People with milder forms of autism struggle as adults

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I think the article made a very relevant point visible. I have sometimes thought that having HFA in itself disables me. By that I don’t mean the label itself, but rather the fact that by giving me an ability to live independently and make my own decisions unlike people with severe autism, my autism leaves me very alone. I live independently in my messy house, I work and I can make my own financial decisions, but since I can live independently that also means utter loneliness and being left on your own. I’ve never been in a relationship and my “friendships” usually have ended before they even started. So it seems I lack the ability to form a support network of my own. Most of the time I enjoy my solitary activities and inner life, but to be honest, there are also moments of immense loneliness and desperation. It’s not nice to think, where I am going to spend my Christmases when my mother dies… Who am I going to call then?

Autism is partly a social disability – so the fact that people with it don’t marry that often shouldn’t be a surprise (though I don’t know if marrying is a good measure for anything anyways – isn’t it just an institution..?). Also autism services are a very recent phenomenon. And even if there are services, autism makes it difficult to seek those services, since at least I have difficulty in getting myself engaged and I usually avoid new and unfamiliar social situations by all means. If I am given the chance (which I am usually given, since there aren't others around) I(’d) stay in my flat most of the time. So the services are mostly for people with more severe autism, whose parents make the decisions, or to those with high end Asperger’s, who also seem to make the public picture of higher functioning ASD.

Auntblabby, I think deep down no general intelligence and definitely no IQ has anything to do with the social impairment. I’ve worked out hundreds and hundreds of things others get given by sheer reasoning, but at the end it is usually just like those other females putting on makeup - the face under stays the same. Some things get better by practice, like my eye contact has become more comfortable and natural (though to be honest it is still terrible and very forced), but the deep differentness doesn’t dramatically change. A good example is my unability to greet people, if they just pop in front of me (= to act socially spontaneously), but in formal and to be expected situations I usually somewhat manage it, since I have a script to those situations.

Last edited by VisInsita on 29 Mar 2012, 5:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The study of Dependent, Co-Dependent, and Independent Autistics need to be explored and researched.

There is variability in socialization skills among those across the spectrum and presentation of symptoms i.e sound and light sensitivity, stimming, impulse control, etc. In the case of so-called High functioning Independent Autistics (HFIA), Adequate Social Skills, along with very few or less severe co-morbids, gives them a bit of an advantage in becoming a part of mainstream especially IF they have exceptional talent(s).

*You can apply the same concepts to so-called 'Low functioning Autistics', too. In fact, it's highly likely THAT a low functioning Autist, who may happen to have a lower I.Q but has fewer co-morbids and different types of socialization problems, can function better in society than a so-called High Functioning Autistic.

Dependent-------------------------Co-Dependent--------------------------Independent

----------------------------------------------------------Inter-dependent-------------------

There is a pattern. A large number of HFA are stuck in the middle.


TheSunAlsoRises

I find this to be a very interesting article, as I am seeing this hypothesis played out in my own life. I managed to graduate college without a diagnosis, but now that I've entered the phase in my life where I'm expected to actually go out and get a job, my problems with executive function and social anxiety have left me completely stalled.

Everyone around me sees me as being 'too smart' to have as much trouble as I'm having. They seem to think that my intellectual abilities should mitigate my AS, when in fact my ability to get lost in my own head only makes things all the more difficult.

Yeah and then trying to explain it to people is like

I honestly don't even feel there's any point in trying to explain. Their pity is neither comforting nor helpful, and when my family gets riled up about my continued unemployment, consideration of my issues goes right out the window anyway.

Hopefully getting myself back into therapy will help.

This is half of the problem for me.

I "look" quite normal. I also sound quite normal and the signs of it are harder to spot (not looking into people's eyes etc).

Because of that I've been offered hardly anything in the way of help, just more pills for other conditions they think I have.

I don't know if when I finally do get fully officially diagnosed any more help will be unlocked for me, but if not I'm screwed.

I can't cope alone, and I can't even hold down a job.

ha what pity? I usually get 'quit making excuses' or 'you're not trying hard enough.' but I don't like pity either I mean I already feel pathetic enough so pity does not help me with that. I like people being understanding but I don't want pity, and I don't appreciate being accused of making excuses or not trying when that's not the case.

But yeah I hope therapy helps you.

Why would successful ones even be diagnosed?

Most likely because they were diagnosed in childhood and learned to deal with their issues - or were especially proficient in a certain skill or technical area - and thereby became 'successful' in adulthood.

Perhaps they dxed themselves, like a couple of authors you might have read.
I have a very high IQ, but I might have done better in live with some more support. Socially, anyway. Not that I will stop working on that, I intend to climb my moutains, even if they are invisible to others!

Sincerely,
Matthew

Successful ones are diagnosed. But the percentages are extremely low - low enough that there is no reason to believe that there is a vast unidentified population of highly successful autistic adults.

what would be an example of a structured daily routine?

Well, there is another side to this discussion. There are Autists. who have exceptional talent along with extreme disabilities, that are extremely successful (as defined BY non-Autistics). They are totally dependent on a caregiver(s) YET they appear to have succeeded in life. These Autistics have visible disabilities, as such, they receive assistance without an attack being place on their personal character. People invest more time time in guiding them through 'key' bureaucratic processes and social obstacles involved in day to day living.

They were lead, slowly, and deliberately through social situations.

The reality is THAT a HFA with exceptional abilities may need similar accommodations inorder to succeed in life.

TheSunAlsoRises

Last edited by TheSunAlsoRises on 29 Mar 2012, 4:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Something I could not adhere to if my life depended on it.

To what are you all referring with successful? You mean somebody doing something so extraordinary that even you get to hear about it?

Having autism is hard... Everyone is waiting you to be a Snowman...

Some statistics here:

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/aut/employment.html