It's been 5 years since my autism diagnosis - here's what I've learned
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- Опубликовано: 8 июн 2024
- Celebrating my 5 year RUclips anniversary, also coinciding with a little bit more than 5 years since my autism diagnosis!
The years after diagnosis can be quite a journey, so I thought I'd share what I've learned and what's changed in me.
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WORKBOOK "So You Think You're Autistic": mybook.to/thinkyoureautistic
Edição portuguesa: loja.uiclap.com/titulo/ua32020/
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Your content was instrumental in my even considering the possibility of being autistic and having ADHD. Got my ADHD diagnosis in 2022 at 42 and I'm in the process of getting my autism diagnosis and, let me tell you, I am autistic AF 😂 I teach English to psychology students, so I wrote a lesson about autism and used one of your videos to educate them.
You've done so much good through your channel, thank you so much! ❤
Thank you, Sam. It's great to see you on RUclips again. Here I am at age 70, and it's been 12 years since I received a 'diagnosis' of Asperger's Syndrome. It's only in the last few years that I've begun to identify as being autistic, after discovering autistic communities on RUclips. I'm still trying to sort things out about my past, such as was there more to it than depression and PTSD. Did I experience meltdowns, and were they internalized, and was some of the depression actually shutdowns? There was definitely CPTSD, which my ex-therapist had never heard of. Life feels better now.
❤❤❤❤
Hey Sam, Stuart, 41, diagnosed just over a year ago, and comforting to hear that it's ok for it to take time (a long time) to get to grips with this (AuDHD'er and OCD). Sadly, it was hey, here are your diagnoses, good luck! Any joking aside ....it's been nightmarish. Your videos and a few others ARE my reference point. Bless you dude.... Love seeing your new vids. 😊
May I add my thanks for all you do Sam! At nearly 65, I'm pretty late to this party, having only discovered this about myself a couple of months ago. In fact, you're the one who set me on this journey in pointing me to the tests one can take online. I'm content with self-diagnosis and don't feel the need for "official" confirmation. It's my truth explaining me to me. I only wish I could have had this information decades ago.
Same❤
Same
I self diagnosed at 63, last year. I'd like to get a formal diagnosis, but it's very hard to get where I live. It's been a positive experience though to discover that I'm autistic as everything makes much more sense now. Like you I wish I'd known years ago.
Girl - you and I got diagnosed along the same timeline and you were my ride or die YT creator. Thank you for all you’ve done. I’m going to take some time and pull together some of the things I’ve learned and share them here too. I’ve learned a lot about false presumptions because i didn’t ask why a layer deeper, and i accepted a piece of information because it felt validating.
Thank you for the video Sam. I just got diagnosed earlier in the week. When the assessor said I have ADHD & autism my first response was saying "woo hoo!!"
Thanks for this video. I am 59 and just got my diagnosis last week, so hearing from someone who is also AuDHD is really helpful. So far, I have reacted with surprise, and then denial or feeling like I'm not autistic enough somehow. It's a process towards acceptance and finding out all my particular quirks underneath years of masking and people pleasing. This looks like it will be an interesting journey, and there's a lot to learn...I'm in full research mode😊
I'm 54, recently self-diagnosed, with solid confirmation from my therapist. SUCH A FREAKING RELIEF! I may or may not pursue a full, official, "medical" diagnosis. Meanwhile, it's content like yours that lifts me up and gives some direction. Having been on an exhaustive path of self-discovery my whole life - though various therapies and yoga and plant medicines and pharmaceuticals and other intensive spiritua/psychosocial/physical practices - - for me, autism actually is the Missing Piece. I can incorporate ALL of that good wisdom and experience, finally, in walking the path that's truly meant for ME 💙❤️💜
Thank you, you are a beautiful, shining light 🙏🏽
When I first came to terms with my neurodivergence, it was during a time wherein I was desperately looking for something wrong with me. I kind of unraveled for a time as a result. But over time I've just accepted that I am different, and that sometimes it's OK to be different. It's hard to exist like that in this world, though; people can be incredibly cruel to things they don't understand; and I have certainly participated in that in the past. Here's hoping we find a future soon wherein good things come to all people, regardless of whether or not they fit in. We deserve a compassionate world.
