’t really know or have closeness with.
Maybe this is something you relate to?
One thing that makes me strongly suspect I have autism is that the physical, sensory, and health issues, etc, were so so much worse in childhood. Also, kids seemed to bully me a lot, but I never understood it was bullying until I analyzed it when I was an adult. I still have problems with being misunderstood, but I also misunderstand people a lot. They expect me to understand things that they are only implying, and I can't seem to pick up on it. Otherwise, I am a very flexible person, and I am fine with traveling or eating random food, and not having routines (although I have tried to establish them and I like them, my life just doesn't allow for them to remain for more than 3 days before the routine is upended), and my sensory issues have gone down except for sound. This one electric socket drives me nuts as it won't stop buzzing but no one else seems to notice. I have told people I suspect I have autism, and they deny me, so I don't know. I feel like other autistic people tell their friends and family and are told "oh that explains everything."
It might be CPTSD, but I think that although my family life was very dysfunctional it wasn't so horrible that it would deserve such a label. I think if I was autistic, it would explain why my family treated me the way it did and why I am the way I am. I mean even though I am an adult I cried recently when I had to put on a material that I hate. Natural fibers are the best. I don't know why synthetics have to be in everything :(
The way grocery stores switch everything around every 8 months. I can't.
That drive Ms me crazy too and then walking around and around trying to find what I need is exhausting.
Videos like these absolutely help with discernment but if you’re self-diagnosed, it’s never too late for confirmation. I was diagnosed in my early 30’s after several years of depression.
Oop. I like collaborating and I like working in a team (mind you, my "team" mostly left each other alone at work)... but OH BOY when I think I'm right (and someone else is not quite) do I try to justify my ideas to the point where people end up calling it "argumentative." Although I really just went out and found a bunch of research to back up my point. Then I hammered it so hard that I overwhelm the conversation and people are like "fine, all right! Just do it!" I might be a little autistic.
What this video reinforces is how all my life I've been playing non-autistic. I'm kind of good at pretending nearly all these things. Not quite all but nearly. And mostly, I think, without exposing the frantic-frenetic staticky disorientaion maelstrom inside. Yes, I'm pre-e-e-ty good at being non-autistic. If you don't look too close. Or too long. But as I get older my acting skills are shredding. Like, take an echoey social hall that is physically warping under the force of a hundred conversations all at once. Nope. Can't pretend anymore. It's not doable. Goodbye. In the immortal words of the Pythons: Run awaaaay! Run or perish.
I feel the opposite. I am getting better as I age, and I was atrocious when I was younger. I had panic attacks at school because of the crowds and the bright lights. I can handle it much better now.
@@mothdust1634 Yes, in some ways easier, in some ways harder. With many challenges I can now, armed with understanding about autism, intellectualize my way through it, distinguish my own affective-psycho-visceral responses from objective external values ("No, that lady aggressively click-clacking her way along the corridor ISN'T being obnoxiously, self-advertisingly intrusive, it's my hyper-sensitivity and, no, everybody around me isn't pretending not to notice or be irritated"). But with other challenges, like the brain-scrambling social hall of 100 conversations, it's un-intellectualizable. It's simply unbearable physical suffering. In that case the calm, collected, mature and efficient thing to do, no muss, no fuss, is walk out. So it's about choices, and being gracious to oneself, more gracious than, perhaps, you ever were before... or anybody else was aware you needed. Self-advocacy. Doesn't have to be loud and telegraphed, just decisive and, when necessary, uncompromising: "Sorry, no, this is an environment in which I cannot function. Not the end of the world, I just have to leave. See you later."
After #8, all I could think about was Swingline staplers. I'll have to rewatch the rest.
Yes, interruptions are the WORST!
My hubby says I have “confession compulsion”
Haha, I do that too. My mom used to feel bad disciplining me because I would remind her if she forgot.
