Posts: 1715
Threads: 9
Joined: September 20, 2015
Reputation:
18
Autism
August 11, 2017 at 4:33 pm
I noticed there are a few people who post here who have autism. It's something that I've never encountered, or even thought that much about, until my nephew was diagnosed with it. We were all totally taken aback, nobody in my family had a reference point.
What happens in the mind of an autistic person as he or she is developing? I know this is a huge and general question and every individual is different, but it reflects my complete lack of understanding of the phenomenon. So educate me.
How did you turn out? What were and are your biggest struggles because of your autism? I'd love to hear some personal experiences if you care to share them!
If The Flintstones have taught us anything, it's that pelicans can be used to mix cement.
-Homer Simpson
Posts: 15452
Threads: 147
Joined: June 15, 2015
Reputation:
88
RE: Autism
August 11, 2017 at 4:37 pm
(This post was last modified: August 11, 2017 at 4:49 pm by Catholic_Lady.)
Following
I'm on the exact same boat. My nephew was recently diagnosed as well. He's 1 1/2... 
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
Posts: 1715
Threads: 9
Joined: September 20, 2015
Reputation:
18
RE: Autism
August 11, 2017 at 4:59 pm
(August 11, 2017 at 4:37 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Following
I'm on the exact same boat. My nephew was recently diagnosed as well. He's 1 1/2...
At first we were all freaked out about it, then we realized that it's not an inherently bad thing, he's just different. Different is something we celebrate in our family! 
If The Flintstones have taught us anything, it's that pelicans can be used to mix cement.
-Homer Simpson
Posts: 15452
Threads: 147
Joined: June 15, 2015
Reputation:
88
RE: Autism
August 11, 2017 at 5:06 pm
How old is he?
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
Posts: 1715
Threads: 9
Joined: September 20, 2015
Reputation:
18
RE: Autism
August 11, 2017 at 5:10 pm
He's 4.
If The Flintstones have taught us anything, it's that pelicans can be used to mix cement.
-Homer Simpson
Posts: 4068
Threads: 70
Joined: February 16, 2016
Reputation:
91
RE: Autism
August 11, 2017 at 6:54 pm
I'll be following this thread, too. My son has been diagnosed with autism. He is high functioning. He was said to be non-verbal, but then things shifted after lots and lots of therapy and he began to whisper. After months of whispering he began to talk. He has gone back to non-verbal this week, but it may be temporary due to changes in routine. There is so much to this topic! I have to go get my next client, though. This is a thread I'll absolutely love and appreciate. I'd love to learn from others, especially those who have been personally diagnosed.
Thank you for this thread!
"Hipster is what happens when young hot people do what old ladies do." -Exian
Posts: 1715
Threads: 9
Joined: September 20, 2015
Reputation:
18
RE: Autism
August 11, 2017 at 7:37 pm
Jack, I'd love to hear more about your son and how it's been for you.
If The Flintstones have taught us anything, it's that pelicans can be used to mix cement.
-Homer Simpson
Posts: 2088
Threads: 6
Joined: January 3, 2016
Reputation:
31
RE: Autism
August 11, 2017 at 7:41 pm
(This post was last modified: August 11, 2017 at 7:46 pm by Jello.)
From what i've gathered from my girlfriend, who has autism, i've noticed that a major thing is that they NEED structure in their lives. She will break down in tears if her structure gets messed with too much, or if there is no structure, because it is a core pillar of their lives. Another thing is that (at least with my girlfriend, which is exacerbated by other things) is that they can be brutally honest about how they feel or think.
Other than that, i'm really not the best on this topic, but i hope it helps people understand a little 
Additional edit: Other things, thinking about it, can be "childish" behaviour. It varies from people to people, i assume, but based again on my only experience, obviously with the girlfriend, is that some things will excite her far more than most, but i don't see it as a bad thing, if she's happy, i'm all for it. She's also incredibly affectionate, though that may well have nothing to do with the autism, i'm no expert.
"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. For if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes unto you."
Posts: 11743
Threads: 125
Joined: January 11, 2010
Reputation:
45
RE: Autism
August 11, 2017 at 8:28 pm
Here's the gist f what I went through as a kid and how it relates to the autism spectrum disorder I have: imagine being thrust into a sporting event where you don't know the rules and aren't even sure you want to play. Now imagine that th other people on the field are more interested in punishing you for not playing by the rules than letting you know what those rules even are. And then they decide they'd have more fun punishing you than actually playing and the referees only have a problem with it when you try and defend yourself. This was pretty much my experience as a kid on the spectrum in a grade school where nobody seemed to care. I came in as a kid just wanting to know what the Hell was going on and I ended it as a messed up kid who was so damaged he was convinced he was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
Of course, all this has been tempered by time, an environment that has been, at the very least, less consistently shitty in the past 13 years than before, therapy, and me giving myself time to learn how the world works (to an extent, anyway) .
Comparing the Universal Oneness of All Life to Yo Mama since 2010.
![[Image: harmlesskitchen.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/yxR97P23/harmlesskitchen.png)
I was born with the gift of laughter and a sense the world is mad.
Posts: 23918
Threads: 300
Joined: June 25, 2011
Reputation:
151
RE: Autism
August 11, 2017 at 8:29 pm
Also very interested and following. I'm pretty sure my nephew is somewhere on the spectrum. He has some trouble connecting but he has developed interesting ways of socializing. He is quite smart, went to college, got a degree involving the display of data and now works for the Wall Street Journal. Whatever it is he has, I like him and find him fascinating. I think he has some trouble reading people, especially assessing what they are feeling. I'll also be following.
|