Every human deserves a safe life, free from dangers caused by poverty. It’s good you realized the harm you did in the past; all we can do is try to do better going forward! ❤
Thank you Sam! I found out 6 days ago that I am and AuDHDity, not an oddity. Your book was of great help in organizing my memories for the interview. Being able to note them down is essential. I shall endeavour, in the time I have left (soon to be seventy-four), to work on being as kind to myself as I am to others (RSD people pleasing being a prime motivator). Best wishes for your continuing journey.
Audhdity 😮😂😂🎉😅❤
Thank you Sam, really enjoyed this. For me it's about granting myself permission to be myself, neurodivergence and all. Congrats on the last five years on RUclips and thank you again, your channel has been and continues to be a wise companion ❤ very best wishes
Thank you so much!
First of all, congrats!
What I've learnt in my past 4-6 years is that it's not information I HAVE to share with people.
I won't tell people if what I'm saying isn't what they're hearing.
Often I'm disclosing in the interest of explaining myself so I don't get judged". But then the person takes it as a reason to blame me for our communication breakdowns, decide my differences are "wrong" and invalidate my takes on a social situation, say. Then it might make more sense to be more specific, like "I struggle in busy places", "I prefer to know when things will happen" etc. It's hard to predict how people will react, but those specific statements can act as good litmus tests for how they'll take The Big Reveal.
I was diagnosed almost 4 years ago now, and your channel was one of my first resources back then.
For me, getting diagnosed really helped me become kinder to myself. It helped me understand my past, but also what I will need going forward.
I just got my late autism diagnosis on the 22nd of may 2024. Just 8 days ago. I'm 43 years old. I'm forever grateful for autistic youtubers like you. It means the world to me. Thank you. 🏆❤
Thank you for this video. It really saddens me that my closest friends dont get it, dont care, and think im exaggerating and that nowadays everyone is neurodivergent.
80% are not neurodivergent. 98% are not autistic.
I needed to hear this! A year in from diagnosis, I’m knee deep in grappling with all 5, and the idea that this is a shared experience, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel is reassuring. I’ve approached this from the standpoint that my AuDHD special interests/hyperfixations tend to run on maximum intensity for about 5 years; a concept - long for ADHD, short for autism - that you introduced in your “what if it’s both?” video. I expect to stop thinking about the inside of my head, and why I’m the way I am, incessantly in a year or two. I hope! It’s useful but I have always overthought everything.
Thanks so much for all you’ve done. You and Purple Ella were my first support channels, well before diagnosis, and as I’ve noted before, I made use of your book prior to assessment.
My biggest struggle these days is serious imposter’s syndrome. I know I am wired differently, but I grew up when Behaviorism was very big, and whenever I connect with psychological factors, a judgemental voice in my head insists that this is all that’s going on with me. It’s made me very vulnerable to a current trend that tries to ascribe all neurodivergence to trauma. I know I have some, and intellectually I know it’s not an either/or situation, but It’s still hard. If anyone else has dealt with this and come out the far side, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Yep, constantly had people trying to ascribe my Autism to my PTSD. Which is especially hard when your PTSD cause has been there your whole childhood and further developing years, as there is no 'before'.
How you can differentiate the two (PTSD looking like Autism, or Autistic and having PTSD) when there is no 'before', is mostly like this: The more you work through your trauma, do your Autism traits seem to become less or more?
Less: High chance of PTSD looking like Autism.
More: High chance of Autistic and having PTSD.
You see, the more you work through trauma, the closer you get to your true self. So if the Autistic traits get more, your true self is very likely Autistic.