This channel makes me feel seen. TYSM❤🥂💃❤
I can identify all of this with myself. Although, I have a rather strange hobby for that: cosplay. But...I do it as a Mandalorian. Which means - whenever I want to withdraw myself from my surroundings, I just put my helmet on. Ideal for me. No need to make any eye contact, or talk to anyone. Love it. Switch on my helmet ventilation, and I have that nice, even sound of jet engines beside my ears. So nice. Weird, I know.
Otherwise, until last year I just considered myself to be just weird. The worst thing for me are events with a lot of people. I always found it almost unbearable to follow a conversation with more than two people. Whenever I could not take it anymore, I shut myself off. But it still hurt, as I find myself unable to ignore the many, many sounds. Not just the spoken words, but rustling of clothes. Steps on the ground. Sound of cutlery. Worst of all - loud music. Then I have to leave. Hurts physically.
According to this, I cannot rule out autism. Thank you!
I know with me, I often walk away from those multi-person conversations because when the other people start talking to each other for more than a few minutes, I assume they don't want to talk to me anymore.
I can keep eye contact, as a nurse, it was really important in my career. I needed to see things about a patient. However, for the most part I make frequent eye contact and look away--so I can keep my mind on my conversation and keep on track. Otherwise (thanks ADHD) I get distracted from what I am trying to say.
“….. we are misunderstood SO MUCH….. it sucks! “ 9:50
Yes
A frustrating existence
I thought I was autistic because of my trouble with people and specific interests and my isolation. But I actually have PTSD, Social Anxiety and Chronic Depression. So if you relate to a lot of autistic traits you may be like me.
Used to work at a grocery store as a manager and every time anything changed, whether items in the aisles, display change, software changes, it made me SO agitated every time. I never thought it was related to autism because I felt like I was being a pain for caring.
My "unwanted advice" stories are a few times my friends would show me some art project or film they worked on, and I would give them some constructive criticism, and they'd thank me, but later comment about "haters who don't believe in them," refuse to speak to me, and then, future projects they would incorporate my advice and become successful.
In my mind, I constantly replay awkward moments I had 50 years ago, when I was two. That's completely normal, though, right?
A "lifelong" friendship (from when I was 12 up to 37) ended when my friend sent me a short story he'd written and asked for my assessment. Well...I assessed. End of friendship. Sad, but here's how I look at it: if that's all it took it wasn't worth struggling to maintain. If it hadn't been that it would have been something else, he was ready to jump ship and I really don't need to share the cruise with disgruntled passengers. Relationships that are endlessly on the edge of severing are the worst. Just get it over with, let 'em sever, embrace the "empty spot' where that person used to be as a whole new world of possibilities.
ASD woman here. Great video. Here are the traits I experience and the things I don't experience (at the end of the list). Sensory issues!! Absolutely. The sound of the neighbours leaf blower is like a drill in my brain. Other people chewing is unbearable. Changes and unpredictability - have to go and watch a horror film just to relax in the calm predictability of the routine when changes put me on edge. Ruminating and not letting it go, obsessing and asking the same questions over and over again. Getting frustrated by people using 'half speak' to say something. Freaking out over breaking minor rules (if the speed limit is 15km, I will go at 15km even if there are a line of cars behind me), accidentally insulting people by simply asking questions, being talked about like I'm a joke because my clothes are mismatched , always feeling like a clown when I wear make up (it just never works!) , struggling to 'adult' even though I'm in my 40s. Meltdowns because of human interaction tasks. Wondering if I told my next employers that I am ASD in the interview if they would judge me for it or make accommodations because some things are just more difficult. Food intolerances, ADHD, eczema, hay fever, sleep paralysis and anxiety, Things I don't experience or am okay with - Complex tasks are easy (mainly work with complex software architecture solutions and am apparently very good at it) and eye contact is strangely okay for me and love drama/presenting stuff because it's scripted and predictable.
