Meet the Woman Diagnosed With Autism at 45 | Lorraine 

I’m also autistic but in my case is different because I’m a trans woman with it because I was diagnosed so young to the point that my family already knows about it I was non-verbal at the time but at the age of 6 that when I started talking it took many years to accomplish all when I when through

@@janetmoreno5536 Have you had your bottom surgery yet

@@TaxingIsThieving umm no not yet first of all is actually not your business to be asking me that is my life at the end of the day like Im happy to be a trans woman regardless if I need the surgery or not so pls don’t ask that unless if your my friend so respectfully don’t meddled out your tongue for saying these things to trans people thank you we live our lives that way we want to .

@@TaxingIsThieving 🤮😂😂🤮

Yeah right! My entire family thinks I’m a lunatic for reacting irrationally to certain situations or people’s behavior. I am 99 percent in autistic and even if a doctor told me I wasn’t well, I definitely have many of the characteristics autism so it wouldn’t mean much to me.

I totally understand what you're saying Elizabeth.

👋 no longer spiritual once I realized I’m Autistic and had taken the Bible literally - arrived at Agnostic & underwent religious abuse therapy 🙃. But I totally feel the Isolophilia (love of solitude). Now more interested in Neurobiology (Dr Spalosky is brilliant in his explanations of human behavior). Hello from the Ozarks!!

I heard I'm autistic last year at 55 yo. It answered all of my questions and struggles from when I was small and still get answers. We as women were all masking. Thanks for the truth that will always prevail, life is difficult.

If they say u hav autism they probably dont know what autism is. Autism is a disability that makes u not know how to talk and it makes u flap ur hands and makes u swing backwards and forwards whenever u sit down😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

@@THE-TRUTH-BOMBER Level 1 autism, also known as "high-functioning autism" or formerly "Asperger's Syndrome," refers to the mildest form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). People with Level 1 autism typically have average to above-average intelligence and possess strong language skills. However, they may struggle with social interactions, have a limited range of interests, and engage in repetitive behaviors. They often require some support to navigate social situations and manage their daily lives, but they can live independently with the right accommodations and understanding.

There is a strong hereditary component; do you think your mom or dad were Autistic?

@@philly8184 Yes I'm almost certain my father was he was a bit of a recluse and kept himself to himself he served in the first World War.

@@wizzgamer this is so neat! If you’re nearly 100 and your parent was most likely Autistic we know Autism has been around at least 200 years. Welcome! I am so glad you learned of your unique brains wiring even if it’s very late.

45. Totally relate. Found out last year - also have Ehlers Danlos. Hang in there. I recommend reading The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin And Unmasking Autism by Devon Price as well as joining groups on social media. Dr Spaolsky - Neurobiologist- highly recommend his lecture on the biology of depression (and free will). Love and accept yourself fully. Forgive everyone they didn’t see it sooner, including yourself. You didn’t know and neither did they. And welcome to the rest of your life!!!!! ❤

I'm in a similar situation, probably going to go for a private assessment, (which I'm privileged to be able to afford now) as the older I get I feel like my behaviour in social situations just feels increasingly odd. Being 'shy' and awkward when your a teen/ young adult is one thing but at 35 it's just weird. I've noticed people have a tendency to talk to me like I'm a child, I figured it must be something I'm doing that ilicits that response. I've suspected I was on the spectrum since ~12/13, tried to get diagnosed at 19 after accessing m/h services but there was no provision for adults back then private or nhs and my parents esp. mom point blank refused to get involved (to give a diagnostic hx). I think partly because I was academically very bright, not top of the class but above average. I think like a lot of people my parents have a lot misconceptions about what autism can look like, especially my mom who has worked with severely disabled children. I'm not sure if I do get diagnosed if I will tell them.

@@liai2375 I realize this is an old comment but it's my story exactly. I was told I have social anxiety but as I get older I'll grow out of it. Well I'm 36 now and avoid social situations at all cost. On the off chance that I sort of have to socialize with family, I absolutely dread it and do have what probably seems like a meltdown during the hours leading up to hanging out.

Same here!

Yes! That’s why I overlooked it for 36 years. I never knew or realized how empathic an autistic person can actually be.

@@SummerOf1987 the ones without Alexithymia (emotional blindness) are typically hyper empathetic.

I’m 40 in November, and today I’m watching videos to try and understand this! How are you getting on ?

@darrenhill5802 Hey! It's a trip how many of us high-masking, intelligent people get overlooked in diagnosis! There's so much good information out there! It can really help with the things we're bad at and the community's so open. It's really a "finding my tribe" moment. How are you?!

This is not true. "Normal" people aren't stupid or incurious and it doesn't help anyone to pretend they are.

They don’t research like we do lol

I love being professionally trained to recognize these things

I had NO issues with communication with my friends. People said I was too talkative and I was scatter brain

I was just curious, it was never a mask. People are dumb

Only my parents supported my ADHD diagnosis whereas other people gaslit me and shamed me for it but couldn't admit they were wrong for the nasty names they labeled me with pre diagnosis

And I enjoy loud music, I blast my headphones to high volume

If you say so.