Definitely, in my case, the neurodivergence led to the trauma, and this is extremely common & likely for so many reasons. If you aren't reading social signals, not catching lies or bad intentions, have the fawning behaviors a lot of us do that seems to attract predators, trouble remembering the lessons you learned from past trauma & somehow continuing to be vulnerable even though everything in life should have taught you not to be.... it can be a perfect storm for PTSD coming along and for doctors or therapists to blame the trauma for everything, even the health conditions that can overlap with autism. I don't like therapists saying this, because it's almost like blaming autism on trauma, and I personally believe more in the theory that we're different not less then. And I like myself and other autistic people the way we are. I feel like accepting my autistic traits (even before I just accepted I had it) helped me to recognize my behaviors that led to more traumas & develop rigid rules to follow that help me stay out of trouble better. Personally, I had to find therapists that after bad therapy experiences, respected that I DIDN'T want to discuss trauma anymore, because I didn't have the tools for emotional regulation to handle those discussions. After enormous mental decline following years of discussion of "history" that just made me more & more depressed, I ended up in a DBT program to work out extreme depression symptoms & addiction. I will always be autistic, but now I have tools I didn't have for emotional regulation that helped so much with depression/anxiety (I have to review them from time to time), interpersonal effectiveness (!!!??!!! Amazing right? A therapist can teach you THAT instead of asking about every horrible thing in your past. lol), mindfulness (which helped me live more in the present tense & mitigate the trauma flashbacks), and this concept called "Wise Mind" which was this way to practice using both your thinking mind (Spock Brain) and your emotional mind at the same time, which I'd never done before or thought to do. The D in DBT stands for "Dialectical" and it's hard to explain but it is like you take 2 things - emotions & thought, acceptance & positive change, black & white thinking (in so far as it is not healthy for you, as a person), and you essentially synthesize the concepts together in a way that is kind of healing. I don't see it as trying to change who you are. A lot of the skills involve "Building Mastery" and recreation & exploring special interests, so it's about embracing who you are & enjoying life again, instead of being overwhelmed by pain & struggle. I'm not never depressed. I'm in a bit of a burnout, currently. BUT DBT helped me so much that even if I'm depressed, my person is safe, and I have an awareness that the depression won't be forever, because of learning how to think dialectically and not fixating on the wrong thoughts. No problem still fixating on the fun stuff, though! (Just a note- If working through trauma helps some people out there, I'm happy for what works & fully support that, too. This is just my experience, of course.). I'm not on the other side of everything but it did help with a lot.
My thanks to both of you for taking the time to share those concepts. I’m working then into my evaluative framework. I actually think I’m starting to make some progress on understanding how the pieces of my cognitive physiology fit together. The upshot is I am a complicated blend of all sorts of influences. Which is not uncommon, but having had two undiagnosed parents with a variety of neurodivergent characteristics - I feel sure my father was autistic, my mother is harder to figure out - well, it’s challenging. I got every trait and added a few of my own.
@@jimwilliams3816 A terrific lecture came out a few days ago & the genetics were explained in a way I hadn't heard before that really made me understand my family's traits better & also why I seemed to have all of them plus more... ruclips.net/video/YnU01HBN6zg/видео.html Around 26 minutes in. The whole lecture is good if you have the time. Very validated, not a bunch of b.s. ;)
I was diagnosed 6 years ago and I totally agree with your list. But I’m only now coming to the point where I don’t automatically share my diagnosis with every new person I meet 😂. I’m being more picky because of the ‘will they - at least TRY to - understand?’ and I also feel less of a need to share it because I’ve become way more self confident. I even sometimes ‘play’ with the unease of social gatherings by not hiding my discomfort and prioritizing accommodating myself over what is the social norm.
If that makes people think I’m weird I’m fine with that. Because I am. (And proud of it 💪) But more often than not I get people approaching me and asking questions in an understanding and interested way. Might also be an age thing though (more mature people with some life experience and thus less inclined to judge)
Out of all the ADHD/Autism channels yours is the one I always come back to. You make me feel very normal with my symptoms, your voice is very non-judgemental. You are so honest and talk about things in a good way. I learn so much from you about myself and my own similar experiences. This channel is really helping me come to terms with my ADHD/autism so thank you.
I'm three years out from my realisation and diagnosis and relate to all of this. The shifts it has made in how I see myself and live my life have been so, so beneficial to my wellbeing. The other thing I'd add from my experience is that it brought other aspects of identity up into authenticity too - for me that was queerness and cultural identity - so it was a triple journey for me and a LOT to work through. But it's been so liberating. For anyone early in their journey I offer full support and encouragement. 💛
Happy autiversary 🎉
Happy five years, Sam!