Seeing as it took me years of not knowing, then getting the diagnosis from a professional without me ever even inquiring about autism, I'm pretty confident I am… There's no benefit to me being autistic, in fact, it's gotten me mocked and bullied any time I've had to tell someone/people that I am autistic… Didn't need some rando youtuber or tiktoker to tell me I was. It's the people who do that that are the reason I get called a lair/attention seeker, And I'm f--kin sick of it… only once has telling someone that I'm autistic been vaguely beneficial. “Autism awareness” has done more negatively for me than anything else in my life…
Interruptions are the WORST. I legit feel the urge to scream and throw things at the interruption. Violent rage is triggered when someone or something pulls me out of my zone and I zone hard. Interruptions make me so angry I can feel it in the pit of my stomach and I can't focus again for hours or days.
I listened to the part at 3:28 and immediately got reminded of me making videos for my own channel and how I get sidetracked most of the time when I'm talking out loud (obviously not just in there lol) and then suddenly I realize I'm at 4:21 into this video and I'm like "wait- wait- wait- what were you talking about" and I immediately chuckle cause I'm literally always doing that EXACT thing and then I'm like crap I missed it!😂😂😂
Regarding letting things go... As a child I pushed a peanut into a nostril of one of my brothers. And because I couldn't get it back out by myself, I had to tell my mother. I blamed it on my other brother. They couldn't blame it on me, because they are mute 🙈
4 decades later, I still occasionally feel guilty about it. And it's not like I ever confessed it, because it's way too embarrassing 😂 So yeah, first time talking about it 😂
I really hate interuptions too. And also like to speak straight forward and truthfully. I dont think Im autistic but Im not neurotypical either. I often feel very different
4: you’re fixated on…*mumble garble garble*
Me: still thinking about situations in my life that pertained to number 3.
Now I'm in a dilemma. There are tons of videos with titles like "you might be autistic if...." and very often I feel, that that's not be. I'm just somehow socially awkward, introvert and usually depressed for no particular reason. But after watching two thirds of this video and finding that so far none of the exclusion criteria is a match, I have to reconsider.
I find that I can make eye contact while the other person is speaking to me, but when it comes time to process what they said and process / give my response, that is when it becomes very difficult. I can force it, but my eyes just naturally want to wander everywhere. If I do force it, that's when I start thinking about it, and the thoughts about eye contact will distract me from what I was trying to say, and I'll forget what I wanted to say.
This happens to me, I’m so focused on making eye contact, trying to make it look natural and thinking about whether my facial expression is ok… that I’m often not listening to what the other person is saying!
8. I always go to same Asda for grocery shopping. I try to buy things to last me as long as possible before I need to go there again. In many years (10 i think) doing it over and over, I know this particular store so well, I can shop with my audio book in my ears and my eyes closed 😂 and oh, WHAT a HORROR! Last month they rearranged all the isles completely! 4 times I've been there since, 4 times I missed things, 4 times I loose the rest of the day due to no energy left... hate it!
9. To not go on weddings, I moved to other country away from my huge family 😂 i don't have unmarried friends and I am "very busy"
13. After overwhelming outing when I come back home, there is my sweet dog greeting me. As all dogs he can feel human's emotional conditions. Usually at that moments he is happy to see me, but he is very calm. I lean down to pet him, his smell and fur give me such a comfort, i sit down on the floor, then I lay down on the floor and we can stay like that for looong time 😂 he even did fall asleep few times 😂 i am so grateful that he came into my life, he helps me, my autistic son and my hormono teen to unwind after a long days at school and outdoors ❤
Thank you for clarifying this.
(Personal)
I think that after watching more and more of these videos that it's getting pretty darn obvious, I am likely very autistic and that the people around me since youth were just absolutely turning a blind eye. Therapists just blamed everything on my parents and didn't try to look past that.
Maybe I sound bitter, but I'm definitely pissed about this because now I've got problems that could've been prevented, and a society that has used ableism and shame on me since birth. It's not my fault, but it sure still creates some aggressive imagery in my mind when thinking about these incompetent excuses of psychologists.. I honestly hope they'll get their karma for their sloppiness.
Ok so I'm definitely not probably not autistic. But am I am probably autistic?
