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Discovering you might NOT be autistic

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DevilKisses
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08 Jan 2014, 10:27 am

Sethno wrote:
DevilKisses wrote:
I was diagnosed a long time ago for questionable reasons. When I found out about my diagnosis I was surprised. I knew that I was different and I knew that people treated me differently. I just didn't think or feel like I had autism or a disability.

When I was about twelve I started to hate myself because of this diagnosis. I often felt suicidal because of my diagnosis. About a month ago I started questioning whether this diagnosis was valid to begin with. I do have some traits, but they can be explained by other stuff. I also have a lot of problems that have nothing to do with autism. I am not really getting any help for them. Most people I talk to blame everything on my autism diagnosis and dismiss the problem.

One example of this is school. I was getting tested because I have a lot of problems getting assignments done at school. I wanted to get screened for overlooked problems. Most things on the test came back normally. I mentioned to the person that was testing me that I have low mental energy. She said that it's normal for people with Asperger's to have low mental energy because of their problems with change. I don't actually have problems with change. I actually enjoy change.

I really want to address my problem with low mental energy. It is causing so many problems. I have gone to the doctor. Unfortunately all the results came back normal. I do have borderline anemia, but they blamed it on my period.


My feeling drained when coming home after being out and a about for a while was what made my therapist suspect autism.

I'd already suspected it for years, and had never considered the energy thing to be a symptom. I suspected due to things more on the social side. (The therapist didn't know about what I suspected. He came up with it on his own.)

Seems the energy thing is a symptom, tho', due to sensory overload and the need to sort of fight against it while it's going on. That can be draining.

I don't really have sensory problems unless I'm very tired.


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Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 82 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 124 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical


DevilKisses
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08 Jan 2014, 10:41 am

cavernio wrote:
DevilKisses wrote:
bumble wrote:
DevilKisses wrote:
I have low mental energy for everything, including stuff I enjoy.


I was like that when I had brain fog.

I removed chemicals (medications, smoking, alcohol, food additives etc) and the brain fog went away. Also exercise can help.

I used to have brain fog. Now I just lack mental energy.


What the difference between brain fog and low mental energy? I honestly never knew...the closest thing I can come to is brain fog would be like when I'm falling asleep because I'm not 'all there, but I don't know how accurate that is'. I would call what I've experienced as low mental energy.

For me brain fog is like a fog preventing me from thinking properly. I often become forgetful and feel stupid when I have brain fog. Low mental energy is different. It's like I can think clearly inside my head, but I don't have enough energy to start tasks or complete them. When I'm doing performance based activities like playing a musical instrument I have enough energy to play well for a certain amount of time, but I start to make stupid mistakes when I get tired.


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Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 82 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 124 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical


Sethno
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08 Jan 2014, 10:49 am

cavernio wrote:
Surely one would notice if their senses are making them tired and then describe it as such?


Life is seen thru a single set of eyes.

Why do you think so many late-diagnostians (to coin a word) never knew they were autistic? They only knew they were having problems, but not why.

They couldn't connect what about them was different from other people, BECAUSE THEY ONLY KNEW THEIR OWN MIND AND THEIR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES.

A person who's eventually diagnosed as color blind won't know for quite some time that they're not seeing things the way others do.

Someone who's suffering the effects of sensory overload won't know other people don't experience the same thing. They only know they get tired, and eventually start to notice it doesn't seem to happen to others that way. (Eventually, there may be an explanation provided by a professional.)

I really don't think you thought this out.


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AQ 31
Your Aspie score: 100 of 200 / Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 101 of 200
You seem to have both Aspie and neurotypical traits

What would these results mean? Been told here I must be a "half pint".


Sethno
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08 Jan 2014, 10:55 am

DevilKisses wrote:
Sethno wrote:
DevilKisses wrote:
I was diagnosed a long time ago for questionable reasons. When I found out about my diagnosis I was surprised. I knew that I was different and I knew that people treated me differently. I just didn't think or feel like I had autism or a disability.

When I was about twelve I started to hate myself because of this diagnosis. I often felt suicidal because of my diagnosis. About a month ago I started questioning whether this diagnosis was valid to begin with. I do have some traits, but they can be explained by other stuff. I also have a lot of problems that have nothing to do with autism. I am not really getting any help for them. Most people I talk to blame everything on my autism diagnosis and dismiss the problem.

One example of this is school. I was getting tested because I have a lot of problems getting assignments done at school. I wanted to get screened for overlooked problems. Most things on the test came back normally. I mentioned to the person that was testing me that I have low mental energy. She said that it's normal for people with Asperger's to have low mental energy because of their problems with change. I don't actually have problems with change. I actually enjoy change.