It’s entirely thanks to you that I myself am going on three years. I appreciate you very much!
I was a mature adult before i was diagnosed by my then therapist. I struggled to accept it at first but have now embraced my identity as an Asperger’s syndrome autistic person.
I'm undiagnosed and I stick to saying I'm neurodivergent (as a general label) because I want to respect those who have taken the time to go seek out a proper diagnosis. Whilst I can relate to a lot of 'stuff' with other autistic women, your comment about "not every community is a fit for you" is on point as I also feel I'm high functioning on the scale/spectrum.
@VanessaChats remember that it isn't always a question of "taking the time to go seek out a proper diagnosis." Official diagnoses are VERY expensive ($2000-3000 out of pocket here in the U.S.), and often there is a *wait list to get on the wait list*. I recently learned it can take 7-8 years for an adult female to receive a formal diagnosis. There can also be other reasons, like the unavailability of medical professionals in the area who can even provide such a diagnosis. I tried to pursue a diagnosis several years ago and was told, "We don't have protocols to diagnose adults, only children."
You are certainly free to use whatever term you feel most comfortable with, of course. Just please don't imply that those who have an official diagnosis (which is based on inaccurate and incomplete criteria, btw) are somehow "more worthy" of calling themselves autistic, and the rest of us should stick to "neurodivergent."
Congratulations! I was diagnosed on tues and your content has been immensely helpful over the last couple of years, thank you!
I'm so glad! And congratulations to you
Congratulations on your autie-versary! 🥳🎉💞
Thank you. I was diagnosed in 2020 and am now 67. When I find myself being embarrassed about various things in the past, as you mention, I have to remind myself that no-one that was there is thinking about then now. In fact, often, no-one that was there except me is alive now :) Even so, I still involuntarily groan now and then and can't quite explain why to my wife...
Since my (very recent) diagnosis, I am learning to give myself compassion for my individual needs, and my next goal is to explore how my masking manifests itself in different areas of my life.
Thank you so much for the content you have provided until now, which helped me pursue my autism diagnosis.
I got diagnosed 7 years ago and it definitely took me a good few years of processing memories before it properly sank in, even though I was expecting it and happy to be diagnosed. I'm still not officially out and proud about it with everyone I know, but I'm getting less hesitant about telling people if it comes up. I'm hoping to one day be able to proudly advocate publicly but I'm not quite there yet. Everyone's process is different but having people around who understand that is so helpful.
Yours was the first channel I discovered when I started my journey. I'm so thankful for your videos, they have been so helpful. I'm AuDHD and non-binary, amazingly I already had great support and everyone thought I knew 😂
I have recently decided to pursue a diagnosis, and I'm kind of excited.
Thank you Sam, your videos helped me to discover my autism and later ADHD. I know myself better know because of your advice. I’m still not so good at maneuvering my sensory needs or avoiding sensory overload, but I recognize it now for what it is.
Thanks for this video Sam, I was diagnosed AuDHD just few months ago and I'm working on this with a therapist who's great but I feel like all the progresses (although amazing) are sooo slow that sometimes I think it's not getting anywhere... but I do know that unpacking everything and understanding how I function after 32 years of masking takes time 😅
By the way, I realised I might be AuDHD after watching your video about being both (I never fully related to all ADHD traits - and was even told I definitely was not, by a psychiatrist - and didn't know much about autism up until that point), so you really changed my life and I am so grateful ❤ you're wonderful 💖
Happy 5 Years!
thank you Sam.. I do watch for your videos to drop. It's good to hear from you again. You do help me.
Im about 3 years into the process and boy does it take longer than i thought to integrate this information lol.
I got my diagnosis senior year of high school but it was whats called " an educational" diagnosis so technically it's less official . I've been fighting a war with imposter syndrome for years now and i feel like im maybe on the edge of winning. My struggles feel like normal life to me because they ARE normal for ME. It does not serve anyone for me to question my own experience every second of the day. And treating myself "as if" im autistic has really improved my life so i think thats proof enough.
