Autism Spectrum Disorder | Autism A-Z
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- A bite-sized overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder from a lived experience advocate.
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Is a perfect intro for explaining the autism basics, I really liked it!!
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 sharing how this community has helped your self discovery 🙏🏽 at 40 pondering the possibility brings me quite a bit of anxiety and wonder if I’m over identifying and/or if it may valid coupled with imposter syndrome.
Thank you @@dollarmatian. You might be right. But it's not mandatory to get diagnosed. It's totally up to each person who wants to know about themselves. You can even take some online legit tests, and see how you land scoring vise. You don't have to get a diagnosis, if it scares you. It's supposed to be beneficial, for one self, to get the diagnosis or not to get it. It's totally up to you. I'm definitely glad I went through the long process of getting diagnosed. I initially didn't know anything about autism. But now that I know I'm autistic, I have been researching autism, and listening to a lot of autistic youtubers. Either way, I wish you all the best of luck with discovering yourself. It's worth knowing who we are.
@@lisbethchristensen1981 🙏🏽I mean, that is really nice of you.. thank you kind soul 🫂
You're very welcome @@dollarmatian. Any time.
Thanks bunches for this. Catching up on info and terminology is WORK most days, so I greatly appreciate folks like yourself doing a bit of the heavy lifting for folks like myself.
Will defo be sharing these everywhere I can as they come out.
Great stuff Thomas 👍
Good job covering a lot of information in a short time!
I have finally been put on a waiting list for an official diagnosis. Thank you, Thomas for all of your videos. They have taught me a lot about myself. ❤
1) Beyond 30 years ago, people had to have a pronounced speech delay to be diagnosed autistic; “Asperger’s” wasn’t even an option! This especially tended to miss those AFAB, as we develop speech more quickly and easily in general, and also just mature more quickly. Hence the hordes of undiagnosed/misdiagnosed middle-aged ladies out there.
2) Could we talk about ASD-2 and what that looks like? I always assumed I was ASD-1; twice-exceptional, and all that; but it’s looking like I’m beyond that and into ASD-2 territory. 🤔
Yeah I second this!! The levels are very interesting but also kinda vague imo
@@BreeeYT Good point. I am so blown away that there is a level one, and I am part of it, that I should start to open my eyes to other levels between sides.
I was diagnosed with level 2 autism. If you have a question or two I am willing to try to answer.
First, great description. I enjoyed the sound effects for the comorbidities and overlap :)
Yes, I am one of those "older people who went on their whole lives and never got diagnosed," because I had the less obvious of the traits, so it was easier to blend in, especially since I "never caused any trouble" and often kept to myself. It was You-Tube's algorithm that first alerted me [via the overlap with things like "Highly Sensitive Person", which I score highly for, as well as for "Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome," formerly known as "Sluggish Cognitive Tempo"]. I would never have thought of myself as someone with autism, and I also believed the myth [one of many] that "autistic people have little empathy". I have since learned a heck of a lot! [thanks to moderators, like yourself]. I self diagnosed [and had confirmed] at 65, along with the ADHD, that I also first self-diagnosed, in my late forties, though I feel I typically relate more to those in autistic forums, than the straight ADHD forums]. "AuDHD" nails it!
I always knew I wasn't just ADHD, and I was used to getting gaslit about struggles in my life. Even though I worked in mental health, I had no children, and I had no idea of the extent both of those diagnosis are estimated to exist in our population....case in point. I would not even try to tell my family [all older than me!]. The overlap was so tricky that, even as a mental health RN, with years of experience [that obviously did not include experience of autism or ADHD!], I couldn't fully self diagnose. In fact, I had to find someone who specializes in diagnosing adults and differentiating between ADHD, ASD, and OCD.
It explained so much [as I reviewed my life through this third lens]. In fact, I have many early and distinct memories, very few left of which could be corroborated. For example, I never told the adults, but the reason I "fell down the outside cement steps [around five steps], leading to our basement was likely related to "hypo-sensitivity" [though, I assure, I am plagued with many noise and light sensitivities, etc. ]. I remember, age @ 3 1/2 [partly deduced by the time of year and circumstances], I had an insatiable urge to experience what it would feel like to ride my tricycle down the cement steps, even though I had some sense that that would not be a good idea. The urge won out. I started down the steps on my tricycle, stopped by the cement wall in front of me. Another time [I think one year later] I had the urge to send my tricycle down the recent paved driveway. Yet, I knew I was not allowed into the street. The impulse won, as I gleefully watched my bike go down the paved hill, stopping at the end of the driveway, at the start of the street. I then got the assistance of someone walking down our block, so I could get my tricycle back without going into the street myself :) So, I have crap for short term memory, yet I can remember detailed early events. And still, places like the Netherlands (?) would never diagnose without someone who knew you in childhood to corroborate stories of what you were like. That would be so enraging, to me. Studies show the need for same is not needed for mature adults [and case by case, in context]. By the way, It's our detailed memories [which I wish was always consistent with me!] that can also make us more prone to developing PTSD :(
After having struggled and been gaslit so much, throughout my life, partially from my well internalized voices after years of bullying, etc., the diagnosis has been a relief, and was worth pulling from my "retirement" savings to obtain it!
very concise
And, as commonly a part of autistic traits, conciseness is not one of my strengths, so I am awed by how well done :)
Fantastic video, Thomas. ♾️
Thanks so much! What was good about it?
