I was a bit scared to watch this because I've been thinking I'm autistic for quite a long time but I'm afraid I'm wrong. This showed me that it's okay to be wrong about it. It's not the end of the world, you can make mistakes in the process of trying to understand yourself better. Thanks for sharing.
Respect. You got it wrong and that's okay, you needed to take that path to get where you are. Maybe you were meant to so that you could create this channel and help others.
I love that point of view! That's how I like to think of it too. Instead of being embarrassed that I made a mistake, I focus on how many people might be in a similar boat and be helped by my story.
With social difficulties, consider who is around you and who you're interacting with. I didn't consider myself autistic for a long time because I had no apparent social difficulties that were negatively impacting my life. But it turns out that I surrounded myself with mostly neurodivergent people. It got to the point where I was able to subconciously recognize them. When I was hiring people at my former job, I'd pick up on those ND vibes. I'd be more likely to hire ND people than NT even if both had the same qualifications. I just somehow knew that there was a better understanding and we could more effectively communicate. Although at the time, I couldn't pinpoint why. If I'm put in a room with NT people (like women in their late 30's or early 40's for instance) I would struggle a lot because there was a lack of common bond. Even sometimes sensory things can fly under the radar if you are in control of your enviornment. So someone may not be aware of those things at all if they just aren't impacting them due to having more control and agency. The question is, how were you during childhood? How do you react to new situations and people? Just something for other viewers to think about! (Not invaldiating your experience)
@@Watergirl_83 This is common, especially for folks with a history of trauma. If you can't remember your childhood, I would recommend doing trauma work with a therapist!
So funny I think the deeper I get into understanding this, the more apparent it is that all my closest friends are almost certainly neurodivergent too.
i always knew I was neurodivergent I just didn't know if I fit anything, like I tried to look up as much about autism as I could and try to fit myself into it because I thought that was the only possibility. Then I discovered what ADHD really was about and everything fell into place
I had this kind of moment with OCD a few years ago. I learned some great strategies for dealing with intrusive thoughts, reassurance-seeking, etc, but I realized that the main hallmarks of the disorder weren’t resonating with me. Autism/ADHD seems to fit more consistently with my life experience, but I’m gonna speak with a doctor to see if I’m entirely off base or not. I’m driving my wife crazy self-diagnosing, but I’ve been avoiding the doctor for fear of misdiagnosis or just me being wrong. Gonna do it though, so pray for me
Even high sensitivity or sensory processing disorders aren't necessarily autism. They are themselves their own separate things. They're very debilitating and cause so much discomfort socially it's very difficult to deal with and can easily be mistaken for what we can think to be autism - especially when over stimulated or underestimated or overwhelmed and you can have meltdowns or have to cocoon or something xx when I had my assessment and they said that I wasn't autistic they said it was because I had reciprocal communication and a melodic voice and could ascertain and infer bits of stories and drama. It kind of itches but also I'm getting treatment and occupational therapy for the sensory processing now, so I'm kind of relieved because it's so debilitating
thanks for this, i see so many people i know self diagnose, and end up being wrong when they go in to get a diagnosis, that they continue to say they have it even though they most likely dont. I get consciously or subconsciously playing up symptoms but accepting you were wrong is extremely important to figuring yourself out.
THANK GOD!! i have all those physical sensitivities and social issues. Lol. I was scared to watch this. Thank you for sharing that very hard thing to share with us. Im happy for you that you are discovering your truth
Well done. Honest, courageous, humble. We just have to keep learning, discovering, seeking, and being as honest w ourselves as we can (currently) be. 👍👍
My experience is similar. A LOT of people are instant that I have Autism and they themselves don't listen to the signs I'm not. The more you try to point out the signs that I am not, the more they think it's proof to the contrary. People don't fit into boxes and forcing them to do so can be very damaging. All my "traits of Autism" are actually because of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A violent condition in my experience that has been widely underrated and forgotten. For me ADHD and Autism are considered "popular" so a lot of people pounce on that like a dog with a bone and ignore conditions people can actually have instead. PTSD is not temporary and it is no walk in the park and for me a lot of people have forgotten that and whenever I have PTSD issues they scream Autism. It's extremely frustrating. Autism is a condition you are born with and you are not less than nor broken if you do have it. PTSD is MOST DEFINITELY something you contract, pick up, become sick with, have forced upon you, you are not born with it. Even though you too are not less than for it. It, just like Autism and any other conditions, just needs a little consideration and patience to help a person out. The world really needs to stop being so narrow minded and forcing conditions upon people that they don't have. Especially at the expense of those that they do have. I can prove fifty ways to Sunday that I have PTSD and that it needs addressing to live better but they continue to scream Autism. Claiming if I just admit it then they will help. Trouble is I have a friend who has both ADHD and Autism and they don't do s$## to help them. So.... that is another thing. The world needs to stop looking for labels for people and just help people as people.
This is really important! I’m autistic myself (I was never self diagnosed but I still think that those who do are valid in their own assessment, I was just privileged but that’s not the norm) and we’re all human, it’s okay to get it wrong. And I’m sure you’ve done a lot of research so I don’t want to seem like I’m trying to diagnose you, but remember that you can also be hyposensitive to sensory stimuli and still be autistic, but what you described seems a lot like ADHD (which I also have), idk if you were diagnosed (even as a self diagnosis) with it or not, but if you haven’t, it would be cool to research it!
Thanks so much for pointing that out! I have looked into ADHD, and I'm not sure about that either. I think most of my symptoms can be explained by trauma and general neurodivergence!
The more I look into Autistic symptomatology, the more I resonate with it, tho not every symptom fits. Then there's the chronic depression, which can be symptomatic of Autism but also of cPTSD. I began to wonder if I have cPTSD instead and resonated with that as well as I researched childhood trauma. For some reason I thought I couldn't have both issues explaining my depression until I saw videos discussing that co-morbidity. So, after worrying that I might not be Autistic but simply traumatized, I reconsidered the other childhood symptoms of Autism that people without cPTSD share and realized that yes, even w/o my depression I would still have to identify as Autistic, and that my depression most likely stems (yes, I said stems, lol) from the cPTSD I suffered and continue to be reinjured by due to being Autistic. Phew, that was a mouthful. I appreciate hearing about your journey and hope that you'll find your landing place. Apparently, we all love you whether you are Autistic or not, because we are all on this journey to understand who we are together.
i dont know if someone might find this offensive, but i'm almost scared to know if i'm autistic and i'm looking up this videos just to prove i'm not. i heavily relate to adhders and their experience, but then i came across people with both autism and adhd and related to some of their experiences... and that put me in a crisis. idk why but i can accept adhd more easily, but the thought of also having autism freaks me out. maybe it's because of the stigma.... i obviously don't think anything bad about autistic people... still, somehow i'm not okay with me having it, it has basically became my fear. and idk if fearing it just confirms that i do have it. i know it's so stupid to think this way. on the other hand as you mentioned, i don't have sensory issues, i'm not sensitive to sounds, smells, textures etc. and don't have special interests. i only ever had short term hyperfixations that go away after 2 weeks/a month (besides usual hobbies, but i don't get obsessed with my hobbies). i still relate to basically everything adhd, even tho i don't have an official diagnosis. all i know in my gut that i'm definitely ND. but in moments of overthinking it, i just get tired of self-analyzing and doubt i have any of that. we're all just humans after all so idk... so sad that i can't talk to anyone about this irl
Hi! Just discovered your channel and I wanted to share a little bit about my own Neurodivergent/ASD experience. You may may well be right, and it's true that it's probably best not to be hasty in claiming to have a condition if you aren't feeling certain about it. So kudos for your choice to clarify. I would like to say though that in my experience I've learned that whether one has Autism or not isn't always a black-and-white determination. One could be someone on the "milder/less supports" end of the spectrum who would be diagnosed with Asperger's if that were still it's own separate diagnosis. It's a much milder form of autism that can often go undiagnosed for years in girls and women. Women who are on the Autism spectrum- specifically those who would be diagnosed with Asperger's often go undiagnosed or recieve late diagnoses. A friend who recieved a diagnosis of ASD and ADHD suggested I look into the screener document by a psychologist from Australia named Tania A. Marshall. I checked it out, printed it, and highlighted any traits that apply to me. And I was blown away! I had nearly all the symptoms except for a small few. I then took the Autism Quotient quiz online which is a good resource for help with self diagnosis. I scored a 28. A score of 30 or higher is considered to be on the spectrum. So I got testing I 2020 to definitively see if I have Aspergers, and I received an ASD diagnosis, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 5, but my Asperger's went undiagnosed for years. I recently self diagnosed with CPTSD as well. I was relieved to get the positive diagnosis of ASD, as it checked so many boxes for me, and made my childhood make more sense to me. It runs in my fam, but I NEVER thought I might have it. I've felt my mom has it and her dad, and most of my moms siblings, and one cousin. I assumed my traits were just that I'm a HSP with ADHD who's an Empath and an introvert. But I'm glad I looked into it further. It's possible to be neurodivergent and not be an Aspie or have ASD. But I encourage those resources to anyone seeking more info. I hope it's OK for me to share the link to Tania Marshall's info? Best wishes to all the fellow Neurodivergents out there.. Awareness and knowledge is spreading! :) taniaannmarshall.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/moving-towards-a-female-profile-the-unique-characteristics-abilities-and-talents-of-asperwomen-adult-women-with-asperger-syndrome/
Thank you, your video helped me mitigate imposter syndrome. Initially, I self diagnosed as HSP and then realized that there was more. High empathy and pattern seeking were crucial to look up what it was. I also struggle with my senses not just my emotions. I have being mirroring people for way too many years now. Although, I did great fitting in, it took a toll on me. Now, I know I'm autistic thanks to getting my ADHD diagnosis and their comorbity.