I also realized this, neurotypicals dont WANT to be autistic. They dont try to "convince" themselves of that. Thats just not a thing. I thought that maybe i just really really wanted the autism to be true so i was "making it true" to finally explain why i felt so different. To finally have a word .... yeah an NT wouldn't do that. As much as people like to pretend autism is " trendy" Right now you only get that online. In real life it is stigmatized so much often times NT's feel uncomfortable associating with it.
I say autism really changed my life for a certain number of reasons and with all the things that make me feel glad about my autistic self really has made me feel like my life is so amazing
I think I was diagnosed this time around 5 years ago and I'm still learning, especially as my also autie daughter is nearing 17 and she was diagnosed aged 3.
"The past doesn't define you" Thank you, Sam, I needed to hear that 🙏🏻
Congrats on your anniversary! One of your videos led to me realizing i was autistic which led to my own diagnosis.
I got diagosed via NHS Cheshire and Wirral in 2022. I found your videos to be incredibly helping since having watched them going back to 2019/20. Time really does fly. I work as an Assistant Clinical Psychologist at Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS in the Autism Assessment pathway. I don't think I'd have a career without getting interview and job reasonable adjustments vis a via a diagnosis.
5 years??? Must have started watching early on, then! You and Paul M - Autism from the Inside have been the two most helpful channels for these few years in explaining my whole life. An Engineer and and Educator! Well, of course! I've got years of notes about DSMs and ICDs and life crammed into your book: a good way to organize everything. Here is to the next five years, however that looks! Thanks you!
I was diagnosed with ADHD long ago and had been going through a period of really coming to terms with what that means. Autism kept coming up in things I was looking into but, I always managed to dismiss it...until I saw your first video on how ADHD hides autism.... which is when everything clicked. Then I saw the next one on how Autism hides ADHD and felt like it was just a recap of everything that I figured out for myself in the space of time between them. I don't feel like this so much taught me anything new as finally made sense of all the bits that I had already figured out. I realized that I had become really good at recognizing what the struggles that came with my ADHD were, but I didn't see who the person doing the struggling was. I always saw the patterns, I could see what I needed to change, I could see what needs were not being met. What I wasn't seeing was how the choices I was making, the routines I felt so trapped inside of, were really meeting other needs.
I'm one year in and really needed this today, thank you
Your perspectives as an audhd mother helped me so much! 🎉
We're timeline buddies! I think we were diagnosed with autism around the same time-ish. I found your first few videos very shortly after my diagnosis and following your content was so invaluable for me through the self-re-discovery phase, and coming to terms with what this all meant to my identity, my past, my future, etc. I can't thank you enough for the content you've made. I wasn't brave enough to speak out publicly about being autistic for a long time (though my first instinct was to shout about autism from the rooftops-typical, haha), and so greatly appreciate all the autistic creators who are. You make a huge difference in the lives of those of us journeying alone. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
It's only 9 months since I first realised I had autism (still got well over a year at least before any chance of a diagnosis - should probably ask for an update actually...), and it was thanks to your videos that I realised I had ADHD as well. I had the same feeling initially that I didn't quite fit in the autism communities, and that was why. Currently over 3 months into a relationship with a woman who also has AuDHD, and it's very liberating and refreshing being with someone who understands your struggles and doesn't judge you for them, and also appreciates things that other people think are weird.
Great insights, Sam! Thank you so much. As a late diagnosis ASD *and* ADHD adult, your comments resonated very strongly with me, and helped me codify my own thoughts and experiences. Loved the blooper reel at the end :-)
Thank you Sam. ❤ Such a helpful and valuable video. I always enjoy your no-nonsense clear and fair videos filled with lots of well researched or well-thought out information. It helps me make better choices for me and my situation/environment. ❤ And congratulations on five years of getting to know yourself and your needs better plus starting up a very helpful business!
🎊 Congratulations on your 5 yr anniversary on RUclips!! Sam 😎🎉 Thank you for Helping me & many others to relatable topics, understanding & that we are not alone.