I really want to address my problem with low mental energy. It is causing so many problems. I have gone to the doctor. Unfortunately all the results came back normal. I do have borderline anemia, but they blamed it on my period.


My feeling drained when coming home after being out and a about for a while was what made my therapist suspect autism.

I'd already suspected it for years, and had never considered the energy thing to be a symptom. I suspected due to things more on the social side. (The therapist didn't know about what I suspected. He came up with it on his own.)

Seems the energy thing is a symptom, tho', due to sensory overload and the need to sort of fight against it while it's going on. That can be draining.

I don't really have sensory problems unless I'm very tired.


You did say you have an ongoing problem with your energy levels, however.

What's causing it? I wouldn't have connected it to autism either, until the therapist clued me in.

I'm not saying you don't also have something else causing it, but autism itself can be the cause of fatigue/low energy.

Why do you think autistic kids (even adults) have meltdowns? They've gotten overwhelmed on every level. Drained beyond belief and they just can't take any more. Their whole self has been assaulted to the point of going to pieces. The meltdown itself can be the result of total fatigue setting in, but the person is trying to keep going and can't.


_________________
AQ 31
Your Aspie score: 100 of 200 / Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 101 of 200
You seem to have both Aspie and neurotypical traits

What would these results mean? Been told here I must be a "half pint".


DevilKisses
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08 Jan 2014, 11:14 am

Sethno wrote:
DevilKisses wrote:
Sethno wrote:
DevilKisses wrote:
I was diagnosed a long time ago for questionable reasons. When I found out about my diagnosis I was surprised. I knew that I was different and I knew that people treated me differently. I just didn't think or feel like I had autism or a disability.

When I was about twelve I started to hate myself because of this diagnosis. I often felt suicidal because of my diagnosis. About a month ago I started questioning whether this diagnosis was valid to begin with. I do have some traits, but they can be explained by other stuff. I also have a lot of problems that have nothing to do with autism. I am not really getting any help for them. Most people I talk to blame everything on my autism diagnosis and dismiss the problem.

One example of this is school. I was getting tested because I have a lot of problems getting assignments done at school. I wanted to get screened for overlooked problems. Most things on the test came back normally. I mentioned to the person that was testing me that I have low mental energy. She said that it's normal for people with Asperger's to have low mental energy because of their problems with change. I don't actually have problems with change. I actually enjoy change.

I really want to address my problem with low mental energy. It is causing so many problems. I have gone to the doctor. Unfortunately all the results came back normal. I do have borderline anemia, but they blamed it on my period.


My feeling drained when coming home after being out and a about for a while was what made my therapist suspect autism.

I'd already suspected it for years, and had never considered the energy thing to be a symptom. I suspected due to things more on the social side. (The therapist didn't know about what I suspected. He came up with it on his own.)

Seems the energy thing is a symptom, tho', due to sensory overload and the need to sort of fight against it while it's going on. That can be draining.

I don't really have sensory problems unless I'm very tired.


You did say you have an ongoing problem with your energy levels, however.

What's causing it? I wouldn't have connected it to autism either, until the therapist clued me in.

I'm not saying you don't also have something else causing it, but autism itself can be the cause of fatigue/low energy.

Why do you think autistic kids (even adults) have meltdowns? They've gotten overwhelmed on every level. Drained beyond belief and they just can't take any more. Their whole self has been assaulted to the point of going to pieces. The meltdown itself can be the result of total fatigue setting in, but the person is trying to keep going and can't.

When I have a normal energy level I don't have any sensory issues, unless you count fluorescent lights. I don't really think my problems with fluorescent lights are autism related because my NT mom also has issues with them. I enjoy loud music and roller coasters. When I'm extremely tired or irritated I get more sensitive to noise and light. I think my fatigue is causing autism symptoms rather than autism causing my fatigue. When I have no fatigue and I'm with the right people I have no social problems. Unfortunately I have fatigue 99% of the time.


_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 82 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 124 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical


dianthus
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09 Jan 2014, 3:45 pm

DevilKisses wrote:
I really want to address my problem with low mental energy. It is causing so many problems. I have gone to the doctor. Unfortunately all the results came back normal. I do have borderline anemia, but they blamed it on my period.


Do you have heavy periods? It could be hormonal imbalance.



Falcor
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09 Jan 2014, 4:13 pm

Drained beyond belief and they just can't take any more. Their whole self has been assaulted to the point of going to pieces. The meltdown itself can be the result of total fatigue setting in, but the person is trying to keep going and can't

This was me a couple of weeks ago. I just kept pushing and pushing myself and ended up going home ill :(

I also get low mental energy during my period.



DevilKisses
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09 Jan 2014, 4:39 pm

My period never really makes a difference. It isn't that heavy either.


_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 82 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 124 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical