More people saying they have Autism lately?

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I have OCD and it being used as a slur always amuses me.

"Oh goodness, I can't stop these disturbing anxious intrusive thoughts, I'm so OCD ."

OCD wasn't even on my self diagnosis radar when I joined here , but since you started your OCD thread it has become apparent that OCD might be my biggest issue.

I never imagined I would have OCD either. Isn't OCD that disorder where somebody has to wash their hands a lot? That's what I used to think. OCD can actually come in many forms, and sadly some forms of OCD (especially the more disturbing ones) aren't talked about often. I wish there were more resources out there for people who may suffer from OCD and not know it because all they have is a stereotype in mind. It would save 45 years of pain and trouble to know that you aren't alone.

Oh wait, I'm getting "off-topic" again .

I guess that's better than denying something we cannot diagnose ourselves of.

Yes, stress can in fact cause a lot of symptoms from many different disorders, but that doesn't mean that the person who is under stress has a disorder that can be diagnosed (one symptom doesn't make for a disorder). I personally develop symptoms that are present in OCD when I'm under a lot of stress - I get intrusive thoughts; during a period of my life they were so bad that I couldn't sleep, and I would have to get out of bed, covered in sweat, and sit on the floor to try and prevent a panic attack from happening. I also get compulsions that make me do things over and over because they're not "right" (i.e. folding clothes from laundry, and having to do it again and again until it's folded properly and if I don't -> anxiety). However, that has happened during specific, punctual periods of my life and it's not an ongoing struggle, thus I wouldn't be diagnosed as OCD. A person may even experience a psychotic episode during their lifetime and not get a schizophrenia diagnosis. Also, being sad is not depression; someone may not even experience sadness and be depressed (covert depression) having symptoms such as fatigue, alexithymia, sleep problems, lack of appetite, etc. Dysthymia is another condition in which the person has a long-lasting form of "mild" depression, but can do things like work and have a social life (even though it's a constant struggle) - I do have this condition and it impairs my quality of life, which is also one of the core aspects considered when giving a clinical diagnosis. [Talking from my perspective as a ND psychologist]

So this thread morphed from more autistics know of their disability these days to a hate session about OCD?

This thread is really rubbing me the wrong way. I get wanting to own your identity, and I totally get not wanting other people to falsely represent it.

BUT, one thing I really love about how autism is conveyed and talked about is that it is a spectrum. Does spectrum only mean that which has been clearly identified as diagnosable? I have been able to "pass" to people that don't know me well (or not and I just don't realize how they see me), but I have been fully aware that I process differently than most people since I was in high school. Other people show it more obviously and outwardly. That doesn't mean either of us are better or worse, or more or less autistic, it just means we've had different life experiences and similar but different life challenges.

There are hundreds of reasons that someone could be autistic and not have an official diagnosis. They are over 40 and Asperger's wasn't a thing when they were in school. Like someone else said, no access to healthcare. I will add access to quality and knowledgeable healthcare. They are female and don't fit the typical male model. They are any type of person that does't exactly fit the model of asd as described by non-autistic, old, male doctors. They don't want the stigma of a label. They aren't affected enough socially to need a diagnosis. They over-research on their own and are comfortable with their own knowing. They have been misdiagnosed with other disorders and don't trust the doctor enough to retest. They suspect they are autistic and tell a friend or family member, and that person tells them they're not so they don't go to the doctor even though they know they are...it could go on and on.

Maybe there just are a lot more people with autism out there then we think. It's nice to have a community and a forum as a place to share and connect with others who get it, diagnosed or not. For the people who you think are claiming to be autistic but really aren't, educating them would be more productive than hating on them.

They aren't affected enough socially to need a diagnosis.

I left for a while and when I came back, this was exactly my reaction!

Sorry but then they don't have autism then. Being socially awkward or not knowing the social rules doesn't always mean someone is autistic. Autism is a disability and causes an impairment and problems in functioning. One can have traits but not have enough symptoms to have a diagnoses or because they're not severe enough to cause them a significant impairment. But they would not be autistic.

What if you have a well paying job that requires that you have autistic traits?
Mine requires:
Exceptional long term memory going back decades. Ability to recall thousands of trivial details with great accuracy.
Excellent math abilities
Good writing skill in expressing difficult concepts
Creative thinking
Ability to handle repetitive tasks.

What if you have a well paying job that requires that you have autistic traits?
Mine requires:
Exceptional long term memory going back decades. Ability to recall thousands of trivial details with great accuracy.
Excellent math abilities
Good writing skill in expressing difficult concepts
Creative thinking
Ability to handle repetitive tasks.

At what point does something go from non autistic 'social awkwardness' to a significant impairment and problem with functioning?

There probably would be more, if people actually knew what OCD really is. A lot of people tend to look at lists and stuff and then determine from that instead of asking themselves WHY they do what they do! See a lot of people forget the "C" in OCD. Watching Vampire Diaries could help someone learn what compulsion is. Say someone who likes to wash their hands a lot didn't do it they may say "Oh I forgot to wash my hands...Guess I'll go wash them." Someone with OCD would wash them multiple times against their will even if they were doing something else important.

It would be an irresistible urge. I'm guessing the stress and problem come from when you can't stop the force of the brain from making you do that.

if your issues are caused by the environment like being singled out or bullied or treated different by society.