Congrats on 5 years Sam. I only found your channel the other week. Im late diagnosed adhd 12 years ago, age 54. I got a script no info, and sent on my way. Now wondering if im aslso aspergers. I have 2 children, daughter with adhd, and my son with aspergers. I am very confused and overwhelmed with the info I've found so now have to back off from it. Glad you are on here to show a positive way of being
4 years since I joined your Discord! Thanks for everything!
Happy 5 years! 🎉🌈 I really find your videos so helpful. So I'm looking forward to your future content!
I wrote out pretty much your entire workbook the night before my diagnosis and it was super helpful. I couldn't bring myself to before.
happy 5 years. i found you 4 years ago and then backtracked your videos from the first year. im pretty sure ive watched all of them. if not for you, i might still think i was a broken neurotypical instead of a whole autistic. my gratitude.
I self-diagnosed nearly 2 years ago. Your videos help! I’m a long way towards full acceptance - I still feel awful about past social embarrassments. What has been wonderful is the complete acceptance (so far) by all friends and relatives, and my husband has been wonderful.
Congratulations. I'm glad you decided to start your channel 5 years ago. I learned much about my autism from you. Thank you very much.
Last point is the most important and it took me 12 years after finding autism and 6 years after diagnosis to actually learn and accept
Congratulations with the 5 years 👍 I have the same autism-diagnosis anniversary as you. It has been 5 years since my life was turned upside down, I am 43 years old now and your channel was a true life saver for me at that time, so lucky that I found it back then. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your content is superb ❤
Sam’s back!
#5 truly is a full time job. A lifelong one! It has been about 2 years for me since starting my realization of being AuDHD, and I agree that taking care of yourself is the most important skill I’ve learned.
So well said, I can certainly relate to the points you’ve made. Realizing these things and seeing how they affected our lives in retrospect is a traumatizing storm of self confrontation and affirmation at the same time. Then living with this new and accepted understanding of ourselves is the best antidote. You’re looking and sounding great with wonderful lighting and color in your video capture too. Thank you 😊
Another helpful video - can relate to all this and confirms what I have been working through since being diagnosed at 62 two years ago.
Congrats Sam on your 5 years of both diagnosis and Youtubing. I’m enjoying your content, you’re one of the first AuDHD moms I found on YT and I relate a lot to your burnout stories and the juggle between your own needs and your families needs. Keep up the great work. I’m only 1.5 years since diagnosis, and unlocking new memories and A-ha moments, which I expect will continue for a while, it’s good to know this part comes to an end and I will start to look forwards, not just back. Thanks for sharing and keep up the great work minding yourself for your children.
Thanks! You and Purple Ella were the first videos I saw with autistic women. I used your book to help get ready for my autism assessment. I have been diagnosed for one year now. Congratulations on 5 years!
Congratulations on your anniversary! That got me thinking about my autiversary… it will be 3 years in May! You certainly were part of my identification and diagnosis. I am thrilled how much the community has flourished since.
Yes, comforting! I’m let’s say non-diagnosed (spectrumy in some ways but probably not autistic, rather OCD/ADHD things going on) and the father of an autistic 20-year-old who was diagnosed at age 2 who therefore had what supports my wife and I could access for him, *seemed* to be doing great but recently had his first meltdown/burnout episode, which was very scary for him and his family and has spurred me into a crash course in autism awareness thanks to people like you posting about their experiences; our son’s burnout lasted “only” two months and he is right back being his high-performing self, but we hope with much greater awareness of all the points you make here so beautifully: increase self-care, decrease rumination, acknowledge and respect your own divergence from neurotypical modes of being, find and be with the people who do get you - you frame it all with the clarity that comes from deeply lived experience and understanding. Thank you.
Thank you for being you and congratulations on the milestone!
Thank you so much for the video.❤❤❤ I can relate to feeling a bit "left out", in my case the ADHD community. But I also found my little corner now. 😊
Oof, number 5 hits home. 😅
i just got diagnosed with autism, adhd, inteluctual disability, anxiety, launguage disorder, bullumia nervosa.
Congratulations, Sam!!! 🥳Thank you for your videos & all of the time & care you've put into your channel! This was what I needed to hear today! I've been lurking for some time but started trying to comment, but feel like there's a RUclips etiquette I don't know, & all of my comments are much too long, which might be disrespectful if someone has to moderate for content, but part of me thinks... what if I could help somebody, so I write. But it makes me still feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. lol. I really don't know that I'll find a community, though I care deeply about all of you creators & everyone commenting. It's been a confusing moment, so it was wonderful to just hear that it's ok and that it happens.
#merch I like the comparison between different techniques to achieve a result.
Congrats on 5 years!!! 🎉🎉🎉 Your videos were incredibly helpful when I was first researching!
Happy 5th annyversary, Sam🎉🎉🎉
I am glad You are there.
Thanks for your videos and an extra thanks for introducing me to the first good german ND-channel.
Please go on educating us and others😊.
Yeah!!!! So here for your video….missed your content!!
Congratulations on your 5 yrs anniversary!😊🎉
PS: Your short hair style is very pretty!
🎉Congratulations! And thank you with enormous gratitude from me and my family.
Thank you so much! 💖
@@YoSamdySam 💖
I just realised it'll be a year next month for me. I can't organise my thoughts enough to say how it has affected me but it has definitely been a good thing. I wish I had got it years earlier (decades really) but better late than never.
Thank you for this video Sam! Congrats on knowing this fundamental part of yourself for 5 years! I think a big lesson I've learned in my two years of knowing about my autism is how important it is for me to have anchor points in my life. Things I can always count on being the same even when something big changes. Sometimes now my husband asks me "what are the things in this that you can control" and that helps me alot too.
Great to see you back on RUclips. Happy Autiversary 🎉 I’ve just passed the 3 months since my diagnosis.
Congratulations sam!! Im one year into my diagnosis and this video gave me hope for my future. Also your background is SOOO GOOOOOOOD
So good to hear from you again. ❤️
Thank you for sharing your experience! Your videos have been so important to me during my journey.
Congratulations!🥳 🎊 🎉
Sam, Happy 5th Anniversary! You are amazing and you and your wonderful work are making a huge difference in this world! Thank you so very much for everything you do!
I have come to learn that you have a really pleasant kind of humour. I am most definetely grateful for your content, please keep up!
Congratulations Sam!
Many congratulations Sam. Your work has really helped me 😊
Hey sam! ive been waiting 3 years for my appointment to diagnose adhd/autism. my appointment is in a weeks time. i am nervous and so excited. thank you for your channel it has helped me prepare and gain awareness of myself that will help me in my assessment. thank you x
Congratulations Sam!
Excellent video!
Wow I got my diagnosis soon after yours. Beginning of April, 2019. I would have to look at the paperwork for the actual date.
I was diagnosed a week ago. I turn 50 this month. It feels like such a huge thing. All consuming at the moment but none of my friends or family seem very interested in talking about it with me. I’ve been told to stop obsessing and move on and it’s not that big a deal. I honestly feel like a wounded chid. I feel so alone.
Happy 5 years Anniversary 🎉🎉❤🎉🎉❤🎉❤🎉 you are an inspiration🌟 much thanks and gratitude to you for sharing your wonderful story 💫✨🥰❤️💐
I’m a newbie AuDHDer.
I self diagnosed a couple of months ago, 70 years old.
According to a serious online test I’m about 45 % autist.
The ADHD part would explain my willingness to
expose myself on stage as a musician
and my ability to enjoy a good party.
Having watched some videos on the subject,
I am a bit surprised to hear so much stigma.
I guess the degree of autism creates different scenarios.
For me the insight was a liberating revelation.
It gave me the license to fully be me.
I also realised that the autist deep diving/going the full distance trait
had enabled me to create some of the things I am most proud of as a musician/audio engineer.
I find the processing bit enjoyable.
Finally I get answers to decades of remorse and the confusion of
“what the f… happened here” moments.
I realised at an early age that I was different
but the insight that it is a genetic thing
confirms my theory that my brain is wired differently.
So, what’s not to like?
