Better or worse?

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Has your autism gotten better or worse? I ask this because I remembered something my parents said. Yesterday, my dad was trying to talk to the psychiatrist over the computer (stupid s**t, let me tell you... but that's another story). He mentioned that my autism has gotten worse over, yet my mom thinks I'm getting better though. It raised up a question on what you guys think of your autism, or what others think.

In my opinion, I think it has gotten worse. However, I don't remember a lot from my childhood though. My parents are at that point where age is catching up to them too. They don't remember a whole lot about what I was like as a child, but I do believe my dad is more right. I guess it's because my dad knows me a little better than my mom does as well.

So anyway, enough about me... what about you? Has your autism gotten better or worse?

I'll very briefly (and simply) layout my friend's life:

Age 1-9: Profoundly/severely autistic. He was non-verbal until 6/7 years old, had many meltdowns, auditory, visual hypersensitivity and olfactory hyposensitivity, unable to go anywhere without days of mental preparation and had a private teacher to help him with abstract concepts, because he has abstract learning disability. A lot of obvious stimming including hand flapping, rocking and head bopping. Obvious special interests, where he would stay up all night, on school nights, researching them (one at a time).

Age 9-14: Quickly shot up toward HFA, though with extensive treatment, all his autistic characteristics reduced greatly during this period. Social cognition was now his most impairing trait, where he would mistake strangers for friends and all that kind of autistic stuff.

Age 14-20 (Now): Essentially NT, with social cognition the only prominent difference. Stims relatively rarely - only really in response to emotion when having 'happy fits' or extremely anxious. Takes one day of visual/mental preparation for new events (i.e. doesn't have to prepare for every visit to my house), visual hypersensitivity is all that remains for his sensory issues, and sensory overload occurs rarely and is almost not impairing at all. Still has special interests but reduced in intensity (no all-nighters etc.), perseverative nature is still there. Has strategies in place to compensate for abstract difficulties.

The one thing that never changed is his alexithymia; his struggles to identify and distinguish emotions have always been the same. He groups emotions into two groups, 'scared' and 'happy', and cannot understand empathy or sympathy.

There is obviously a lot I have left out, but the general outline is there.

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Unapologetically, Norny.
-chronically drunk

I think my symptoms have gotten less severe. My sensory sensitivities are significantly less severe, and my social ability is slightly improved (but still very poor). But the social demand has increased as I've gotten older, so it's more disabling, even with milder symptoms.

Better. Definitely better.

About the same since I can remember. I have episodes of "fogginess" when I become incapable, but they come and go like they always have.

It's by far worse now. I went undiagnosed for 41 years. Yes, it was a bumpy road, but I had a family and a decent job. The last year has been very stressful for me and I finally broke down a few months ago. I just couldn't pass anymore.

about the same, but I've learned a few useful workarounds.

Not good around childhood (8-). I wasn't aware enough to know sensory issues and social settings.
Worse afterwards (9-13). Where meltdowns are the worst. And I was a trying-hard to be social.
This part of is when I was diagnosed (12). I had no idea.
Then worst during teen years. (14-16). Where I end up in a mild depressed state. Half the time shut-down.
Then it gets better (17-present). The starting point when realizing certain stuffs that isn't worth caring for. Then coping with my senses gone much better due to going out more. Quickly diminished and lesser meltdowns. But social practicing is just starting.

My present is much better compare back in my childhood days.

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Better

My social skills improved greatly over the course of the last 2 years. My self-awareness and self esteem has as well. I think anyone autistic can get better in terms of those things with proper guidance and education..

But everything else? The things like stimming, meltdowns, sensory issues, anxiety? There isn't the slightest hope for any of those things. They're a part of who I am and I don't have the desire to change those things, because I couldn't anyway.

I don't think my symptoms have ever changed, I just think my coping skills, did. At first, I seemed really bad, because my skills were so bad----or, non-existent. Then, as I learned skills, I seemed "better"----or, at least, seemed like a better person. Now..... I just get so tired, sometimes (not too often), after having to "fight", for all of these years.