I had an apartment mate in college who was studying to be an elementary school teacher. She very early on mentioned to me that I did not make eye contact when in a conversation. She worked with me until I could. Many years later I was in a class for the company I was working for. We were in groups of three for an assignment. Don't remember what the course was but we had to listen to one of the other people talk to me and try to convince me of something. I sat quietly and just stared at her with no emotion on my face. After about a minute and a half she yelled, " Quit that! You are freaking me out!" If I am on the spectrum, I know I am a very highly masked female. But I worked with engineers and computer science folks for most of my career - I understood most of them.We all had "the version 2" brain wiring! Right now I am hiding from all the political stuff because I just figured out that I have been meltdown mode for about 2 years at least. I talk to my animals and 2 friends.
I just got the results of my general psychological testing today. The test wasn't really specific for autism, but I told them that I suspect I'm autistic. Even in Slovenia, autism tests are very expensive :(
Anyways, of course the tests showed that I'm not autistic. I was only diagnosed with anxiety and depression. And they said I have kind of
eating disorders and sensitivity problems. Well anxiety and depression - nothing new for me. All doctors told me that so far -.-
I know for myself that I'm autistic. After watching your videos and all the research, reading, I feel in my heart that I am. I finally know that there is nothing wrong with me, I just cope with everything differently. Like everything makes sense now, why I am the way I am. So I'm autistic. Does anyone understand me??
Deep down, I hoped that I would be diagnosed as autistic. So that my loved ones would believe me. Now my family and friends say you don't look autistic. It pisses me off. I know I'm like the best actor at masking😂 I've been masking all my life. So how can someone find out that I really am autistic?
Does anyone have any advice? HEEELP
I watched this and it only served to make it more obvious I am autistic 😂 Also some of the numbers were duplicated which confused the hell out of me as I was taking numbered notes and comparing them with what you said 🤣
I actually thought I’d watch this and realize my ASD diagnosis was wrong. 😂 Nope. I’m most definitely Autistic. Every single one of your points resonated so deep I feel seen like never before… and strangely like I need a nap. 😆
You totally look super smart with those glasses! I can collaborate well with others that also collaborate well. It took me years to develop the skill of collaboration, but I had to for my chosen career. Yes, it drives me crazy sometimes when I think my collaborators are foolish, but I think this skill can be developed. Note: I was in my 30s by the time I got good at it with a lot of really hard work.
Regarding number 1- counterpoint is fawning. Just doing whatever people tell you.
eye contact is just way too intense and intimate. when I catch myself not making "enough" eye contact and I reset where I'm looking to back at the person AND they're looking at me, my breath literally catches for a fraction of a second and I have to reboot the whole program. i cant tell if people notice because I buffer-speak anyway (that's just what I call it, basically lots of random pauses with ums and uhhs thrown in while I'm buffering) and the whole reboot only takes as long as an "um" but boy do I feel it everywhere in my body
I've been trying to make more eye contact w my manager because I realized that me staring into the distance while shes talking to me is probably not inspiring confidence in her, but of course when I successfully make eye contact I can only remember about half the things she tells me compared to when I dont
I've had Aspergers/Autism since Elementary school.
When I'm wrting something like a letter and I'm really "in the zone," totally immersed in a glorious ideational kaleidoscope that, despite its complexity, is completely under my control, with every facet and nuance lining up to play its part, and I've just about brought it all into being on the page, in an exhiliration of realization, and ---- the screen goes blank. All of it is... LOST. Stunned horror, shock, desperation that, please, no, please, it can't be... but it is. It's gone. It's like a hybrid of catatonia and death-grief, like, why on earth can't I just lay down and die right now? The sheer visceral psycho-emotional devastation of that shock, it seems to disembody me, dissociate me all meaning and substance. It's just... horrible. I've used a lot of words here, but none of them's good enough. There really are no words for it.
I'm undiagnosed, but after watching this video I'm pretty sure I’m autistic.