You’re an HSP just like I am. So glad you found this out about yourself. Way to trust your gut feeling which is intuition. Have u ever taken a personality test? I’m an ENFP and I’m an HSP
A psychologist recently told me that she suspects I have autism. I have to wait about another two years before a proper diagnosis. I have major social difficulties, but not really any sensory issues, so far as I can tell. Also, I don't think stimming is something I do much. I go back and forth between thinking I'm autistic, then being sure I'm not. Ah well.
Hey, thanks for making this video. I'd like to use this comment section to share some personal experiences, and maybe connect to people with similar experiences. Let's get straight to the point. I relate to a lot of autistic or ADHD symptoms, including social experiences. Additionally a lot of my friends have ADHD and/or autism. Generally I am pretty sure that I'm neurodivergent, but I don't know in which way. The phrase "not quite" encapsulates it pretty well actually. This causes a lot of self doubt and oftentimes even mirrors terfy like questions, which I obv don't agree with. I don't want to give examples rn, because a) I'd have to debunk them thoroughly, which would make the comment too long b) I don't want to overshare on the internet. Instead I recommend ponderful's videos on GCs & autism Back to the point. I just feel so frustrated at always tethering on the edge of neurodivergence, but not being able to claim a label and with it the benefits of self diagnosis, because I feel like the terminology for the divergence of my brain just doesn't exist yet. Now I'm aware that I'm very privileged to even think about this and I fear that I'm just being entitled for having come to this conclusion. But at the same time it makes the most sense to me, because there is so little research on neurodivergency (in comparison to other fields of science and medicine) and a lot of it is misinformation and/or infantilisation. It can't be that unlikely that some things just aren't discovered yet. Therefore I wanted to ask if anybody else here has made experiences of not being able to describe their personal experiences with the help of current neurodivergent terminology as accurately as they'd like to or a feeling of "not quite" and what conclusions they have drawn from these experiences or time periods. Thanks in advance Also pls keep this a safe space and feel free to correct me if I have used hurtful language.
10 years ago I was going through one of the worst times of my life and while in the midst of things a woman going through something similar told me, "We're all on different paths." That has stayed with me all these years. It might be a simple saying but it changed my life. Just wanted to share that with you. Your honesty is much appreciated ✨
Okay! So I specifically looked up videos like this and i found yours. You brought a lot of comfort to me and if I'm not autistic I should *NOT* feel like an idiot for being curious. I do believe I share sensory issues and over stimulation but I keep questioning myself. My diagnosis is gonna start on Friday and I'm super fucking nervous. I was just wondering if you know any other videos that have to do with me being scared or questioning if I am or not? I'm not sure what to look up and you seem to be well educated in this specific area :) thank you!
Oh my goodness, I'm so so so glad I made this video then! How is your diagnostic process going? It's okay to be nervous, it's okay to be wrong, and it's okay to question things. Just remember that diagnosis is more of an art than a science, and labels are meant to serve you, not the other way around. As for other resources, I honestly haven't seen a whole lot, that's why I create so much stuff on this topic. If you want to follow me on TikTok @megmoxie, I make a lot of content about this there!
@@TheNeurocuriosityClub thank you for responding! That means so much😅 and I'm taking it as it goes. The day is coming closer to start my diagnosis, reading this made me take a deep breath. I really appreciate what you said about how diagnosis is more of an art. That spoke levels to me, especially how it's meant to serve me and not the other way around. That'll stick with me as I go on this journey to self discovery. Also just followed you on tiktok and will for sure be checking out your content :) thank you once again.
@@adelinesantana4681 I'm so so glad I could help. Diagnosis is...so hard. But what's important is that you get the help you need from the best possible label.
The internet nowadays loves to randomly trap me in neurodivergent spirals where I begin to question if I have ADHD or am on the Autism spectrum. Autism especially always gives me pause because I have a myriad of sensory sensitivities and I particularly relate to always basing my social actions off of the collective public (books/movies/people I have around me, anything) and never feeling like I properly understand what people mean. However, I have come to terms with that just being how an overly introverted only child from a rural town reacts to growing up and moving to an actual city. I don't actually struggle to get my points across, and I may miss social cues but not enough that it has ever been an issue. Autism is not a label I can apply here.
Thank you so much for sharing your struggles, you're honesty and the knowledge that you've gained. Not even my doctor's know about HSPs and I've been trying to educate them for the last 6 years ... They still have no clue about how neurodivergents react differently to different treatments. I have absolutely no questions for you because I think everybody should do this when it comes to neurodiversity. When you find out more information, you share it. I would be embarrassed as well but I would still do the same thing I believe. I had all of those my whole life. Sensory issues, struggles with social cues and social interactions, obvious meltdowns which I have today. I'm still in the grief process of only getting diagnosed at 49 years old.
Girl DO NOT beat yourself up! You’re amazing and help so many people with neurodiversity issues regardless of your own diagnosis. I’m an HSP and my teenage son is autistic…it helps me understand many things he deals with, but I’m always looking for content on what it’s like to be him. It would be really cool if you did something like a series of videos interviewing people with autism (or other neurodiverent issues…including HSP!). Find out how they perceive and navigate in a world riddled with people who just don’t get them. What are things they wish people understood, etc? If you’ve already done something like this, forgive me…I’m new to your channel. What I have seen tho, I really appreciate. Take care. 🥰
As one who fits even the poorly worded, but better than it was, DSM5-TR almost verbatim down the line, this makes perfect sense. Your approach was logical. This is the second of your vids I have ever seen, and you have shown as much insight into us as only teo other non autists I’ve heard or met. In 67 years. Being understood makes me tend towards tears. THIS video led me to the next. Logically, I could only subscribe. Thank you.
Hey, I love it, you nailed me on the "16 questions" video. I might be a highly Sensitive Person, because your OUTRO MUSIC is sooo much louder than your speaking voice,and Im up all night, on my porch, chillin with my new friend, and then you say goodbye, as I dive headlong toward my Boombox to turn it down before the neighbors Whip me, for blurting out loudness at 4am.🤨😉😂. It's quite the audible leap, he's says, in love, as a musician/songwriter/singer/producer/painting/found sculpting, ADHD, gen anxiety, panic attacks(it's going to give me a heart attack this time, Everytime),OCD,CPTSD,PTSD ....you know the drill. Nice to meet you, my NeuroNew Souldivergent Sister. All in love. Peace, love the show. You nailed me better than any of the tests I've heard. 100% accurate descriptions of me, except I'm very touchy about black and white thinking, but when it stops by,? I always remind it, that "ITS ON THE SPECTRUM TOO, JUST LIKE ME!!!!!! THERES NO ROOM FOR BLACK AND WHITE THINKING, MARK!" ....... everything is on a spectrum; especially light and sound. PEACE
Honestly, I don't even know what autism is anymore. For a long time I was obsessing and researching and finally went through a thorough diagnostic process (interviews, questionnaires, tools for differential diagnosis, etc.), at the end of which I came out as non-autistic. My hunch is if I had chosen a different practitioner and a different process (an interview + ADOS) I would have come out as autistic. I think it's useful to be aware of neurodivergence but I don't think the paradigm is accurate. Hopefully, in 20 or so years we will have a more accurate picture. If what I say sounds controversial, I understand - it has to be said that after some experiences and research I don't have much respect for the fields of psychology and psychiatry anymore as they're built on very shaky foundations. So granted, anything that broadens social inclusivity and understanding is cool in my book, but it doesn't mean the labels and the borders between them are an accurate reflection of reality.
