Hi new and confused

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Hi, I'm new and from the UK.

I don't have a diagnosis of autism but strongly suspect that I am autistic. My son is severely autistic and has just moved into assisted living. My dad and uncle both had clear traits. I'm very introverted and struggle with social situations due to not knowing what is expected of me and feeling I have to fake being normal. I'm empathic but find it very difficult to show how I'm feeling and as a result I come across indifferent and shut down. I like being alone with my thoughts even though I get lonely sometimes. I'm very easily over-stimulated and go into burnout where I can't even make eye contact with people. I have two chronic illnesses though (pots and fibro) so some of my issues are obviously due to them.

I get very obsessive about certain interests although less so now (I'm in my 40s) than I used to. As a child I used to stim a lot and even now I still do it on occasions especially when deep in thought.

I think I'm looking for answers. I know my doctor won't take me seriously if I say I suspect I'm autistic. But I really do think I might be and my mental health is not great.

It'll be nice to connect with people here and give some support.

Welcome to Wrong Planet.

Luckily you live in the U.K., which has the best-developed autistic community in the world, as far as I can tell.

The question of how to get your doctor to take you seriously is probably country-specific. Hopefully other folks here who are from the U.K. can advise you on how to work around this problem.

In the meantime, you don't need to have a diagnosis to participate here on Wrong Planet, and you probably don't need a diagnosis to participate in any U.K.-based autistic peer-led support group.

Hi and thanks. Yes there is a lot of autism-awareness in the UK which is a blessing. In my area in particular it's been great for my son. I just don't feel my doctor will be open to the possibility of myself being autistic, but maybe another will.

Welcome to WP! And, as Mona Pereth noted, you don't need a diagnosis to participate on WP. You can even be positive that you are not on the Autism Spectrum and participate here. As near as I can make out all you need is an interest in the topic (though some decorum would also be nice).

Regarding your (prudent) doubts...I hope you have discovered these two resources:
>=>- The Autism-Spectrum Quotient Test that convinced me to seek a formal diagnosis.
>=>- The Aspie-Quiz ^{Registering is optional!}

And good luck!

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Support and understanding and information are what you will find here....
Welcome!

One of the ways people judge whether a person is telling the truth is by EYE TO EYE CONTACT.
As an Aspie, I generally do not look people in the eye. It is part of my nature.
As a result, when people look at me when I talk because I do not give eye to eye contact, they assume that I am false, a lier, someone who cannot be trusted.

I have found that if I wear a special type of one way sunglasses where people cannot see my eyes, their reaction to me is entirely different.

Thank you everyone. Jimmy, I understand what you're saying about how people think about eye contact. I think I come across very shy rather than shifty.

Welcome to WP!

welcome. I had an autistic mother too, although I did not know it until I got my own diagnosis at age 68. then suddenly my whole miserable past made sense. I was able to see my mother's autism then, as well as my own, and make (mostly) peace with the very painful past. Diagnosis can be healing. Stick around and ask lots of questions, who better to get insights from than a lot of folks with plenty of experience and insights to share? Glad you are with us.

Welcome to Wrong Planet. I am glad you are here.

Thank you so much everyone!