autistic adults

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Hello all! I figured that I could give you all a shorter version of my story. So I grew up in Christian household with a narcissistic father, mom, and older brother. I started speech therapy before kindergarten and then once in school received my IEP. My childhood was rough between being bullied by other children and my father doing his thing. Anyways there have always been certain other things that I’ve struggled with all my life and I could never understand it all. In my 20’s I got diagnosed with anxiety and depression; so for awhile I just figured somethings were from that. Last year I started a new job and it brought a ton of attention to my differences. That’s when I really start my quest to figure me out. After lots of searching, some evaluations that were by no means fun, and tons of frustration I got results. Here I am at 37 years old and finding out that I’m autistic. I kind of had some feelings that I was, but now there’s proof and maybe I can start to understand me. Honestly I’m not sure of how to proceed from here. #AutisticAdults #AutismSpectrumDisorder

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So alone

I'm stuck living with the father of my child. He doesn't love me anymore. I feel like it's my fault. Too sensitive, too weird. I don't want go back to my parent's home. But I don't want to be here anymore. I think often about ending my life, but I remember I have a son. So I don't do myself any harm. Why I am so unlovable? It doesn't matter what I try, I always end up alone and unloved.
All I want is to have someone to text me at least once a day, to make sure I'm alright. Someone who hugs me and tells me I love you. Someone who holds me tight when I cry my eyes out because life hurts me.
#AutisticAdults #Depression #Fibromyalgia

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Undiagnosed autism in women

My son is 10 yo. He was diagnosed when he was 5. It hasn't been easy. I've struggled with motherhood since day one. I wanted to have children, but I felt like I was always in over my head. I'm currently fighting depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia. And this isn't the first time I've wondered this, but I think I might be on the spectrum as well. Too many similarities with my son's way of doing things. The way I process emotions and situations. Has anyone here been diagnosed as an adult? Can you share your thoughts and some encouragement as well? Thank you!! #Autism #AutisticAdults #Anxiety #Fibromyalgia

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Someone here will understand #neurodivergent #Autism

I have been craving fruit but its still crazy expensive where I live. So I got some grapes they were the best thing ever !!! Ate almost the whole bag. Only thing I want to eat so I've gotten a few bags this week - all good.
Just got a new bag and they are WRONG nothing is actually wrong with them but to me they are all wrong. The taste is different and the texture is wrong- my husband is eating the grapes, staring at me and he's trying to decifer what I think is different because to him they taste like grapes #neurodivergent #foodie #Autsim #AutisticNotWeird #AutisticAdults

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in Honor of Autism Acceptance Month

I’m autistic, and I made this to try to express what autism acceptance truly means to me! #AutisticAdults #actuallyautistic

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Being Autistic didn’t stop me from illustrating 22 books

I’ve illustrated 22 books to date 🙏🏽 🦋 Never make fun of someone's passion, it could just be the thing that saves them from the world 🦋 or even themselves Art is LIFE art saved my life, if I didn't have a friend I have art, if I have nowhere else to turn I have art, if I can't speak it I can draw it, art was my first form of communication I drew before I spoke! I never thought others would trust me with their visions I never knew something I did to help me continue living would be loved by others! Limitless, that's how art makes me feel, if you have a child with any type of disorder & you see their passion for it or even just a developing interest! FEED it, feed that passion because the limits the world puts on us, can't fly if we don't accept them #Autism #AutisticAdults #actuallyautistic #AutismAcceptance #AutisticNotWeird #autisticandblack #autizzy

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Autism and sza (schizoaffective) and finding work

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #ASD #Autistic #AutisticAdults #AutismAcceptance #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello Mighty members!

I want to keep this to a reasonable length. I was diagnosed with autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder fairly recently in my life (5 years ago, as I was finishing up a Master’s degree in Psychology). In hindsight, I think autism helps to explain a lot of things that I have struggled. Though my parents, particularly my father don’t completely understand, I think it is wonderful that I was able to qualify and obtain a Community Living Waiver that my state and county offers. It is helping to obtain transportation which is helping me get to work. I am hoping that with work I will be able to afford housing and so that I can move and be more independent. (As I currently live with my parents.) I also applied and was able to get EBT/SNAP. In the past I was a bit fearful as my father has strong views and would see it as a crutch, so it took me a while until I was sure that he was OK with my getting it.

 

For schizoaffective disorder, it had come up fairly recently in my life as I was completing my Master’s. I talk more about it if you are interested in my other posts. I am taking Abilify and Invega and Zoloft which I find to be helpful with ameliorating my symptoms. I also believe that talk therapy is helping me to better myself and if I have any issues that come up that I find helpful talking about.

 

I am wondering if anyone might have some insight or feedback regarding my situation. I am currently a Dishwasher at a retirement community. It took me a while to find and get this job. (As I am trying to avoid jobs that would involve a lot of social interaction.) I think due to past mental health, I am looking at part-time work currently. Though I’m also interested in full-time. What options do you think are obtainable or reasonable for someone in my situation?

When I was doing well, I was a good student (getting mostly A’s and B’s in my courses). I was interested in the research side and helped several professors with individual research projects. (One for Analytical chemistry, one for Biochemistry which ended up being my undergraduate Honors thesis. And then for Quantitative Psychology which I did for my Master’s degree.) I want to get into research again or at some point in my career. I have different stressors at my current job as a Dishwasher. But for getting into research, I find that I’ve struggled due to lack of practical experience and connections. (Being on the autism spectrum, I find that I struggle with communication, advocating for myself, and with talking to people.) I had talked with a crisis line and they said that it might be harder with my conditions, but it is definitely doable.

 

Thank you for your interest and responses!

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Autism and sza (schizoaffective) and finding work

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #ASD #Autistic #AutisticAdults #AutismAcceptance #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello Mighty members!

I want to keep this to a reasonable length. I was diagnosed with autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder fairly recently in my life (5 years ago, as I was finishing up a Master’s degree in Psychology). In hindsight, I think autism helps to explain a lot of things that I have struggled. Though my parents, particularly my father don’t completely understand, I think it is wonderful that I was able to qualify and obtain a Community Living Waiver that my state and county offers. It is helping to obtain transportation which is helping me get to work. I am hoping that with work I will be able to afford housing and so that I can move and be more independent. (As I currently live with my parents.) I also applied and was able to get EBT/SNAP. In the past I was a bit fearful as my father has strong views and would see it as a crutch, so it took me a while until I was sure that he was OK with my getting it.

 

For schizoaffective disorder, it had come up fairly recently in my life as I was completing my Master’s. I talk more about it if you are interested in my other posts. I am taking Abilify and Invega and Zoloft which I find to be helpful with ameliorating my symptoms. I also believe that talk therapy is helping me to better myself and if I have any issues that come up that I find helpful talking about.

 

I am wondering if anyone might have some insight or feedback regarding my situation. I am currently a Dishwasher at a retirement community. It took me a while to find and get this job. (As I am trying to avoid jobs that would involve a lot of social interaction.) I think due to past mental health, I am looking at part-time work currently. Though I’m also interested in full-time. What options do you think are obtainable or reasonable for someone in my situation?

When I was doing well, I was a good student (getting mostly A’s and B’s in my courses). I was interested in the research side and helped several professors with individual research projects. (One for Analytical chemistry, one for Biochemistry which ended up being my undergraduate Honors thesis. And then for Quantitative Psychology which I did for my Master’s degree.) I want to get into research again or at some point in my career. I have different stressors at my current job as a Dishwasher. But for getting into research, I find that I’ve struggled due to lack of practical experience and connections. (Being on the autism spectrum, I find that I struggle with communication, advocating for myself, and with talking to people.) I had talked with a crisis line and they said that it might be harder with my conditions, but it is definitely doable.

 

Thank you for your interest and responses!

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Autism and sza (schizoaffective) and finding work

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #ASD #Autistic #AutisticAdults #AutismAcceptance #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello Mighty members!