As long as you use your powers for good,
you’ll be all right 😎
Thanks for helping me understand myself.
Hey, just saw you in the AuDHD article in The Guardian.
Thanks for the representation, and congratulations 🎉
Hi Sam!! Thank you for all your videos. Your videos have helped me a lot. ♥
How do you find a therapist that understands autism. I've had my diagnosis two years and I'm 54. I've always felt lost, out of place and I am now completely withdrawn from the world.
In Britain none on the NHS seen ti understand at all. I had to go private which luckily comes with my work as they are very expensive.
Hi there Rachel, I’m 58 and just dx last year. I went to the google maps and typed in therapist near me and started doing some research. I found a guy just a few miles from my house. The hard part is finding someone who you fit well with, sometimes it takes a few tries.
I just want to encourage you. ❤
@@user-kg4tl8or5z thank you
@@user-kg4tl8or5zA few tries? I've literally seen dozens of therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists. Then 25 years later I had to diagnose myself. Then I go talk to a shrink again and gives me medication that made all my symptoms 100x worse, pumping me up instead of calming me down. I give up and I certainly don't trust any of them anymore. It's not right that you, as a specialist can't tell me what's "wrong" with me but you do ask me to trust your judgement in prescribing strong, dangerous and very addictive medication? HEEEEELLL NO!
In America (and I'm not sure if it extends beyond that), Psychology Today has in the header "Find A Therapist." You can enter your zip code and from there filter into specialists for autism. The therapists all have profiles, which they write themselves, so you can get a sense of what they are about. You can filter types of therapy as well. ABA tends to be traumatic for a lot of people, so I wouldn't go in for that. Psychoanalysis was horrible & made me worse & I imagine other people wouldn't do well there either (It's a lot of ruminating on trauma with absolutely no tips on managing the pain it digs up.) DBT, though, saved my life, and can be very autism-friendly because when done right, it focuses on acceptance rather than heaping blame on you for depression/anxiety, but with an emphasis in teaching you tools to help yourself regulate emotions and navigate interpersonal relationships. The approach lets you try techniques, record whether or not they work for YOU & your personal well being, and to do the helpful techniques & toss out anything that doesn't work. For me I felt like I missed the day in class where everyone else seemed to learn life skills and this helped me immensely to get on better, but also to make peace with myself. It helped with an addiction, severe depression and also learning to enjoy life again. If you live in a country that doesn't have a website like Psychology Today or a database, you may want to join a Facebook support group for autism (not geared towards NT parents, but made by & for people with autism) in your area & ask for recommendations on therapists. Anyone looking for a therapist can contact the therapist ahead of time to gather information on their specialties, experiences & approach. A good therapist with give you the time to make sure you're a good fit & give you information to help you choose. I know this is long, but I hope it helps.
Brilliant video Sam, thanks. I'm self-ID still but I've been on the journey for 3 or so years, I recognise a lot of this but I'm not very clever about looking after myself in terms of workload etc. so ... this is timely and I'm going to rewatch.
Have a great week, take it easy, thanks again.
@Yo Samdy Sam ... Congratulations on 5 years, and thank you for your courage in starting your channel and sharing the insights on your journey. If you hadn't been here as a reminder I'm not alone and it's naturally divergent to have these life experiences, I'm not sure I would be here at all. AuHD, so rare, so super and so vulnerable. After 4 years, Unscripted, I was in tears of joy, also helped me recognised who of my other divergent friends are also AuHD, not just Au or just ADHD. (Just needs aother word but, umm .. ... well you get it!)
I enjoy your videos Sam, congrats xx
Yes. To all of this. Thank you. I laughed about the 20 years ruminating. I had said to myself ten minutes before watching this - omg, that was 20 years ago, stop already.
Congratulations Sam! & thanks so much for your book - it's been really useful for collating my extensive & rambling research - just got my appointment through & a bit scared in case they say I'm NT! (But my best friend has just assured me that won't happen 😂)
“That’s not always a good way to make friends by the way” Had me Lolling with recognition: It’s taken me years to realise this.. 😂
Thank you for your videos Sam. I've learned a lot from you ❤❤