Autism in Adults
Some adults walk through life feeling that they are different from others but not knowing why. They might come to the conclusion that something is wrong with them, that they are just not as “perfect” as others and start doubting their own personal self-worth. There can be many reasons why someone is feeling different. Today I will mention one possibility.
While autism spectrum disorder is most often diagnosed in childhood, some presentations of autism may not be diagnosed until adulthood.
Autistic adults who are “high functioning,” or who have less noticeable communication and behavioral differences, may experience symptoms like:
anxiety in new or unstructured situations
difficulty decoding what makes sense to say in conversations
stiff or exaggerated body language or hand gestures
the wish to make friends but lack understanding of how to do it
Excerpt from Signs of autism in adults
Participation question:
In your opinion, what are some big issues autistic people face?
What do you think autistic people need to hear and feel from others?
Helpful Videos:
15 Signs of Undiagnosed Autism in Adults
Helpful Resources:
What are the symptoms of Autistic Spectrum Disorder?
Seeking Help
Mental stress can cause us not to be able to see the good things in life and lead to excessive rumination or worries which can result in serious health problems. If you have serious, long-term problems with negative thinking and feeling depressed, see your doctor or talk to a therapist if they are related to any mental challenges.
Are you looking for a therapist? 7 Cups has online, certified therapists with a paid option. For more information on what happens in online therapy at 7 Cups, Read Lisa’s (a therapist and director of therapy) explanation
https://www.7cups.com/forum/therapy/General_2432/WeveLaunchedTalkTherapyon7Cups_319430/
To apply for 7 Cups online therapy, click on this link (must be logged into member account) https://www.7cups.com/online-therapy/?ob=1
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@amiablePeace77
This is such amazing Ami💙I admire this honestly! We gotta talk about this!
I had a chance to go to an NGO which was working for Autistic children! I must say they did a lot of work in that regard! I interacted with those children, some of them also had down's syndrome!
I believe, any disability demands empathy more than sympathy! Feeling them is more important! People just want to be treated normally like we live our lives!
They really don't expect any special treatment but only love and genuine compassion as if they are part of the same common humanity we are in and not treated exceptionally different. I am not denying their special needs, belongings etc, that they require! I am just expressing my bit knowledge about our behavior with them.
Making them feel safe and secure in our company by being genuinely sensitive and pretty normal is utterly important.
@resilience2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I believe treating anyone normal and not overly special or different
helps to make them feel being part of the community!
@resilience2025 empathy rather than sympathy resonated with me, perfectly put 💜
@amiablePeace77 Very true post. Autism wasn’t really known about when I was younger. I spent a long time not understanding what was different about me. Truly, I still feel that way.
I feel like the things people on the spectrum need to hear are the same as all humans need to hear. We just need to love each other, care, listen, and feel for each other. It doesn’t seem hard, yet the lack of these things is an epidemic in our world. Speaking for myself, I don’t want to be offered these things because of being on the spectrum. I’d rather people didn’t know (because then I’d feel even more separate) but just be nice to me because I’m me. ❤️
@PiecesOfWhoeverIWas
It's hard and it can also hurt when you feel everybody is practically "the same" but you're just different, you're the outsider. I have these feelings too and needed to learn to be okay with myself. Glad you know the reason now and I hope it helps.
"Love each other, care, listen, and feel for each other" - this is so important in life and needed by everyone!
I have autism and I didn't know I had it until I was an adult. And by this, I mean I got tested for it as an adult. Honestly, I think it's so important to hear about what it's like to be autistic from other autistic people, because... well, the way it was described by adults in my childhood was much different from how I experienced it. I think it's a dichotomy between how people see it vs. how people live with it.
Now that I know, life is much better. I am able to use accommodations at work and school. I'm also able to accommodate myself and understand when I'm feeling overwhelmed, plus how to cope with it. The only concern of mine is what's going on in the U.S., which might hinder a lot of Americans from getting tested.
@Lemurian51611
Glad to hear that the diagnosis helps you to understand yourself better and be able to accommodate you! Sadly, so many adults are living with autism without knowing it, meaning they can't understand why others react so much different to them. I hope there will be nothing in future that stops people to get tested.
@amiablePeace77
i’m about 90% sure that i’m autistic. i am not diagnosed, nor do i want to be, for safety reasons. however, this feeling of inherent difference, of some sort of “wrongness” has followed me for as long as i can remember. i know there’s nothing wrong with me; i just function differently when it comes to certain things and situations. the problem isn’t the difference, it’s the lack of accommodations, and the fact that i’ve been made to feel isolated, othered, and less than.
to any other autistic people, i feel for you, and my support is with you a hundred thousand percent!! you’re lovely, you’re cared for, and you’re loved. your traits are what make you wonderful. you’re worthy of being truly understood and genuinely loved. and i cannot stress this enough: there’s nothing “wrong” with us!! we are fully capable and worthy of respect, just like anyone else! im sorry if the world has made you feel like an outsider, but you deserve to be in it.
@twocozy
You've gone through a lot in the years when you felt something is wrong about you. So glad to hear you came to the understanding that it's just about functioning in a different way, because that's what it is but sadly not fully understood in society. It's good that more and more information is being spread about it.
Thank you for your loving and supportive words to everyone!