I want to keep this to a reasonable length. I was diagnosed with autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder fairly recently in my life (5 years ago, as I was finishing up a Master’s degree in Psychology). In hindsight, I think autism helps to explain a lot of things that I have struggled. Though my parents, particularly my father don’t completely understand, I think it is wonderful that I was able to qualify and obtain a Community Living Waiver that my state and county offers. It is helping to obtain transportation which is helping me get to work. I am hoping that with work I will be able to afford housing and so that I can move and be more independent. (As I currently live with my parents.) I also applied and was able to get EBT/SNAP. In the past I was a bit fearful as my father has strong views and would see it as a crutch, so it took me a while until I was sure that he was OK with my getting it.

 

For schizoaffective disorder, it had come up fairly recently in my life as I was completing my Master’s. I talk more about it if you are interested in my other posts. I am taking Abilify and Invega and Zoloft which I find to be helpful with ameliorating my symptoms. I also believe that talk therapy is helping me to better myself and if I have any issues that come up that I find helpful talking about.

 

I am wondering if anyone might have some insight or feedback regarding my situation. I am currently a Dishwasher at a retirement community. It took me a while to find and get this job. (As I am trying to avoid jobs that would involve a lot of social interaction.) I think due to past mental health, I am looking at part-time work currently. Though I’m also interested in full-time. What options do you think are obtainable or reasonable for someone in my situation?

When I was doing well, I was a good student (getting mostly A’s and B’s in my courses). I was interested in the research side and helped several professors with individual research projects. (One for Analytical chemistry, one for Biochemistry which ended up being my undergraduate Honors thesis. And then for Quantitative Psychology which I did for my Master’s degree.) I want to get into research again or at some point in my career. I have different stressors at my current job as a Dishwasher. But for getting into research, I find that I’ve struggled due to lack of practical experience and connections. (Being on the autism spectrum, I find that I struggle with communication, advocating for myself, and with talking to people.) I had talked with a crisis line and they said that it might be harder with my conditions, but it is definitely doable.

 

Thank you for your interest and responses!

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Hello / My Life with Autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #Autistic #AutisticAdults #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello everyone!

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in high school, currently I’m being treated for autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

I never really thought that I’d struggled with schizoaffective disorder until I received the diagnosis. It was terrifying for me. I was going through completing a Master’s and gradually I started feeling like I was losing my sense of self. I was thinking things that I don’t normally do, one example and I’m glad that I have it but I can look back to Spotify Top 100 playlists of the year. And I can see that my thinking was not doing great the years that I got my diagnosis and was recovering.

I can remember thinking unusual thoughts like I was a God or doing things on the level of a god. I used to spend most of my time focused on trying to influence the weather or in trying to find secret meaning in posts and news articles, trying to collect research articles on weather or other conspiracies. I wasn’t in a good place. I also drank a lot of alcohol which I know isn’t a great idea, but at the time I thought that it would exacerbate the symptoms of the weather having unusual events (which was some proof for me that I was a God or doing things on that level).

While I’m glad that I had the support of family, I don’t currently get along great with my father - he terrifies me. I feel like he has the perspective mental health isn’t really a thing nor is being on the autism spectrum (which is the other major diagnosis that I have). I can see that he wants me to be as independent and successful as I can. But he has such a menacing aura, I struggle talking with him and try to stay clear as much as I can.

My last major episode was a couple of months back in August/September 2022, I thought that people from major corporations like Amazon were controlling me like using stomach sounds like a clicker/trigger to try to create entertainment or media which I didn’t like. I feel like my symptoms weren’t as bad as I can look through playlists and realize that mostly my thinking was OK. But there were still residual I wasn’t doing OK. I think doing talk therapy and my Dad getting a prescription for abilify had helped and I feel like mostly since then I’ve been managing normally.

I’m currently working a job as a dishwasher which I know isn’t a lifelong or hopefully I’d work towards a job that would be a closer fit. To be honest I had a lot of anxiety when I was starting, as I had difficult experiences with the last job that I’d worked at, as a graduate assistant during my Master’s program. I have had a good experience the past week and I’m hoping to build my confidence and references so that I can apply for better positions. One benefit is that having a job will allow me to earn the income so that I can seek housing through an autism waiver and move out. Something that my father and I both want.

I feel like the abilify and talk therapy have helped, I realize that my conditions are lifelong but they help to make things more manageable. I’m grateful for the community on The Mighty and getting to share my story with you guys.

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