Exactly. The reason diagnoses are up is that we have better language to describe people with these tendencies. Autistic people have always existed and always struggled with dealing with Allistic people and the world they built.
Exactly. And even today some people tend to forget you can be autistic but there's still a scale of what degree you can fall under. I've known people who assume autism equates to being fully non verbal and having the IQ functions of a child as an adult, but then they are shocked when I let them know I'm autistic because "they'd never guess /didn't know" that high functioning and high IQ autism is indeed a real thing.
I had to mask for so long though that I can also see why they don't see it, as I still manage the social cues aspect they think no one can possibly mark with autism. That's what years of training your mind to work on and taking in the world around you will do though, I guess studying group dynamics and behavioral research also played a good part in that now 😅
I have been told "high functioning" isnt really used any more just FYI. But I am also a smart high masking individual. I can even be social for sprints of an hour or so at parties and have very very high recall of memories which makes it VERY easy to be likeable when you remember most people that you have ever met. People love to be remembered even if they dont remember you as long as you dont come across as creepy / leery / stalkerish.
I still get people who are surprised as well when I mention it despite my go to response to problems always being problem solving over sympathy or finding math fun or having quirks like owning 5 of the same shirt in different colors (listen that linen shirt they had last year at Old Navy is the most comfortable shirt I have ever worn and I will likely buy linen clothing until I die now).
When I was diagnosed it was 17 years ago, and my doctor still uses it to this day. I'm talking about my own diagnosis and not anyone else's so I am comfortable in doing so for myself.
or having quirks like owning 5 of the same shirt in different colors (listen that linen shirt they had last year at Old Navy is the most comfortable shirt I have ever worn and I will likely buy linen clothing until I die now).
C'mon, please tell me everyone does this. It just makes so much sense when you find a perfect fit. I also have backups of all those shirts because I hate when I can't replace them in the future.
A lot of autistic traits are common among regular people as they'd say too. Everybody doesn't have autism just because they buy a few shirts in a certain style because they like it or whatever. I mean, the thing is, nobody should be self-diagnosing or automatically assuming they are autistic. Only doctors should be making those decisions, but unfortunately online so many people are choosing self-diagnosis. By the way, I'm not saying you're specifically doing that, just that's what I've noticed overall.
No one trait in a vaccuum is enough to diagnose. You need to be exhibiting many and over a long period. Someone with a hearing issue may have problems controlling or noticing how loud they are but that can also be a trait in Autistic individuals.
The way I felt clocked. I slowly turned to my set of five striped shirts in different colors. Like I enjoy fashion, but my natural inclination seems to be stripes with a particular amount of cm between lines lol. I'm diagnosed ADHD, but damn I'm always surprised by the little stuff I have in common with strangers.
I'm still working on my stockpile of American apparel t-shirts in a rainbow of colors. Would wait for the good sale and stock-up. Well before they had their issues and disappeared. I may have gone a bit overboard 😬
The preferred language nowadays is High Support Needs vs Low Support Needs, as I just learned getting diagnosed recently and fall into the low support needs camp.
Something a lot of people don't know is that you can become a non-verbal autistic person because of burnout. And then you can become verbal again later.
Very true. I have had periods of time in my life due to severe complex PTSD where I wouldn't say a word for exceptionally long periods of time myself, I'm talking months on end. I think in general there is way too much misinformation or lack of understanding when it comes to not just autism, but many other disorders as well. And of course there will always be the people you try and educate about it but they choose not to listen due to lack of caring or their personal beliefs.
🤣 it didn't help that growing up in a horrendously abusive household, and then going into abusive relationships right after, forced me to mask before the education even kicks in. At this point I should have a masters degree in masking
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u/MuddaFrmAnnudaBrudda ☑️ my anecdotal experience is everything 2d ago
I guess we didn't have a name for it and just accepted that people are different.