Self-diagnose through the tests and researching on your own in between and talking to other autistics that can tell you the symptoms from the inside

Go private went to Birmingham

Ask to speak to a different doctor. I expressed that I've had these struggles my entire life. I've tried all the recommendations for treatment for anxiety and depression, yet I'm still struggling and I need to know if there's another reason for my struggles and then eventually I was referred. It's hard, but if you think it's worth it to help you, then I'd try your best to find a bit of fight to get the help you deserve. Take a friend or loved one with you for support. Write down things that make you wonder if you have autism and either read them out at the appointment or hand the notes to the doctor to read. Good luck. Hope you manage to get some support, if you haven't already ❤

Interesting. Still don't know why there is tippy toe walking in my son and what causes that. He is 7 and on the spectrum. He's very active and can barely sit still but I'm glad he gets lots of exercise - it's not healthy to sit all day! I think I'm on the spectrum too so it helps me to be more understanding to his differences bc I have plenty of my own, although I'm def not as high energy as he and never did the stimming thing or tippy toe walking but am def sensory sensitive! :)

I would urge you to seek a professional assessment for autism, even if you have to wait a while. It is a *very* complex condition and has overlaps with a number of different conditions, so self-diagnosis is a bad idea (actually, it's *always* a bad idea). Self-diagnosis isn't diagnosis; it's hypothesising.

​@thefuturist8864 Do research into your claims. There's quite a bit of information in modern scientific articles and studies showing that self-diagnosis of autism is more valid and correct than previously thought. Especially when you've been told how weird you are your entire life for all the traits of autism you have. At that point, other people can see it and have seen it your whole life so it isn't some complex you've developed to validate a false self identity. It's not like Schizophrenia or BPD or Bipolar where you are in a state where you sometimes cannot reflect clearly enough on yourself to determine if something is wrong or different and what exactly it is, it's autism. It's fairly cut and dry for mental disorders, and there is usually nothing clouding your judgement of yourself unless you have some other stuff going on. There are also millions of reasons someone would not want to pursue a doctor's diagnosis. In some countries, people with ANY level of autism cannot legally drive. It also costs around 2000 dollars at a minimum to get evaluated, and that's with insurance. I'd say I'm a better driver than most, so that is utter bull. You can easily get what's called a "working diagnosis" by doctors, where they don't put it on your medical record but assure you that you have it. That's what they did for my complex genetic disorder that would require a biopsy to officially diagnose. Any therapist/psychologist can give you that "working diagnosis".

​@@thefuturist8864yeah, I think we are all aware if this. Whether or not to get an official designation and WHEN is a personal choice

Yep. I was 42.

Same!

Yes, you need yet another diagnosis so you can feel different & special 😂

You should watch 7 overlooked signs of Austin. I have austic and have adhd where I have so many great ideas running through if head but u can never seem to actually do anything about them. The video I have told I about is a very good video to at least understand some of what we go through on a day to day basis. Good luck xx

Autism not Austin lol

It's called that before

The woman that wrote the Highly Sensitive Person was just describing her Autistic sons. Who were later diagnosed with Autism. It’s hyper empathy causing the emotional disregulation.

She likely does. It’s mostly European DNA that has Ehlers Danlos. I do and there are genetic tests besides the physical exam for hypermobile Ehlers Danlos. There are several types with the Vascular being the most deadly.

Because it signifies that particularly late nature of the diagnosis. The late diagnosis means that pre that she was having to cope with a variety of differences that weren't recognised by others her whole life. Late diagnosis means that you've potentially lived much of your life with additional struggles whereas an early diagnosis, at a much younger age would have seen certain provisions and understandings put in place. Financially parents who are caring for autistic children can apply for carers support - depending on their individual circumstances. Having that extra funding, especially if your household is low income can make a huge difference to the life outcomes of the autistic child. But if they're diagnosed at a much later age then all of those opportunities for help and understanding were lost.

This is incorrect. Autistic people have strengths and weaknesses in a variety of areas. That is why it is described as being on a “spectrum” - No two people are exactly the same.

@@rinkydinkron I only said that is because noticed some speak slowly and some softly.

@@munchocrisps It's unfortunate that such misconceptions persist. Autism, especially in women, often goes undiagnosed until later in life because they may develop strong compensatory strategies, including effective communication skills, to mask their symptoms. Being a journalist or speaking well in an interview does not negate an autism diagnosis. Many autistic individuals are highly articulate and capable in their chosen professions, especially when it aligns with their interests and strengths. The idea that autistic people can't be articulate or successful communicators is based on outdated stereotypes. Autism is a spectrum, and people can have varying levels of ability in different areas. High-functioning autistic women, in particular, may excel in areas like writing or public speaking, especially if they've honed these skills over time. Autism manifests differently in each person, and being a good communicator or journalist does not preclude someone from being autistic. The interviewee likely has spent years developing these skills, which is a common experience for autistic individuals who learn to navigate social expectations.

Sorry I don’t understand much since I have PDD.

Please go and watch different channels here from autistic ppl- you will be surprised how "normal" most of them appear! esp the younger women