Allistic here. I seldom make eye contact, nor was I socialized to do it as a child. Maybe because I was a black female growing up in the 1950s. Never got any pushback about it at work so maybe I did it a little bit.
I seldom know what color people's eyes are. At this point in my life I couldn't care less about making eye contact. When I used to read books where people talked about characters' beautiful eyes I was mystified. I wondered how they had so much information about how people's eyes looked.
I struggle with being touched, more so the older I get. Related with all of these points, thank you for making these videos, some of it was hilarious, can’t say I get the saliva build up that I’ve noticed anyway 😂
10:08 I learnt the hard way by a girl having my neck in her hands and pinning me to the felt board behind my desk for saying something about her appearance…back in grade 6.
11:36 this happened (still happens) in professional team meetings such that my boss had to deal with project manager he knew and did business for, in his words acting “out of character”. How I managed to do that I had no clue, but it kept the good ‘ol rumination going. Result was my boss telling me on another project with the same project manager he needs to be in the meeting to “read the room”.
My biggest issues ive had regarding work is someone asking a question and me assuming the want an honest answer and them getting mad when i gave them an honest answer.
Example 1: them: how are you?
Me: ehh. I had a hard time sleeping cause i kept having nightmares so im a little groggy and sad. But itll get better… (wrong answer)
Example 2: them: why didnt you finish the task given to you?
Me: you gave me the task but then pulled me out of my office to run inventory. I finished that and went to my office, and then you asked me to update the bulletin board because the main office was coming today. You pulled me out of the office quite a bit actually. But i finished what i could in between them. (Wrong answer)
Example 3: them: well is there anything i did that upset you?
Me: *stays silent noticing it may be a trap*
Them: no, seriously. If i did something to upset you, please let me know.
Me: we were in training, and you got a phone call. Its not a big deal, i just thought it was kind of rude that you didnt take the call in the hallways. It was distracting and i have a hard time focusing already. (WRONG MF ANSWER)
*ive noticed that i dont last more than 3-6 months at a job.. and i dont understand why. This is the FIRST job where i have walked in with the disclaimer hoping that letting people know that i am autistic would give them a little more insight but if anything, it has made things worst. Because now they bring up my autism when correcting me. My boss brought me to the office last week actually, and the third sentence she said, before i even spoke a work, was “it is not my job to understand people” … the second to last thing she said before sending me home was “i could have told her ‘i dont know girl, it must be her autism’ but i didnt because it is not an excuse”
Ive come to the conclusion that them not understanding me isnt the issue, the issue is that instead, im learning to expect the misunderstanding and learning to hate their response to the misunderstanding instead of asking me for clarity..
Yes.. i know you can see i am triggered…. And bitter…. Very bitter actually…
hmmm and this is why i don't know, some things are yes i have issues with that others are "nah that's not me" like if my grocery store gets rearranged i'll iust quit and order whatever i was there for online; i don't have the energy or bandwidth to relearn an entire grocery store... screw walmart and their complete rearranging every 3 years. (always wind up shopping there again at some point anyway.) 😅
I am diagnosed with ADHD and have long suspected I’m autistic but I’m not totally sure. All of these things resonate with me other than eye contact, which always makes me second guess. Eye contact feels comfortable and good to me but mostly with people I’m close to and not while I’m talking, I just like to stare at other people when they talk lol. But everything else on the list is like yep I’m prob autistic but eye contact is such a big one so idk 🤷♀️
Group collaboration/ No. There’s never enough of a clear plan, and I get highly irritated with everyone.
Multiperson conversations/ Lol 😆 That’s not happening.
Eye contact/ I can and do…for brief peeks. I distinctly being a teenager and having a panic attack when I realized I did not know which eye I was supposed to be looking at! I’ve been freaked out ever since.
Letting things go?/ I hold a grudge longer than anyone. I literally lose sleep for years at a time, ruminating.
Misunderstood/ all my life I’ve said that if there is one word that describes me, it’s Misunderstood.
Interruptions/ I rarely have interruptions in my current life, luckily. But, I usually say, “I’m busy right now. Remind me later.”
