Autism/ADHD Support Thread 🌈

[ali.di.magix]

Spoiler: just an ADHD med rant

The Concerta shortage is just...ugh. I haven't been able to get it for about 3 months now. There's almost no point getting scripts for it either, as they expire in a short amount of time and need to be claimed almost asap for it to be valid.

I've been prescribed Ritalin in the meantime, and it's not quite as effective. Really sucked having to change over and go through the side effects again. I suppose I'm doing okay on it, my body has gotten more used to it. But when I first started it, my brain would go dead and shut off at about 3pm lol.

Would be nice to get back on Concerta, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. I've had to spend a lot of time and money on GP appointments and script renewals lately and it's annoying af.

Another thing I've noticed since being medicated is that the stimulants seem to get rid of my maladaptive daydreaming. Like the MD doesn't usually come back until late a night. Perhaps MD is correlated with ADHD as it probably produces a lot of dopamine? It's fascinating really.

 

[mocha.]

I love my loop earplugs!! I bought a pair of the Experience ones before attending a concert with Grace last year and I use them so much. I'll pop them in in the grocery store or when we go to in person workshops and it's really loud and busy. I hope they help make you feel more comfortable out and about

Which ones did you get? I got the engage 2 plus because I heard they’re good for still being able to hear conversations (I plan on wearing them at work around the kiddies). Thank you Lumi!

 

[QueenCobra]

For the past two years I’ve used this forum, I’ve debated sharing my story, but now I feel I’m in the right place to share it.

I was diagnosed with Asperger’s (2014) when I was 18. Prior to this, I was diagnosed with a learning disability in math (had resource math with smaller class), and had to see an occupational therapist due to my problems with fine motor skills. When I was 6, I saw a neurologist who diagnosed me with “developmental encephalopathy” which is not used anymore. Basically, I have a nonverbal learning disability. (Meaning, no issues with words.)

As I got older, I stood out more because of how quiet I was. I hated school; it made me extremely anxious and I don’t know how I even attended. How I could even physically be there remains a mystery. I had a lot of interests, but I didn’t really fit in anywhere. However, I won a few essay contests in my school, so I had writing as a strength.

I became very anxious and depressed. When I was fourteen, I began wondering if I had a personality disorder. I went on the MayoClinic website and found one that made sense (schizoid personality disorder), so I just went with it. (Thankfully, the page for it now has MUCH better and more specific information. It’s not relatable to me anymore.)

As a teenager, the school took my IEP away and I was put in regular math. Now, this was in high school, where math is notoriously difficult. (I still hate geometry with a burning passion!) I had very low grades in it, which only improved once I saw a tutor.

I felt I had to put on a facade in order to succeed. People praising my abilities was nice, but put a lot of pressure on me. My skill in some areas was so high, I had to work harder in other areas.

In my later teens, I took some tests with a school psychologist. She suggested I see a psychologist, as I had anxiety issues and was likely on the autism spectrum. So I attended therapy. The lady was very kind, and gave me a lot of good advice.

However, I knew my mind was very stubborn and didn’t let up from one thing too easily. I kept thinking she would REALLY have to work with me, as my mind moved faster than all these breathing exercises could handle.

She diagnosed me with Asperger’s, and I was very much relieved. I seriously thought I had a personality disorder. (Not that there’s anything wrong with these, but I thought it would be more difficult to work with.) It made a lot of sense, considering my previous history.

Now, knowing myself better didn’t make all my problems disappear, but it did make me gentler with myself. It made me understand that my struggles weren’t my fault, or something the world had to cure. It made me learn more about myself and how I experience the world— something no one should blame themselves for.

 

[ali.di.magix]

Another random realization I've come across - this time related to stimming.

I've always had stims that are considered socially acceptable, and some that are less acceptable. Playing with my hair or twirling my hair I can get away with, but I've always had a stim of shrugging my shoulders/twisting my arms about/flicking my hands about. I remember people telling me it was weird in school, so I've always suppressed it in social situations (or at least tried to).

But man have I been shoulder/arm stimming hard out lately. I usually only do it when I'm happy and/or excited, but I've come to realize that I do it to release stress as well. Never really noticed it until now! It's becoming a bit hard to suppress at work though...

 

[Chris]

I start ADHD Workplace Coaching on Monday. I didn't know this was a thing until it was recommended to me through Access to Work—a government service here that supports people with disabilities to find and retain employment—a couple of months ago. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 31 so I've never had any support. I've spoken briefly to my coach and he seems great - also neurodivergent himself.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

is anyone else who is autistic/ADHD weird about people using or borrowing your stuff? like, I live with my parents, but I have my own dishes (spoons, forks, plates, bowls, frying pans, pots, etc) and I don't like when my parents use them. my mum asked to borrow my sensory toy—a large rubber "banana" filled with gel—overnight, and I told her that I didn't know. honestly my answer was no, but she was pressuring me to say yes (that may be part of the reason why I wanted to say no, she gets mad when I don't let her borrow my stuff; and no, I didn't give in to her pressure, and she got mad ofc). I don't like letting others wear my clothes, I don't like when people borrow my electronics, etc etc.

[edit: by extension, I don't like borrowing their stuff either; I'd rather get something for myself if I need to use it.]