Oh wow 1 in 33! 😊 it’s actually pretty common - more common than being a red head~
1 in 36 in the USA.
Then I obviously have ASD-2 since I receive disability income even though I don't require 24-7 support. I just get confused since I've heard that 80 to 90 percent of the ASD population worldwide either struggles with employment or under employment. But if having ASD-1 means that you are able to live completely independently then requiring disability income must mean that I have ASD-2. But what's confusing to me is that it seems that the large majority of the ASD population says that they have ASD-1 even though I have heard that 80 to 90 percent of the ASD population worldwide struggles with unemployment or under employment.
I was diagnosed 6 months ago and they told me they don't give people ASD ratings like that anymore because it makes getting support more difficult. IE just because I might be considered ASD-1 doesn't mean I don't still need mental health support. I can live independently but I have significant issues with stress, depression, anxiety and I am often burnt out, irritable, have headaches and I'm passively suicidal. But I am also fully employed in a high paying job so I'm not eligible for any financial support regardless of my circumstances.
I have ASD and ADHD (diagnosed with both), on the outside people might think it's ASD-1 but on the inside it feels like ASD-2 or 3. But that's the problem with the those ratings and I presume that's why they just told me I have ASD and not the severity.
Thankfully starting 1-to-1 therapy in 2 months time.
I definitely struggle with "under" employment, particularly for someone of my profession [and talk about "imposter syndrome, because of my own personal struggles, while coming off so "normal"]. I mentally exhausted myself, from the constant sensory bombardment, until I could finally come home to be alone with my cat! In addition to ASD1, I have Combined type ADHD [but heavy on the inattentive]. That doesn't work out too well for a nurse [we didn't have these diagnosis growing up! We were just humiliated and shamed, so I never knew, even though I became a mental health professional]. I also never had kids, or have been around them much, to take interest in subjects related "to them". I [as many adults still do not] had no idea, the prevalence of those affected by these diagnosis [including ADHD], & the many perpetuated myths, etc.!. I also only managed to saved about 1/4 of what was recommended for "retirement", which stinks, considering I am not able to manage most "normal" jobs anymore, and I am an inexperienced & easily intimidated as an "entrepreneur". So [at 65] I worry about my financial future, despite how hard I fought to become independent and a [mental] survivalist. To others, I look like, "Well, look at you....you did fine, etc. ….". I spent much of my life in autistic burnout, yet had to get myself to a point to be pushed out of my job because of [realistic] fear about how I would continue to be able to support myself. I managed to obtain my BSN degree [which was a miracle in itself, with no encouragement/mentors] and graduated with honors!]. What is not seen is how I nearly died getting through that, and how I nearly died five years ago from autistic burnout [and a lifetime of shame, while still harboring so much ignorance about subjects no "mental health professional" should be ignorant of]. I started self educating through You-Tube, and much by my surprise.
You did a good job of convincing me more that everyone is on the spectrum [or in the matrix], but only people from some fuzzy point x on can call themselves autistic. I am not sure where I fit personally.
Saying "everyone is on the spectrum [or in the matrix]" is quite ableist. You've pretty much just said "everybody is a little bit autistic".
Even when Thomas mentions it he is talking about the tests and the flaws in those tests. He specifically says "people without autism can have autistic traits, but when looking an autism diagnosis they need to have different elements and traits to a certain degree of strength". For example ADHD has cross-over symptoms, as does OCD. They can be co-occurring but that doesn't mean they have autism, it means they have some symptoms of autism.
People misdiagnose themselves all the time, even doctors misdiagnose people, but we should not take away from others experiences and whether they believe they have autism or not. But you should absolutely not be saying "everyone is on the spectrum".
@@Vyrus What is the distinction? You are saying that being diagnosably autistic is a matter of degree. Many people have these traits to various degrees. Thus logically there must be an intergrade between those that are called 'autistic', and those who apparantly are not diagnosable. There is no qualitative gap. There is nothing at all 'ablist' about this. Quite the opposite. It is clear that noone can fully understand another's experience, but many people experience similar issues to varying degrees. The vast majority of people have never had access to any sort of diagnoses at all. To say that because you belong to the special club of those with diagnoses makes you fundamentally different from those without is showing discrimination without much basis.