My thoughts, exactly. From direct experience, I always thought psychology-- esp. diagnostic labels-- were a bunch of hogwash, and after obsessively trying to figure out whether I am or not autistic (or ADHD) for years, and reading and hearing this, I am more than ever convinced. So I am going to say to myself that I have anxiety from events in my past and present, came from a dysfunctional family (but who didn't?), and for some odd reason, am also highly sensitive, and pass all the autism and ADHD tests, online... (But that also makes me wonder about the tests!) There are some other odd things about me, which perhaps point to autism, but perhaps just point to genetic oddities and learning disabilities. I am going to train myself to live without knowing, and offer it up to God. Why do we all need labels?
I really appreciate you making this video. I wish there were more videos of people that have been on this journey, because I'm trying to figure out whether or not I'm on the spectrum. I am highly sensitive to sensory things, but I can't tell if my social deficits are social anxiety (which I for sure have) or if there's something more going on. My father has autism, and I pursued a diagnosis from the same psychiatrist, but I was not diagnosed because I was too good at picking up on social cues and I have friends. I set it aside for a year, but something keeps nagging me. Was I hiding my struggles even during the assessment? Or on the other end, do I exaggerate my struggles? I don't know if I struggle enough socially to qualify. I will say a lot of my friends are ND. I usually know what to do in social situations, I can read people well, however, it is exhausting with those I don't know. I wish there was more videos like yours so that I could compare myself better to the diagnosed and undiagnosed. Thank you for being honest in your video, it was very brave of you and I think will help a lot of people.
Hey there! I'm so glad this video helped you. I do want to add that, since posting this, I've actually realized that I am autistic after all. Here's the video about that, if you're interested: czcams.com/video/glwl1Ca5Opc/video.html As for your situation, thank you for sharing a bit of your story with me. I'm sorry things are a bit unclear right now, hopefully you find the answers you need soon.
@@TheNeurocuriosityClub that's great! I'm so glad you were able to keep learning and figure that out! I will check out that video! Thank you for reading and responding to my comment. It's so hard isn't it? The back and forth in our brains. Am I hiding part of myself, or, on the other end, exaggerating symptoms? Lol. I know I'll figure it out, it's a journey, that's for sure. Thanks!
This!!!! I really can’t tell whether the symptoms I have are results of autism, social anxiety/depression, or what. I have a very hard time making friends unless they are a very specific person I can click with almost immediately. But it happens incredibly rarely, and I am almost completely incapable of making conversation most of the time if I’m not incredibly close with them. I just can’t seem to understand the mechanics of conversation 😅 But I also feel like I DO pick up on social cues very well. However, I tend to have a very blank face and trouble showing emotions unless I am feeling an emotion VERY strongly (sometimes not even then) or am paying close attention to try and portray that emotion. It’s all just a very large mess haha
@@samanthathefluffyprussianm698 I am just some random person, but from what you wrote it sounds like there's a potential for autism there. If you haven't done so, go over the criteria from DSM 5. I don't think you have to meet all the examples they list, just meet the criteria, somehow, in each section (i thinkkk)
@@MarieAsterhaving friends is not at all a diagnostic criteria for being autistic. If that was used as part of the process, that’s defective and needs reconsideration. Things are a wee bit more complex than that ;)
Ive been struggling to figure out what my issues are pretty much my whole life. First real clue was a friend whos a teacher and explained HSP to me. After several years of accepting that, i knew there was still something unanswered. Last fall, I found a video from a professor in Aus who explained Autism and the tears streaming down my face was enough for me to know the truth. Still undiagnosed at 50, None of these neurodiverse diagnosis even existed until after i graduated high school and was working (struggling) for a living. Thank you for your channel, i will watch more to better understand the differences. ☀️🌈🧡💯🙏🏼🌌
Even though since this video you rediscovered your neurodivergency this video is still a valid representation of the struggle that self diagnosies or people who struggle to get an official diagnosis go through, the doubts and the push back they can get from their environment/social circle or even medical professionals who has outdated knowledge of those neurodivergent types.
What's a sensory sensitivity, really? I used to live in Spain in a very noisy environment for some time, and the sentitivity to sunlight grew from none to extreme, i ended up never taking a hood off and earplugs out, shreds ly hating every second of sunlight. I loved sunlight before. Does it qualify as sensitivity? This is so frustrating, everything is a spectrum, its hard to get diagnosed correctly, and how I'm even supposed to answer the test if i cannot understand the level objectivity of my own assessment
This is great. I feel like folks get married to the idea of being autistic because it makes them feel special and gives them this sense of belonging because there's such an intense movement of self diagnosed, middle-aged white ladies bonding over these experiences that are super common to being middle-aged white ladies. But honestly, a bunch of intensive self-reflection and drive to form social connections over similar characteristics is....well...it's noteworthy that those are characteristics found almost exclusively in this very specific demographic of autistic people, and not so much in the people who were diagnosed as kids, or who can't "mask" so effectively that they live lives barely distinguishable from non-autistic people.
I’m trying to go through this as well trying to find out if I’m autistic or not I have an intellectual disability so it’s been really hard but I’m going to get help tomorrow so hopefully that helps :)
Can you please elaborate on how self-diagnosis is valid? I believe that that very statement is the core of the disconnect people have with this topic. I would love to hear your elaboration on the subject.
I have a test next month. If I'm not found to be autistic, my life doesn't make any sense to me. I think that if I fail the test, I will find myself in crisis.
I personally suspect that the internet has had a huge influence on people thinking they might be autistic. It's undersrandable since autism is a spectrum and some might find they touch on certain traits on that huge spectrum. I know I'm not autistic and I also know that I'm not neuro typical. I have been diagnosed as a HSP and I also have anxiety disorder and social anxiety thrown in the mix. I always feel like the outsider...I'm the child that never got invited to birthday parties. I'm the kid that was always alone. I'm odd and quirky and strange ...that is how people react in my presence. I don't see the world like an adult does but more child like if that makes sense. It's like my inner world is an innocent fantasy realm where nobody gets hurt and everyone is happy and safe including animals and plants too afcourse. I can be very responsible but I struggle a lot and I have learned to mask so much so I don't feel so inadequate when doing the day to day adult chores and responsabilities. I find going out exhausting as Im also an introvert. I have manic emotional outbursts when the presure gets to me, I hit burnout, i then get fatigued and can't function for days. The world and people exhaust me but I like people I just find it hard to cope trying to fit in with them cos I cant be like them..it takes so much hard work for me to just seem okay on the outside. Why would my psycologist who had a PhD diagnose me as a HSP and not tell me I was autistic? She would have diagnosed me as autistic but she did not. She told me we would be doing therapy to help me ' turn down the volume' on all my sensitivities. I'm very sensitive to loud sounds even voices and animal sounds and smells ( i cant wear perfume or use certain house cleaning products, i use natural products).I use baby shampoos and soaps etc. I always thought it was my anxiety that affected my senses. I've seen many doctors and psycologists and non ever said i had autism.
Have you been assessed for ADHD? Many women go undiagnosed or are first diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression. ADHD is nuerodevelopmental with difficulties in executive functioning and self regulation.
@@TheNeurocuriosityClub Dr Russell,Barkley has a lot of videos on CZcams that are very informative. He's not especially neurodivergent affirm but all his research is based on since. He also has written many books an research papers. The video on executive functioning is callef 30 things to know about ADHD video 3A. There is also a book on women and ADHD I can link you if your interested.
It's interesting that you say the profile of a highly sensitive person is, by all measures, synonymous with of an autistic person. Does that mean that the HSP vs autism difference is a matter of presentation?
I'm on the same boat as you were. I don't have sensory issues (some light sensitivity maybe. Not sure if it's in the normal range), but I was always weird socially and always racionalized it a lot, to a degree that I'm not sure it's common. And I have adhd, which doesn't make it easier to separate the symptoms. Not sure if my difficulties were because of impulsivity only.
I just wanted to make a comment about the two hallmarks of autism. As far as social difficulties, I completely agree. As far as sensory issues, not so much. Because sensory issues wasn't even part of official DSM 4 criteria (I don't know that much about DSM 5, I researched it back in the good old DSM 4 days). So what I always thought was that the two hallmarks were social difficulties and obsessive-compulsive behavior, in that order. I have both of those, but I haven't had sensory issues (with only few exceptions -- for example I absolutely hate the texture of burdock leaves). I have been officially diagnosed with Asperger's (again, back in DSM 4 days, when this diagnosis existed).
