Hi, newly seeking online connection

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Hi, new here. Want to introduce myself, and I have a question.

Mid-20s, female nonbinary, married, homeowner, business owner. Not planning to share my real name---I'm thinking I'll go by "Bo" here. Diagnosed several years ago (a very weird experience) but gone through phases of finding the lens of Autism more and less helpful in making sense of things. Definitely more and more convinced that it's a helpful perspective for me.

I managed to avoid most of the major social trauma that is typical of Autistics; my parents didn't have the label or understanding to really support me, but they definitely understood enough about my needs to provide me with a world that didn't destroy me. (Homeschooled, self directed, only child, no forced socializing, no strict gender roles, etc.) Because of that, I was never seen as disabled as a child. There was nothing around me that disabled me.

I began to have trouble when I went to college. Executive function, depression, the usual stuff. Perfect grades, but falling apart inside. No coping skills. People would always tell me to do "self care," but I never had any sense of what that would look like for me.

Now I have a great therapist and my parents and wife are very attentive to helping meet my needs. What I'm working on right now is figuring out what those needs are. I don't have a ton of experience with expressing my autism, because I didn't cope with as much stress when I was small.

So my question: which forum would be the right place to ask questions about stimming, sensory regulation, and other Autistic life hacks to deal with the big world? The "coping in life" section seems like the place, but none of the specific forum names quite fit. Would the general board be better??

Thanks.

Welcome to WrongPlanet

Welcome to WP! I hope you find some of your answers here...

...though I doubt I can provide many of those answers.

My diagnosis is Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1 (Mild), with a note that I also satisfied the criteria previously associated with Asperger's Syndrome. Due to that last bit I conclude I was not eligible for any diagnosis before 1994, the year I turned 40 and that the DSM recognized Asperger's. So I just had to muddle through life as best as I could. It was not until I was 64 that I began to wonder if I was Autistic, and I got my diagnosis before I was 65.

With the benefit of hindsight I conclude that my parents, in effect, practiced Autism Acceptance—as I later learned from my Dad, they thought I was doing "weird" things but decided I wasn't being bad, I was just like that, so they decided not to punish me. And, overall, I ended up OK, even though the trip getting here wasn't always pleasant for me.

With the recent insight that I am Autistic I can sometimes better explain some of my choices and preferences, but they were my choices and preferences long before I knew I was Autistic.

Except, now when my bride bumps up against one of my Autistic traits I get to say:

Ha, ha, ha! I have a doctor's note for that! ^{This amuses me more than it amuses her.}

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Welcome to WP!

I read you intro. Not sure I can be of help. Just put your post in the topic area that is best suited.

It is common for people on the site to understand they are different. We sense that somehow we are living on the Wrong Planet. Some of the people on this site are not like us ND. We have a few NTs that seem to join the site at times and cause a lot of chaos.

Welcome to WP!

Hello I am a female and I am 34, looking for friends, in a relationship, and enjoy everything pg and pg-13 stuff, loves crystals and astronomy. I also have Asperger’s and PTSD would you be interested in connecting