I think maybe if the person would take good care of it and then give it back exactly as I gave it to them, then I wouldn't mind quite as much. or maybe if they would only use it for a few minutes at most. but even then it's very iffy.

I think I'm only comfortable with letting someone borrow it if it's someone whom I feel totally safe with and I know I can trust; or rather, I'm not comfortable with it if the person has proven that I cannot trust them. my parents do not fall into that category of being trustworthy. but my partner does, and if he wanted to borrow something then I'd be happy to let him.

 

[Midoriya]

is anyone else who is autistic/ADHD weird about people using or borrowing your stuff? like, I live with my parents, but I have my own dishes (spoons, forks, plates, bowls, frying pans, pots, etc) and I don't like when my parents use them. my mum asked to borrow my sensory toy—a large rubber "banana" filled with gel—overnight, and I told her that I didn't know. honestly my answer was no, but she was pressuring me to say yes (that may be part of the reason why I wanted to say no, she gets mad when I don't let her borrow my stuff; and no, I didn't give in to her pressure, and she got mad ofc). I don't like letting others wear my clothes, I don't like when people borrow my electronics, etc etc.

[edit: by extension, I don't like borrowing their stuff either; I'd rather get something for myself if I need to use it.]

I think maybe if the person would take good care of it and then give it back exactly as I gave it to them, then I wouldn't mind quite as much. or maybe if they would only use it for a few minutes at most. but even then it's very iffy.

I think I'm only comfortable with letting someone borrow it if it's someone whom I feel totally safe with and I know I can trust; or rather, I'm not comfortable with it if the person has proven that I cannot trust them. my parents do not fall into that category of being trustworthy. but my partner does, and if he wanted to borrow something then I'd be happy to let him.

Yeah, I'm also pretty different about that as well. I do not like other people touching or using my stuff, especially if it's people I don't know very well, lol. Even my family borrowing my stuff makes me upset unless it's something simple like food, then I don't care. Most things are off-limits, but if it was someone I knew very well and could trust them, I wouldn't mind sharing.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

other people taking ADHD medication: "wow, I can focus so much better now!"

me taking ADHD medication: "I can focus so much better now, but I also have the impulse to say 'yee-haw' every half hour lmaoooo"

 

[Devicho]

I got officially diagnosed as having ADHD fairly recently after suspecting it for a while, so I’m still trying to find the right medication. I’m hitting a bit of a snag right now, though, for a bit of an unexpected reason: the Vyvanse I’m on right now is not playing nice with my sleep disorder. I have a non-24 hour sleep-wake cycle that I haven’t had good control over in years (COVID really destroyed my routine and I’ve yet to manage to fix it) and it turns out Vyvanse—at least that the 30mg dose I’m on—keeps me up for a really long time. So now I’m on day 2 of being unable to take it because I’m waking up too late to avoid sleep issues later. I actually tried to set an alarm to briefly wake up and take it early in the morning, then return to bed if I needed to, but I was so exhausted that I couldn’t do it.

At the very least I think the Vyvanse is helping with focus—certainly much more than the atomoxetine I tried before this—but having so many competing, disruptive health issues really isn’t fun.

 

[chocovelvetcake]

I always feel the need to compare myself to neurotypical people. Sometimes, I feel as if I'm not nearly as smart as much as any other adults around my age group who don't have autism. Ever since I found out about my autism, I lowkey felt like I was broken for being autistic.

Even though my autism is considered to be "high functioning," I feel as if I'm stupid or slow because I didn't achieve certain milestones at the ages I was "supposed" to (ex: getting my first job at age 20). Because of my autism, I would sometimes worry about my parents thinking I'm some kind of burden on them even though they've never treated me badly for being autistic. Idk if anyone else here can relate to this, but yeah. ;-;

 

[Midoriya]

I always feel the need to compare myself to neurotypical people. Sometimes, I feel as if I'm not nearly as smart as much as any other adults around my age group who don't have autism. Ever since I found out about my autism, I lowkey felt like I was broken for being autistic.

Even though my autism is considered to be "high functioning," I feel as if I'm stupid or slow because I didn't achieve certain milestones at the ages I was "supposed" to (ex: getting my first job at age 20). Because of my autism, I would sometimes worry about my parents thinking I'm some kind of burden on them even though they've never treated me badly for being autistic. Idk if anyone else here can relate to this, but yeah. ;-;

I meant to reply to this earlier, so I'll do so now before going to sleep.

I have autism as well and can relate. I've grown up my entire life thinking things would never change, not realizing life is always changing. I ended up graduating from university a year late and didn't land a good career job for another two to three years after that. I was basically just working retail and restaurant jobs until then. I'm also nearly 28 now and still don't have my own apartment or house, although I'm getting very close to accomplishing that.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with achieving milestones late or being in your 20's, 30's, etc. and not having everything figured out yet. Everyone takes life at their own pace and real progress takes time, and isn't linear at all because what might work for one person won't end up working for another person.

The best advice I can give, and advice I should probably take myself, is to not be too hard on yourself. I've been way too hard on myself with a lot of things in life and while I feel it benefitted me in some ways, it also put more stress on me than needed. As long as you're still working towards your goals, no one is ever a burden in life. That is what I truly believe.

 

[ShawnFuzz]

What do you all do if you don't feel comfortable talking about these things with others online?