Just because someone is not autistic doesn't mean they don't share some, or even many autistic traits. Honestly, I wish you had gone more in-depth with the research you've done & it's influence on your conclusion, but I love that this video exists. I think it should be normalized for everyone to do this kind of introspection, to recognize their personal truths. Also as an aside, autism is fundamentally a communication 'disorder'. Our brains have more difficulty absorbing & translating the world around us & disseminating our own thoughts in turn. People around often struggle with understanding our modes of communication, as we often do theirs, hence social awkwardness. This is the underlying reason for sensory sensitivity as well, as any external input is a form of communication & some informational input is simply too overwhelming. And usually it's not the type of sensitivity but the severity of it's affects that are indicative of autism. This is also one of the major reasons high maskers are still often considered "less autistic"; because we have a slightly improved ability to not have a visible meltdown due to overstimulation & a better ability to hold it in until we are in a safer situation. And I do mean *can* but not likely if what's happening is too overwhelming. Fire alarms, for instance, shut me allllllllllllll the way down. If there's ever an actual fire, I will likely burn to death🔥 Edit: Okay, just looked at your channel & saw you posted some videos expounding in this. Ima go watch those😊
C-PTSD and the effects of childhood trauma have seemingly a lot in common with autism. A lot of survivers think that they are autistic at first. What you describe, that you identify with a lot of characteristics of autism but not with the core, sounds an awful lot like C-PTSD.
I have never thought I have autism even though I have sensory processing disorder because I do great with social situations and am very good at reading between the lines. I didn’t always do great socially. I was a super shy kid and really liked hanging out with adults more. To this day, I still prefer to work with little kids or seniors which again are not my peers. But I thought that was anxiety, peer pressure, and/or perfectionism and comparing myself to my peers.But I still appear to do really well in social situations at this point. If you think of HSP as a autism, do you then think someone with sensory issues but no “classic autism social issues” could be autistic?
I can’t confirm nor deny that I’m autistic. And I absolutely hate it. If I were to put myself on the spectrum, I’d be right at the border between normal and autistic and I absolutely hate it. I grew up thinking and knowing I was normal and I lead a generally normal life except for a few anxieties. And as I learned more about the autism spectrum, I began to question that I might actually be on it. And I hate it because I’ve always thought I was normal and now this DSM-5 is telling me I’m not??? I used to feel good and confident about myself despite my anxieties and slight awkwardness and now i feel like an impostor?? Now I don’t feel good about myself and I constantly feel conscious that what I thought was a normal me isn’t normal after all?? Does anyone else feel this way, it’s really frustrating
I don’t mean for this to come off as rude at all, but the heart of autism would technically be repetitive behaviors and social difficulties because those are the main sections of the dsm (in a and b)
Fact: one doesn't have to present difficulties in every domain and still be autistic. The whole struggle of neurodivergent adults who were never diagnosed is that they put a lot of effort into camouflaging. I am a psychologist✌️
Self-Diagnosis is a dangerous pastime. Is there a reason you’re seeking diagnosis? Were you unable to get a professional to agree with what you believe to be true? I’m not sure I understand your goal in pursuing a diagnosis of what can be some extremely debilitating conditions. And yes, I would say lack of eye-contact in interpersonal interaction isn’t a reliable indication of much of anything other than common, garden variety self-consciousness. I’d recommend not saddling yourself with the stigmatizing label “autistic.” Be kind, be careful.
Kindly, I disagree. First, self-diagnosis is not a pastime, it is a survival tactic. Second, my "goal in pursuing a diagnosis of what can be some extremely debilitating conditions" is because I am often extremely debilitated and would like to understand why. Finally, I would rather destigmatize the label of "autistic" than avoid it because of that stigma.
I recommend looking into Dressing Your Truth. There are 4 "movements" in nature, we all have all 4, but lead with 1 main one. When I hear about autistic tendencies, a lot of it sounds like the 4th movement. It doesn't mean you have autism. The world just needs different gifts. Many things wouldn't happen in this world if everyone were the same. Just like everything else, we need introverted, methodical, analytical, logical, orderly people, stoic, & people who can dive deep into topics. For these people, it's about valuing quality over quantity. Diving deep in a few things, while others prefer skimming over many things (or having a few deep relationships, while others value many more surface ones). A type 4 has so much going on inside (overthinking & feeling deeply) that it's hard to manage a lot of movement/noise/chaos on the outside. Probably a quarter of people lead with type 4 (the 2nd movement they lead with will add variety in how they manifest it). In American culture type 4 is not the most valued movement. Type 3 is (go getter, challenge, competition, accomplish, adventure, move big & fast. Loud, go go go). I could be wrong but it seems the British & Japan value type 4 movement. Mexico values type 1. I recommend looking into it.
Hmmmm, I have to say I disagree with this, but I could be wrong! I view autism as its own neurotype, so it's distinctly different from the neurotypical neurotype.
That is a common misconception, even among doctors (unfortunately). People tend to think that “spectrum” means a little autistic to really autistic, when it’s more like a color wheel, and everyone’s wheel looks a little different. For example, my sensory sensitivities majorly impact me on a daily basis, but I can “get by” socially. That doesn’t mean that I am good at social communication, just that I have learned more coping skills for socializing. Another autistic person might struggle heavily with the social aspect but not have as many sensory sensitivities. Basically, autism is a “you have it or you don’t” kind of thing because it’s a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning the brain formed differently than someone without autism-so, you are in the color wheel, or you’re not. You can relate to a few characteristics and not have autism, just like every disorder ever. For instance, you can have symptoms of depression and anxiety, but not be clinically depressed or have an anxiety disorder. I think neurodivergent magic did a great job of explaining that she has a few characteristics that led her to believe she was autistic, but at the end of the day, she didn’t quite fit the criteria or have the “heart” of the disorder, and that there are other things in her life that better explained her difficulties.
I disagree with this and would quite Purple Ella here: ‘ autistic traits are human traits everyone has some of them but a particular set of them makes for an autism diagnosis. So no you cannot be a little on the spectrum’
Did you watch the video? I thought I was autistic based on a loooot of research, but I'm realizing I was wrong. This is just me trying to be open about my diagnostic journey.
I was a bit scared to watch this because I've been thinking I'm autistic for quite a long time but I'm afraid I'm wrong. This showed me that it's okay to be wrong about it. It's not the end of the world, you can make mistakes in the process of trying to understand yourself better. Thanks for sharing.
I worried that too, but what she said regarding her profile just made it even clearer that I am.😅
I also found it frustrating...
Respect. You got it wrong and that's okay, you needed to take that path to get where you are. Maybe you were meant to so that you could create this channel and help others.
I love that point of view! That's how I like to think of it too. Instead of being embarrassed that I made a mistake, I focus on how many people might be in a similar boat and be helped by my story.
With social difficulties, consider who is around you and who you're interacting with. I didn't consider myself autistic for a long time because I had no apparent social difficulties that were negatively impacting my life. But it turns out that I surrounded myself with mostly neurodivergent people. It got to the point where I was able to subconciously recognize them. When I was hiring people at my former job, I'd pick up on those ND vibes. I'd be more likely to hire ND people than NT even if both had the same qualifications. I just somehow knew that there was a better understanding and we could more effectively communicate. Although at the time, I couldn't pinpoint why. If I'm put in a room with NT people (like women in their late 30's or early 40's for instance) I would struggle a lot because there was a lack of common bond. Even sometimes sensory things can fly under the radar if you are in control of your enviornment. So someone may not be aware of those things at all if they just aren't impacting them due to having more control and agency.
The question is, how were you during childhood? How do you react to new situations and people? Just something for other viewers to think about! (Not invaldiating your experience)
Thank you so much for this insight, I think it's really going to help other viewers!!!
This is extremely important, because it's so easy to not realize the situation you're in is allowing you to be yourself
What if you cant remember your childhood?
@@Watergirl_83 This is common, especially for folks with a history of trauma. If you can't remember your childhood, I would recommend doing trauma work with a therapist!
So funny I think the deeper I get into understanding this, the more apparent it is that all my closest friends are almost certainly neurodivergent too.
I appreciate you wanting to "get it right". It's truly an act of bravery and the right thing to do. Thanks for sharing your story :)
Thank you, comments like these encourage me to keep telling my story and help others who have dealt with misdiagnosis.
i always knew I was neurodivergent I just didn't know if I fit anything, like I tried to look up as much about autism as I could and try to fit myself into it because I thought that was the only possibility. Then I discovered what ADHD really was about and everything fell into place
I'm so glad you've figured out where you fit!
complete respect
Thank you, I definitely still consider myself neurodivergent, just not autistic specifically!
I had this kind of moment with OCD a few years ago. I learned some great strategies for dealing with intrusive thoughts, reassurance-seeking, etc, but I realized that the main hallmarks of the disorder weren’t resonating with me. Autism/ADHD seems to fit more consistently with my life experience, but I’m gonna speak with a doctor to see if I’m entirely off base or not. I’m driving my wife crazy self-diagnosing, but I’ve been avoiding the doctor for fear of misdiagnosis or just me being wrong. Gonna do it though, so pray for me
Even high sensitivity or sensory processing disorders aren't necessarily autism. They are themselves their own separate things. They're very debilitating and cause so much discomfort socially it's very difficult to deal with and can easily be mistaken for what we can think to be autism - especially when over stimulated or underestimated or overwhelmed and you can have meltdowns or have to cocoon or something xx when I had my assessment and they said that I wasn't autistic they said it was because I had reciprocal communication and a melodic voice and could ascertain and infer bits of stories and drama. It kind of itches but also I'm getting treatment and occupational therapy for the sensory processing now, so I'm kind of relieved because it's so debilitating
thanks for this, i see so many people i know self diagnose, and end up being wrong when they go in to get a diagnosis, that they continue to say they have it even though they most likely dont. I get consciously or subconsciously playing up symptoms but accepting you were wrong is extremely important to figuring yourself out.
THANK GOD!! i have all those physical sensitivities and social issues. Lol. I was scared to watch this. Thank you for sharing that very hard thing to share with us. Im happy for you that you are discovering your truth
Well done. Honest, courageous, humble. We just have to keep learning, discovering, seeking, and being as honest w ourselves as we can (currently) be. 👍👍
Thank you so much!!!
My experience is similar. A LOT of people are instant that I have Autism and they themselves don't listen to the signs I'm not. The more you try to point out the signs that I am not, the more they think it's proof to the contrary. People don't fit into boxes and forcing them to do so can be very damaging.
All my "traits of Autism" are actually because of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A violent condition in my experience that has been widely underrated and forgotten. For me ADHD and Autism are considered "popular" so a lot of people pounce on that like a dog with a bone and ignore conditions people can actually have instead.
PTSD is not temporary and it is no walk in the park and for me a lot of people have forgotten that and whenever I have PTSD issues they scream Autism. It's extremely frustrating. Autism is a condition you are born with and you are not less than nor broken if you do have it. PTSD is MOST DEFINITELY something you contract, pick up, become sick with, have forced upon you, you are not born with it. Even though you too are not less than for it. It, just like Autism and any other conditions, just needs a little consideration and patience to help a person out. The world really needs to stop being so narrow minded and forcing conditions upon people that they don't have. Especially at the expense of those that they do have. I can prove fifty ways to Sunday that I have PTSD and that it needs addressing to live better but they continue to scream Autism. Claiming if I just admit it then they will help. Trouble is I have a friend who has both ADHD and Autism and they don't do s$## to help them. So.... that is another thing. The world needs to stop looking for labels for people and just help people as people.
You didn't mess up. Messing up would mean hiding it , and you haven't. X
Thank you so much for this
You are an amazing person, I love how honest you are. Thank you for this video ❤️
This is really important! I’m autistic myself (I was never self diagnosed but I still think that those who do are valid in their own assessment, I was just privileged but that’s not the norm) and we’re all human, it’s okay to get it wrong. And I’m sure you’ve done a lot of research so I don’t want to seem like I’m trying to diagnose you, but remember that you can also be hyposensitive to sensory stimuli and still be autistic, but what you described seems a lot like ADHD (which I also have), idk if you were diagnosed (even as a self diagnosis) with it or not, but if you haven’t, it would be cool to research it!
Thanks so much for pointing that out! I have looked into ADHD, and I'm not sure about that either. I think most of my symptoms can be explained by trauma and general neurodivergence!
The more I look into Autistic symptomatology, the more I resonate with it, tho not every symptom fits. Then there's the chronic depression, which can be symptomatic of Autism but also of cPTSD. I began to wonder if I have cPTSD instead and resonated with that as well as I researched childhood trauma. For some reason I thought I couldn't have both issues explaining my depression until I saw videos discussing that co-morbidity. So, after worrying that I might not be Autistic but simply traumatized, I reconsidered the other childhood symptoms of Autism that people without cPTSD share and realized that yes, even w/o my depression I would still have to identify as Autistic, and that my depression most likely stems (yes, I said stems, lol) from the cPTSD I suffered and continue to be reinjured by due to being Autistic. Phew, that was a mouthful. I appreciate hearing about your journey and hope that you'll find your landing place. Apparently, we all love you whether you are Autistic or not, because we are all on this journey to understand who we are together.
Me being officially diagnosed while not struggling with sensory sensitivity: -_-
i dont know if someone might find this offensive, but i'm almost scared to know if i'm autistic and i'm looking up this videos just to prove i'm not. i heavily relate to adhders and their experience, but then i came across people with both autism and adhd and related to some of their experiences... and that put me in a crisis. idk why but i can accept adhd more easily, but the thought of also having autism freaks me out. maybe it's because of the stigma.... i obviously don't think anything bad about autistic people... still, somehow i'm not okay with me having it, it has basically became my fear. and idk if fearing it just confirms that i do have it. i know it's so stupid to think this way.
on the other hand as you mentioned, i don't have sensory issues, i'm not sensitive to sounds, smells, textures etc. and don't have special interests. i only ever had short term hyperfixations that go away after 2 weeks/a month (besides usual hobbies, but i don't get obsessed with my hobbies).
i still relate to basically everything adhd, even tho i don't have an official diagnosis.
all i know in my gut that i'm definitely ND. but in moments of overthinking it, i just get tired of self-analyzing and doubt i have any of that. we're all just humans after all so idk... so sad that i can't talk to anyone about this irl
Hi! Just discovered your channel and I wanted to share a little bit about my own Neurodivergent/ASD experience. You may may well be right, and it's true that it's probably best not to be hasty in claiming to have a condition if you aren't feeling certain about it. So kudos for your choice to clarify. I would like to say though that in my experience I've learned that whether one has Autism or not isn't always a black-and-white determination. One could be someone on the "milder/less supports" end of the spectrum who would be diagnosed with Asperger's if that were still it's own separate diagnosis. It's a much milder form of autism that can often go undiagnosed for years in girls and women. Women who are on the Autism spectrum- specifically those who would be diagnosed with Asperger's often go undiagnosed or recieve late diagnoses. A friend who recieved a diagnosis of ASD and ADHD suggested I look into the screener document by a psychologist from Australia named Tania A. Marshall. I checked it out, printed it, and highlighted any traits that apply to me. And I was blown away! I had nearly all the symptoms except for a small few. I then took the Autism Quotient quiz online which is a good resource for help with self diagnosis. I scored a 28. A score of 30 or higher is considered to be on the spectrum. So I got testing I 2020 to definitively see if I have Aspergers, and I received an ASD diagnosis, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 5, but my Asperger's went undiagnosed for years. I recently self diagnosed with CPTSD as well. I was relieved to get the positive diagnosis of ASD, as it checked so many boxes for me, and made my childhood make more sense to me. It runs in my fam, but I NEVER thought I might have it. I've felt my mom has it and her dad, and most of my moms siblings, and one cousin. I assumed my traits were just that I'm a HSP with ADHD who's an Empath and an introvert. But I'm glad I looked into it further. It's possible to be neurodivergent and not be an Aspie or have ASD. But I encourage those resources to anyone seeking more info. I hope it's OK for me to share the link to Tania Marshall's info? Best wishes to all the fellow Neurodivergents out there.. Awareness and knowledge is spreading! :) taniaannmarshall.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/moving-towards-a-female-profile-the-unique-characteristics-abilities-and-talents-of-asperwomen-adult-women-with-asperger-syndrome/
Thank you, your video helped me mitigate imposter syndrome. Initially, I self diagnosed as HSP and then realized that there was more. High empathy and pattern seeking were crucial to look up what it was. I also struggle with my senses not just my emotions. I have being mirroring people for way too many years now. Although, I did great fitting in, it took a toll on me. Now, I know I'm autistic thanks to getting my ADHD diagnosis and their comorbity.
You’re an HSP just like I am. So glad you found this out about yourself. Way to trust your gut feeling which is intuition. Have u ever taken a personality test? I’m an ENFP and I’m an HSP
Hey, I'm an ENFP too! All the tests say INFP, but I think I'm an extrovert with a lot of social anxiety that makes me look introverted, lol
A psychologist recently told me that she suspects I have autism. I have to wait about another two years before a proper diagnosis. I have major social difficulties, but not really any sensory issues, so far as I can tell. Also, I don't think stimming is something I do much.
I go back and forth between thinking I'm autistic, then being sure I'm not. Ah well.
Oof, I do the same thing. You aren't alone! I hope the evaluation, when it eventually happens, helps!
Hey, thanks for making this video.
I'd like to use this comment section to share some personal experiences, and maybe connect to people with similar experiences.
Let's get straight to the point. I relate to a lot of autistic or ADHD symptoms, including social experiences. Additionally a lot of my friends have ADHD and/or autism. Generally I am pretty sure that I'm neurodivergent, but I don't know in which way. The phrase "not quite" encapsulates it pretty well actually.
This causes a lot of self doubt and oftentimes even mirrors terfy like questions, which I obv don't agree with.
I don't want to give examples rn, because a) I'd have to debunk them thoroughly, which would make the comment too long b) I don't want to overshare on the internet. Instead I recommend ponderful's videos on GCs & autism
Back to the point. I just feel so frustrated at always tethering on the edge of neurodivergence, but not being able to claim a label and with it the benefits of self diagnosis, because I feel like the terminology for the divergence of my brain just doesn't exist yet.
Now I'm aware that I'm very privileged to even think about this and I fear that I'm just being entitled for having come to this conclusion. But at the same time it makes the most sense to me, because there is so little research on neurodivergency (in comparison to other fields of science and medicine) and a lot of it is misinformation and/or infantilisation. It can't be that unlikely that some things just aren't discovered yet.
Therefore I wanted to ask if anybody else here has made experiences of not being able to describe their personal experiences with the help of current neurodivergent terminology as accurately as they'd like to or a feeling of "not quite" and what conclusions they have drawn from these experiences or time periods.
Thanks in advance
Also pls keep this a safe space and feel free to correct me if I have used hurtful language.
10 years ago I was going through one of the worst times of my life and while in the midst of things a woman going through something similar told me, "We're all on different paths." That has stayed with me all these years. It might be a simple saying but it changed my life. Just wanted to share that with you. Your honesty is much appreciated ✨
Thank you so much
@@TheNeurocuriosityClub most welcome 🖤
Really admire your honesty-well done!
Thank you!
Okay! So I specifically looked up videos like this and i found yours. You brought a lot of comfort to me and if I'm not autistic I should *NOT* feel like an idiot for being curious. I do believe I share sensory issues and over stimulation but I keep questioning myself. My diagnosis is gonna start on Friday and I'm super fucking nervous. I was just wondering if you know any other videos that have to do with me being scared or questioning if I am or not? I'm not sure what to look up and you seem to be well educated in this specific area :) thank you!
Oh my goodness, I'm so so so glad I made this video then! How is your diagnostic process going? It's okay to be nervous, it's okay to be wrong, and it's okay to question things. Just remember that diagnosis is more of an art than a science, and labels are meant to serve you, not the other way around. As for other resources, I honestly haven't seen a whole lot, that's why I create so much stuff on this topic. If you want to follow me on TikTok @megmoxie, I make a lot of content about this there!
@@TheNeurocuriosityClub thank you for responding! That means so much😅 and I'm taking it as it goes. The day is coming closer to start my diagnosis, reading this made me take a deep breath. I really appreciate what you said about how diagnosis is more of an art. That spoke levels to me, especially how it's meant to serve me and not the other way around. That'll stick with me as I go on this journey to self discovery. Also just followed you on tiktok and will for sure be checking out your content :) thank you once again.
@@adelinesantana4681 I'm so so glad I could help. Diagnosis is...so hard. But what's important is that you get the help you need from the best possible label.
The internet nowadays loves to randomly trap me in neurodivergent spirals where I begin to question if I have ADHD or am on the Autism spectrum. Autism especially always gives me pause because I have a myriad of sensory sensitivities and I particularly relate to always basing my social actions off of the collective public (books/movies/people I have around me, anything) and never feeling like I properly understand what people mean. However, I have come to terms with that just being how an overly introverted only child from a rural town reacts to growing up and moving to an actual city. I don't actually struggle to get my points across, and I may miss social cues but not enough that it has ever been an issue. Autism is not a label I can apply here.
I love that you’re sharing your process of self discovery! Thank you 🙏🏻 🤗
Thank you for being so supportive!!! It means a lot
Thank you so much for sharing your struggles, you're honesty and the knowledge that you've gained. Not even my doctor's know about HSPs and I've been trying to educate them for the last 6 years ... They still have no clue about how neurodivergents react differently to different treatments. I have absolutely no questions for you because I think everybody should do this when it comes to neurodiversity. When you find out more information, you share it. I would be embarrassed as well but I would still do the same thing I believe.
I had all of those my whole life. Sensory issues, struggles with social cues and social interactions, obvious meltdowns which I have today. I'm still in the grief process of only getting diagnosed at 49 years old.
thank you for sharing this.
Of course, I hope sharing my story can help others.
same boat. it hurts a lot. but i do have social difficulties because of sensitivity.
Could you tell uns more about other little aspects of autism that you used to relate to? I’m really trying to understand if I’m autistic or not….
How would that even help you? Just be
Girl DO NOT beat yourself up! You’re amazing and help so many people with neurodiversity issues regardless of your own diagnosis. I’m an HSP and my teenage son is autistic…it helps me understand many things he deals with, but I’m always looking for content on what it’s like to be him.
It would be really cool if you did something like a series of videos interviewing people with autism (or other neurodiverent issues…including HSP!). Find out how they perceive and navigate in a world riddled with people who just don’t get them. What are things they wish people understood, etc?
If you’ve already done something like this, forgive me…I’m new to your channel. What I have seen tho, I really appreciate. Take care. 🥰
As one who fits even the poorly worded, but better than it was, DSM5-TR almost verbatim down the line, this makes perfect sense.
Your approach was logical.
This is the second of your vids I have ever seen, and you have shown as much insight into us as only teo other non autists I’ve heard or met. In 67 years.
Being understood makes me tend towards tears.
THIS video led me to the next.
Logically, I could only subscribe. Thank you.
I appreciate your vulnerability 💜
Thank you for being so honest about this. I'm doing some research for my little girl and I found this very helpful.
Hey, I love it, you nailed me on the "16 questions" video.
I might be a highly Sensitive Person, because your OUTRO MUSIC is sooo much louder than your speaking voice,and Im up all night, on my porch, chillin with my new friend, and then you say goodbye, as I dive headlong toward my Boombox to turn it down before the neighbors Whip me, for blurting out loudness at 4am.🤨😉😂. It's quite the audible leap, he's says, in love, as a musician/songwriter/singer/producer/painting/found sculpting, ADHD, gen anxiety, panic attacks(it's going to give me a heart attack this time, Everytime),OCD,CPTSD,PTSD
....you know the drill. Nice to meet you, my NeuroNew Souldivergent Sister. All in love. Peace, love the show. You nailed me better than any of the tests I've heard. 100% accurate descriptions of me, except I'm very touchy about black and white thinking, but when it stops by,? I always remind it, that "ITS ON THE SPECTRUM TOO, JUST LIKE ME!!!!!! THERES NO ROOM FOR BLACK AND WHITE THINKING, MARK!"
....... everything is on a spectrum; especially light and sound. PEACE
Thank you for thinking so much about this it’s refreshing and gives me hope
Honestly, I don't even know what autism is anymore. For a long time I was obsessing and researching and finally went through a thorough diagnostic process (interviews, questionnaires, tools for differential diagnosis, etc.), at the end of which I came out as non-autistic. My hunch is if I had chosen a different practitioner and a different process (an interview + ADOS) I would have come out as autistic. I think it's useful to be aware of neurodivergence but I don't think the paradigm is accurate. Hopefully, in 20 or so years we will have a more accurate picture. If what I say sounds controversial, I understand - it has to be said that after some experiences and research I don't have much respect for the fields of psychology and psychiatry anymore as they're built on very shaky foundations. So granted, anything that broadens social inclusivity and understanding is cool in my book, but it doesn't mean the labels and the borders between them are an accurate reflection of reality.