Changes to routine/ I’m not as bad as my autistic husband. I tend to stuff things down.
Multistep instructions / um. No. When I unload the dishwasher, I can only take one type of thing out of the dishwasher at one time. Yes, I make 4000 steps back-and-forth to the dishwasher, but at least my brain can handle it. I try to carry several different types of things, I have to set them all down on the counter, start over, and take on one thing at a time to put away.
Social battery/ my battery life is about 30 minutes.
Co-occurring medical/ ibs, anxiety, depression, autoimmune disease
Sensory issues/ ohh gawwwd. Sound, Light, various textures on my body….
Meltdowns and shutdowns/ I’m embarrassed to admit this. Yes.
I'm fully prepared to admit I'm not autistic.
Group projects: oooof
Participating in group conversations: I *think* I'm okay with this. I don't like it, but . . .
Saying what you mean: Ouch. I felt that.
Farm thoughts: yup.
Restroom excuse; I need to file that away!
Struggling with social cues: what are "so-shull queues"?
Eye contact: I read Dale Carnegie in like 5th grade. I learned to look at people's mouths. Is that the same thing?
Never had the spit thing happen. 😢 I'm sorry about that for you.
Letting things go. Unethical shit. Can NOT let that go.
Control of thoughts? What's that? Running dialog in my brain runs runs runs runs rums runs runs.
Getting in trouble in school? Let's substitute WORK. Too many times. Have gotten fired for it.
I VALUE TRUTH!
Interruptions: not pretty much fine. Interruptions to Zone: not okay.
I've gotten okay with Lost Thoughts. My ADHD makes it so often, I've resigned myself.
Noises and Interruptions: gaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh
Didn't think changes in routine made me crazy, but after travelling, I find myself feeling stressed when faced with going to other than my usual haunts.
Also, things being out of place . . . . .gah.
I can SOMETIMES do everyday things without being overwhelmed.
I didn't realize why I always crashed after social events.
Oh have I got co-morbidities!!
Sensory overload: everything. All the time. All at once.
Meltdowns/shutdowns: meltdowns rarely. Shutdowns: frequently.
I have never felt so heard... And I am not diagnosed.
I thought I was going to score on #9 because I can plan multistep things very well (and I do, so that they won't overwhelm me), but as you explained it in more detail I decided nah, I'm 0/13 on these.
Boring conversation scars😂😂😂 I love that term 😂
It seems like most Ppl don’t realize how valuable the honest transparent feedback is coming from autistic ppl😢 very sad
Check em all 😵 Great list. Interesting spin to the topic
yes every box checked ❤
I got a too direct one i guess.
So there was this girl i liked back when i was in High School, and she was practically a family friend through my sister. She didnt share the same feelings, but we were still pretty good friends (to this day over 10 years later)
I have a really big sense of “protecting people” in my own way.
She would get with a guy and id end up telling her that im super sure dude was cheating on her, but she had started to take it as jealousy. I would just walk up to her and be like “hey, im letting you know X is defo cheating on you,” and eventually she had gotten very upset w with me on it ( i was right every time i said it) and told me that i needed to mind my own business.
So i did 😅.
She asked if I knew and i told her that I did and she got mad at me for not telling her and she didnt really talk to me for about 1-2 years after. I had just responded reminding her that she got upset at me for doing so and stopped.
( we both grew up in an area where many people are horrible and would also blatantly tell people about the cheating like a badge of honor)
On a separate note. When i describe food i don’t like, i confuse about 90% of people
Now, I am even more certain that I am autistic.
I can make eye contact. That’s the only thing I *don’t* have. I think early exposure may have made it less for me? It makes me uncomfortable but no longer at a level of what it was. I’m diagnosed with spectrum disorder.
I have monotropic thinking but can work with focus if music is playing. No other sounds though. It’s the only thing other than pretty much silence that feels ok.
