I want an opinion...
Sorry, I don't speak English well. I've been seeing a psychologist for a while now, and they told me I might have autism. I don't know if it's true or if it's the cause of this problem I have, but I wanted an opinion. I spend practically all my time creating imaginary scenarios and conversations in my head; it's the only thing that makes me truly happy. Everything else, including studying what I like, tends to feel burdensome and negative, but when I enter my imagination, nothing is, and I can experience and feel things I never could otherwise, especially in the social and emotional realm. I should clarify that I'm already 20 years old and haven't had any friends since I was 8. The problem is that I think I do this to escape loneliness, and it feels like a coward, and it makes it difficult for me to complete my tasks.
@selfconfidentCircle1043 For autism you would have to be evaluated by medical professionals. "Creating imaginary scenarios and conversations in my head" sounds like it could be maladaptive daydreaming? Has your psychologist ever mentioned anything like that to you?
I've been seeing a psychologist for over three years, and they told me I might be on the autism spectrum, but the psychiatrist didn't diagnose me because, according to her, I should see someone who specializes specifically in autism. But to answer your question, I haven't heard them mention daydreaming. But I've mentioned my struggle with it many times and how it distracts me all the time.
@selfconfidentCircle1043 Yeah you should see someone that specializes in and has experience with autism to get a diagnosis.
See if you have autism it is totally normal and if you feel alone or depressed I am there for you
Everyone here is right, that one activity of escaping into your imagination, and not having friends, doesn't automatically make you autistic, but it is things autistic people might do. But people who 'dissociate' from unpleasant experiences also do this when life just feels tough, and being lonely is one of the toughest experiences out there.
One thing that helped me decide was I watched many videos on YouTube about ' how to tell if you're autistic' I watched all the popular videos by women, as I'm female and autism shows up differently in women... It really helped me understand that I'm autistic. Since I learned more, there's many signs. One of my big ones is 'inertia ' which I didn't know about before but have struggled with for ages.
It helped me be nicer to myself, and understand I need to stand up for my way of being.
I hope that helps!
@selfconfidentCircle1043It sounds like your imagination is a very important and comforting place for you, especially when other parts of life feel hard or overwhelming. Spending a lot of time in your head creating scenarios can be a way to cope with loneliness and difficult feelings, and it doesn’t make you a coward—it’s a way your mind is trying to help you. Autism can include differences in social connection and imagination, so it’s possible this relates to your experience. If you haven’t yet, sharing these thoughts with your psychologist could help them understand you better and support you. You deserve kindness and understanding, and there are ways to find balance between your imagination and daily tasks with the right support.