My thoughts, exactly. From direct experience, I always thought psychology-- esp. diagnostic labels-- were a bunch of hogwash, and after obsessively trying to figure out whether I am or not autistic (or ADHD) for years, and reading and hearing this, I am more than ever convinced. So I am going to say to myself that I have anxiety from events in my past and present, came from a dysfunctional family (but who didn't?), and for some odd reason, am also highly sensitive, and pass all the autism and ADHD tests, online... (But that also makes me wonder about the tests!) There are some other odd things about me, which perhaps point to autism, but perhaps just point to genetic oddities and learning disabilities. I am going to train myself to live without knowing, and offer it up to God. Why do we all need labels?
So beautifully said and wow God bless you for your humility and honesty ❤ I love you and love you perspective!
I really appreciate you making this video. I wish there were more videos of people that have been on this journey, because I'm trying to figure out whether or not I'm on the spectrum. I am highly sensitive to sensory things, but I can't tell if my social deficits are social anxiety (which I for sure have) or if there's something more going on. My father has autism, and I pursued a diagnosis from the same psychiatrist, but I was not diagnosed because I was too good at picking up on social cues and I have friends. I set it aside for a year, but something keeps nagging me. Was I hiding my struggles even during the assessment? Or on the other end, do I exaggerate my struggles? I don't know if I struggle enough socially to qualify. I will say a lot of my friends are ND. I usually know what to do in social situations, I can read people well, however, it is exhausting with those I don't know. I wish there was more videos like yours so that I could compare myself better to the diagnosed and undiagnosed. Thank you for being honest in your video, it was very brave of you and I think will help a lot of people.
Hey there! I'm so glad this video helped you. I do want to add that, since posting this, I've actually realized that I am autistic after all. Here's the video about that, if you're interested: czcams.com/video/glwl1Ca5Opc/video.html
As for your situation, thank you for sharing a bit of your story with me. I'm sorry things are a bit unclear right now, hopefully you find the answers you need soon.
@@TheNeurocuriosityClub that's great! I'm so glad you were able to keep learning and figure that out! I will check out that video!
Thank you for reading and responding to my comment. It's so hard isn't it? The back and forth in our brains. Am I hiding part of myself, or, on the other end, exaggerating symptoms? Lol. I know I'll figure it out, it's a journey, that's for sure. Thanks!
This!!!! I really can’t tell whether the symptoms I have are results of autism, social anxiety/depression, or what. I have a very hard time making friends unless they are a very specific person I can click with almost immediately. But it happens incredibly rarely, and I am almost completely incapable of making conversation most of the time if I’m not incredibly close with them. I just can’t seem to understand the mechanics of conversation 😅 But I also feel like I DO pick up on social cues very well. However, I tend to have a very blank face and trouble showing emotions unless I am feeling an emotion VERY strongly (sometimes not even then) or am paying close attention to try and portray that emotion. It’s all just a very large mess haha
@@samanthathefluffyprussianm698 I am just some random person, but from what you wrote it sounds like there's a potential for autism there. If you haven't done so, go over the criteria from DSM 5. I don't think you have to meet all the examples they list, just meet the criteria, somehow, in each section (i thinkkk)
@@MarieAsterhaving friends is not at all a diagnostic criteria for being autistic.
If that was used as part of the process, that’s defective and needs reconsideration.
Things are a wee bit more complex than that ;)
Ive been struggling to figure out what my issues are pretty much my whole life. First real clue was a friend whos a teacher and explained HSP to me. After several years of accepting that, i knew there was still something unanswered. Last fall, I found a video from a professor in Aus who explained Autism and the tears streaming down my face was enough for me to know the truth. Still undiagnosed at 50, None of these neurodiverse diagnosis even existed until after i graduated high school and was working (struggling) for a living. Thank you for your channel, i will watch more to better understand the differences. ☀️🌈🧡💯🙏🏼🌌
Even though since this video you rediscovered your neurodivergency this video is still a valid representation of the struggle that self diagnosies or people who struggle to get an official diagnosis go through, the doubts and the push back they can get from their environment/social circle or even medical professionals who has outdated knowledge of those neurodivergent types.
What's a sensory sensitivity, really? I used to live in Spain in a very noisy environment for some time, and the sentitivity to sunlight grew from none to extreme, i ended up never taking a hood off and earplugs out, shreds ly hating every second of sunlight. I loved sunlight before. Does it qualify as sensitivity?
This is so frustrating, everything is a spectrum, its hard to get diagnosed correctly, and how I'm even supposed to answer the test if i cannot understand the level objectivity of my own assessment
This is great. I feel like folks get married to the idea of being autistic because it makes them feel special and gives them this sense of belonging because there's such an intense movement of self diagnosed, middle-aged white ladies bonding over these experiences that are super common to being middle-aged white ladies. But honestly, a bunch of intensive self-reflection and drive to form social connections over similar characteristics is....well...it's noteworthy that those are characteristics found almost exclusively in this very specific demographic of autistic people, and not so much in the people who were diagnosed as kids, or who can't "mask" so effectively that they live lives barely distinguishable from non-autistic people.
I’m trying to go through this as well trying to find out if I’m autistic or not I have an intellectual disability so it’s been really hard but I’m going to get help tomorrow so hopefully that helps :)
Thank you for this video I must have been hard to own your mistake but it's good that you do it
Thank you for being honest.
This is so me … 😂 omg I can’t look anyone in the eyes I feel so much excruciating pressure!
Its a journey. Kudos for listening to your intuition 👏
Can you please elaborate on how self-diagnosis is valid?
I believe that that very statement is the core of the disconnect people have with this topic. I would love to hear your elaboration on the subject.
I have a test next month. If I'm not found to be autistic, my life doesn't make any sense to me. I think that if I fail the test, I will find myself in crisis.
I personally suspect that the internet has had a huge influence on people thinking they might be autistic. It's undersrandable since autism is a spectrum and some might find they touch on certain traits on that huge spectrum.
I know I'm not autistic and I also know that I'm not neuro typical. I have been diagnosed as a HSP and I also have anxiety disorder and social anxiety thrown in the mix. I always feel like the outsider...I'm the child that never got invited to birthday parties. I'm the kid that was always alone. I'm odd and quirky and strange ...that is how people react in my presence.
I don't see the world like an adult does but more child like if that makes sense. It's like my inner world is an innocent fantasy realm where nobody gets hurt and everyone is happy and safe including animals and plants too afcourse. I can be very responsible but I struggle a lot and I have learned to mask so much so I don't feel so inadequate when doing the day to day adult chores and responsabilities. I find going out exhausting as Im also an introvert. I have manic emotional outbursts when the presure gets to me, I hit burnout, i then get fatigued and can't function for days. The world and people exhaust me but I like people I just find it hard to cope trying to fit in with them cos I cant be like them..it takes so much hard work for me to just seem okay on the outside.
Why would my psycologist who had a PhD diagnose me as a HSP and not tell me I was autistic? She would have diagnosed me as autistic but she did not. She told me we would be doing therapy to help me ' turn down the volume' on all my sensitivities. I'm very sensitive to loud sounds even voices and animal sounds and smells ( i cant wear perfume or use certain house cleaning products, i use natural products).I use baby shampoos and soaps etc. I always thought it was my anxiety that affected my senses. I've seen many doctors and psycologists and non ever said i had autism.
Have you been assessed for ADHD? Many women go undiagnosed or are first diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression. ADHD is nuerodevelopmental with difficulties in executive functioning and self regulation.
I have not been assessed, definitely might be worth looking into!
@@TheNeurocuriosityClub Dr Russell,Barkley has a lot of videos on CZcams that are very informative. He's not especially neurodivergent affirm but all his research is based on since. He also has written many books an research papers. The video on executive functioning is callef 30 things to know about ADHD video 3A. There is also a book on women and ADHD I can link you if your interested.
@@amberrachelle80 sure, I'm always looking for resources! Thank you!
I have social difficulties and sensory difficulties, and I tested for autism a few weeks ago. Came back as I'm not. I don't believe it.
I'm sorry, that sounds so hard. Do you trust the evaluator? Should you get a second opinion? It might not hurt.
What about ADHD and OCD? Those come with sensory issues too
So you want it to be true? Maybe ask yourself why you want a label so badly.
It's interesting that you say the profile of a highly sensitive person is, by all measures, synonymous with of an autistic person. Does that mean that the HSP vs autism difference is a matter of presentation?
I'm on the same boat as you were. I don't have sensory issues (some light sensitivity maybe. Not sure if it's in the normal range), but I was always weird socially and always racionalized it a lot, to a degree that I'm not sure it's common.
And I have adhd, which doesn't make it easier to separate the symptoms. Not sure if my difficulties were because of impulsivity only.