Eye contact? Your cheek bones...
yes. I can fake the contact and conversation for a little short bit...but it's fake. Not real at all. And man, when people are repeating to me their health issues I just do NOT WANT TO LISTEN. Seriously. And what the heck...lately it seems like all my peers, now that we are older, only want to talk about all their ailments. (me silently screaming)
I LOVE a day alone and totally HATE HATE HATE to be interrupted. I turn off ALL notification sounds. HATE them.
I can think of a few times I finally got the courage to speak what I really thought...and consequently lost friends. I mean they ghosted me after being friends for over 10 years. Really. Because I spoke the truth.
Most restaurants, parties, events...are totally draining, and now I know why.
I now shop on line. Worth the tip. Even worth letting someone else choose my bananas. Just worth it.
Not even going into meltdowns...sigh.
Who might you even dare to be in order to tell unto me that I can't be autristic if I want to be? At least occasionally. Bi-weekly? For please, it aids my productivity, tremendously.
I hate the sound of certain AC to USB charging blocks when the phone/whatever is fully charged. I don't know what mechanism they use to turn off the current, but whatever it is makes this annoying high pitched whining noise.
Very good video
There is just a tiny thing my brain forces me to point out.
You switched the topic at 3, 4 and 5 inside "mutli-person conversation" to "reasons your probably autistic" instead of "reasons why not" and then you start over with 3.
This is very unsatisfactory.
Its like broken symmetry to my brain.
So where is the door? i have to go :3
I dont think Im autistic because i can read others feelings and intentions well and show my own feelings very clear as well. But i sure have many simillar struggles. Speaking truth and very straightforward (if someone says ”i dont want any presents” it mean just that and some say ”that just what one says” why.. what should you they say then if they really dont want presents? And i hate getting interupt also. Til the age of 27 i couldn’t focus on what people Said on meetings and such. And in School I daydreamed all the time. I got alot better after i learned meditation . And i can also get easilly overwhelmed and emptyijg my social battery. I also have chronical fatigue syndrom now. I dont know if Im maybe HPS (hyper sensitive person) and maybe have ADD
So I'm not not autistic. Good to know :)
I have to disagree a bit on the collaborating well in groups unequal being autistic.
Yes, different opinions and views are sometimes hard to take 😅 But if I find out that some other opinion, strategy, approach to things matches the general consent, I can go with the flow. With a little bit of teeth grinding. I think it's part of my high masking nature being able to do that. So luckily group projects are not just all horrible all the time.
Interestingly I used to own those exact glasses. Blazing autistic trailzzzz! :P
There’s that ball again, what’s it’s purpose other than to make me look at it and forget why I clicked on this video? I got bored during #5, I think. Why were there 2 #4’s? Did I miss something? I might come back for the rest of the video, but probably will go see a movie this afternoon instead. Just read the pinned question… what experiences are commonly mentioned? Are any of mine common?
I haven’t experienced the one about eye contact you talked about, with not being able to swallow and saliva build-up. Is that a common experience? I do “over make” saliva, but I either am able to swallow it or spit it out. It doesn’t happen during conversation and I practically never look someone in the eye let alone their face, I do look in their general direction and often will look at something just behind them. I think I fool them into believing I’m looking at them when I’m not, they never say anything about it. Are they just being polite or am I paranoid? I forgot why started typing all this into the comments, did I mention the ball in your hand? It’s not bright pink like the other videos but it’s the same size and still in your hands.
Ok time for the bathroom or a movie or anything else
ugh, I was drinking coconut milk when you were talking about spit.
I see you are inching towards 50k. the videos are a nice mix of facts and examples. good homemade sound effects too. have you considered voice acting?
In conclusion, I'm autistic
Is the spotting of an editing mistake part of the diagnostic criteria? How about rewinding multiple times to make sure I wasn't imagining it because I was trying to pay attention to the point when I noticed it?
For the first one.... does it still count when I did participate well in group projects by carrying the whole project on my back because I was the smartest? 😅
The hand baskets, where did the black handled ones go the red handle ones are to small 😅