I just wanted to make a comment about the two hallmarks of autism. As far as social difficulties, I completely agree. As far as sensory issues, not so much. Because sensory issues wasn't even part of official DSM 4 criteria (I don't know that much about DSM 5, I researched it back in the good old DSM 4 days). So what I always thought was that the two hallmarks were social difficulties and obsessive-compulsive behavior, in that order. I have both of those, but I haven't had sensory issues (with only few exceptions -- for example I absolutely hate the texture of burdock leaves). I have been officially diagnosed with Asperger's (again, back in DSM 4 days, when this diagnosis existed).
❤
Maybe you have CPTSD. Have you read Pete Walker’s book? Helpful.
HSP is not autism. They are separate things but do share overlap.
thank you for this oh my gosh
Of course! I hope by owning my mistakes and owning my journey, you feel more comfortable on your journey
Please copy what you said in the description on a pinned comment so people can know!
Very brave video! ❤
Just because someone is not autistic doesn't mean they don't share some, or even many autistic traits. Honestly, I wish you had gone more in-depth with the research you've done & it's influence on your conclusion, but I love that this video exists. I think it should be normalized for everyone to do this kind of introspection, to recognize their personal truths.
Also as an aside, autism is fundamentally a communication 'disorder'. Our brains have more difficulty absorbing & translating the world around us & disseminating our own thoughts in turn. People around often struggle with understanding our modes of communication, as we often do theirs, hence social awkwardness.
This is the underlying reason for sensory sensitivity as well, as any external input is a form of communication & some informational input is simply too overwhelming. And usually it's not the type of sensitivity but the severity of it's affects that are indicative of autism. This is also one of the major reasons high maskers are still often considered "less autistic"; because we have a slightly improved ability to not have a visible meltdown due to overstimulation & a better ability to hold it in until we are in a safer situation.
And I do mean *can* but not likely if what's happening is too overwhelming. Fire alarms, for instance, shut me allllllllllllll the way down. If there's ever an actual fire, I will likely burn to death🔥
Edit:
Okay, just looked at your channel & saw you posted some videos expounding in this. Ima go watch those😊
Kudos
C-PTSD and the effects of childhood trauma have seemingly a lot in common with autism. A lot of survivers think that they are autistic at first. What you describe, that you identify with a lot of characteristics of autism but not with the core, sounds an awful lot like C-PTSD.
Did you ever actually get a professional evaluation?
Good God, DSM-5, please go away. People are really getting into it. What an error.
I have never thought I have autism even though I have sensory processing disorder because I do great with social situations and am very good at reading between the lines. I didn’t always do great socially. I was a super shy kid and really liked hanging out with adults more. To this day, I still prefer to work with little kids or seniors which again are not my peers. But I thought that was anxiety, peer pressure, and/or perfectionism and comparing myself to my peers.But I still appear to do really well in social situations at this point.
If you think of HSP as a autism, do you then think someone with sensory issues but no “classic autism social issues” could be autistic?
you can have spd without austim
I can’t confirm nor deny that I’m autistic. And I absolutely hate it. If I were to put myself on the spectrum, I’d be right at the border between normal and autistic and I absolutely hate it. I grew up thinking and knowing I was normal and I lead a generally normal life except for a few anxieties. And as I learned more about the autism spectrum, I began to question that I might actually be on it. And I hate it because I’ve always thought I was normal and now this DSM-5 is telling me I’m not??? I used to feel good and confident about myself despite my anxieties and slight awkwardness and now i feel like an impostor?? Now I don’t feel good about myself and I constantly feel conscious that what I thought was a normal me isn’t normal after all?? Does anyone else feel this way, it’s really frustrating
Are you serious? Live you life. Stop labeling. Stop talking about it. There’s nothing wrong with you. And that DSM five is a mess.
@@EpicShotz2 Amen. Don't make the DSM into a god!
1:09 mins min. Just realized that you have the same "Odyssey" book as the one I read in college! Wooh!
I don’t mean for this to come off as rude at all, but the heart of autism would technically be repetitive behaviors and social difficulties because those are the main sections of the dsm (in a and b)
And what counts as either?
Aren't you GIFTED? Please, check Paula Prober's Website on having a "Rainforest Mind," I think you'll be surprised.
It's okay to be an allist. Nobody's perfect.
I wish I didn’t have it
Fact: one doesn't have to present difficulties in every domain and still be autistic. The whole struggle of neurodivergent adults who were never diagnosed is that they put a lot of effort into camouflaging.
I am a psychologist✌️
Self-Diagnosis is a dangerous pastime. Is there a reason you’re seeking diagnosis? Were you unable to get a professional to agree with what you believe to be true? I’m not sure I understand your goal in pursuing a diagnosis of what can be some extremely debilitating conditions. And yes, I would say lack of eye-contact in interpersonal interaction isn’t a reliable indication of much of anything other than common, garden variety self-consciousness. I’d recommend not saddling yourself with the stigmatizing label “autistic.” Be kind, be careful.
Kindly, I disagree. First, self-diagnosis is not a pastime, it is a survival tactic.
Second, my "goal in pursuing a diagnosis of what can be some extremely debilitating conditions" is because I am often extremely debilitated and would like to understand why.
Finally, I would rather destigmatize the label of "autistic" than avoid it because of that stigma.
Big fucking facts right here
Your awesome! XD Could you still be on the spectrum?
It's possible, but for now I don't identify as autisitic at all!
🙏🏻❤👌🏻
I recommend looking into Dressing Your Truth. There are 4 "movements" in nature, we all have all 4, but lead with 1 main one. When I hear about autistic tendencies, a lot of it sounds like the 4th movement. It doesn't mean you have autism. The world just needs different gifts. Many things wouldn't happen in this world if everyone were the same. Just like everything else, we need introverted, methodical, analytical, logical, orderly people, stoic, & people who can dive deep into topics. For these people, it's about valuing quality over quantity. Diving deep in a few things, while others prefer skimming over many things (or having a few deep relationships, while others value many more surface ones). A type 4 has so much going on inside (overthinking & feeling deeply) that it's hard to manage a lot of movement/noise/chaos on the outside. Probably a quarter of people lead with type 4 (the 2nd movement they lead with will add variety in how they manifest it). In American culture type 4 is not the most valued movement. Type 3 is (go getter, challenge, competition, accomplish, adventure, move big & fast. Loud, go go go). I could be wrong but it seems the British & Japan value type 4 movement. Mexico values type 1. I recommend looking into it.
Hey, so do you know that you are neuro divergent? What makes your neurology different to a NT?
I just consider myself generally neurodivergent. Specifically, I've had anxiety and depression for a very long time and that has changed my neurology.
@@TheNeurocuriosityClub that’s not neurodivergent then… but it’s cute that you’ve been roleplaying as such. love that.
@@phattits rude
A doctor told me that with the autism spectrum, everyone has traits that fit on the spectrum, so we'd all be considered autistic.
Hmmmm, I have to say I disagree with this, but I could be wrong! I view autism as its own neurotype, so it's distinctly different from the neurotypical neurotype.
That is a common misconception, even among doctors (unfortunately). People tend to think that “spectrum” means a little autistic to really autistic, when it’s more like a color wheel, and everyone’s wheel looks a little different. For example, my sensory sensitivities majorly impact me on a daily basis, but I can “get by” socially. That doesn’t mean that I am good at social communication, just that I have learned more coping skills for socializing. Another autistic person might struggle heavily with the social aspect but not have as many sensory sensitivities. Basically, autism is a “you have it or you don’t” kind of thing because it’s a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning the brain formed differently than someone without autism-so, you are in the color wheel, or you’re not. You can relate to a few characteristics and not have autism, just like every disorder ever. For instance, you can have symptoms of depression and anxiety, but not be clinically depressed or have an anxiety disorder. I think neurodivergent magic did a great job of explaining that she has a few characteristics that led her to believe she was autistic, but at the end of the day, she didn’t quite fit the criteria or have the “heart” of the disorder, and that there are other things in her life that better explained her difficulties.
I disagree with this and would quite Purple Ella here: ‘ autistic traits are human traits everyone has some of them but a particular set of them makes for an autism diagnosis. So no you cannot be a little on the spectrum’
@@kaylaparker1319 So if you're not on the color wheel, where are you?
Different wheel.
Autism is not a joke. Im not a snowflake, but i dont know where you are going with this, satire?
Did you watch the video? I thought I was autistic based on a loooot of research, but I'm realizing I was wrong. This is just me trying to be open about my diagnostic journey.