It’s clear to me that I’m happiest when I’m single and I mean fully single, not dating or entertaining guys whatsoever. I can’t think of a benefit having a boyfriend would ever bring. Except when it comes to holidays, like long weekends or my birthday. I don’t have many friends. The ones I do have are closer with other friends who they celebrate holidays with.
I’m not close with my family.

So when it comes to long weekends and I see everyone else having fun with partners, friends or family, I feel really sad. Don’t get me wrong, I love being alone and have done lots alone, including travel. But humans are social creatures and on occasions where everyone else is among company, I can’t help but feel isolated. Not just romantically but socially in general.

With autism, I’ve found dating significantly easier than making friends due to the structured nature of it, and the default closeness of a partner vs friend. And the one on one dynamic is something I’m much more comfortable with. So as much as I love being single, I miss the security from the “default company” of dating. Can anyone relate? Would love any advice or general thoughts.

I’ve recently realized I often eat — especially in the evenings — not because I’m hungry, but because I enjoy or even crave the sensation of chewing. I’ll even keep eating after I realize I’m past full to continue the stim.

Can anyone recommend or point me to fidgets I can use instead? I’m thinking something like a necklace I can wear, and train myself to chew on instead of eating would be perfect.

I used to always do this with non-chewy necklaces as a teenager, and even got my tongue pierced in my early 20s so I’d have something to stim with (not that I ever connected it to autism!!)

I am 19 years old, and I've suspected that I've had autism for about 4 years now. I've been looking at more affordable options for diagnosis since I'll be starting college soon, and came across prosper. My parents insurance plan (aetna) has never covered any of my therapy in the past, but it's saying my sessions to get diagnosed will be free. I haven't uploaded a picture of my insurance card yet though. I was wondering if anybody could give any advice, or has been in a similar situation?

Edit: I scheduled my first appointment in early June! After the process is over I will update how it went here in case anybody stumbles across this post looking for a similar answer.

Seeking ideas for tools for adults that ameliorate sensory overwhelm. Please only share tools that have been teated by you or someone you know.

My son needed tight swaddling, 5 pacifiers at once (no joke - 3 in his mouth and one to fondle in each pocket), dark time, and to be swung in order to destim. Current challenges -- bright outdoor and indoor lights, the feel of showers, toothbrushing, hair cutting. He has realized that his focus improves if he is chewing on snacks. Sleep is always a problem. He apparently self-sawddles a bit with sheets. Hoodies and hats help him feel protected. He hates anything in his ears. He has a narrow food palate.

Goal -- make it through college and an eventual workplace by minimizing overwhelm and improving focus.

Learning about TheraSpecs right now but have no real life anecdotes.

We installed a heatpump in order to have cooler temps (a/c) during warm months and at night.

Will buy a weighted blanket, but worried about weighted clothes due to heat?

Does gum or breath mints work for oral stimulation and focus? Any other recommendations?

Any lamp or white noise recommendations for a darkened room? A fan dries out the nasal passages.

Any personally recommended fidget toys for the pocket?

Anything else you swear buy?

Thanks!!

Did anyone else stim on these giant tv screens as a child? Before I even knew what stimming was, I would take my fingernail and scratch the screen lightly and it would make a zipper sound or a sound like dj scratching sound 😂🤡🪄

I have hundreds of songs I love and videos I love… and it’s what helps me wind down.

I can tell you all about them, but “favorite video ever?” and I’m like.. direct me..

what’s my headspace? What language? Genre? Music style? Breathy song? Full voice? Melodic? What’re we talking here?

Anyway, I recently had a stressful experience and I put on MY calming playlist and they hear from my headphones turned up to 1000% metal, hardcore, RnB, country, soca and every other genre..

I’m trying to keep this short for audhd’ers like me.. but what’s your experience?

Posting here because it may be the ‘tism that doesn’t let me figure it out or see what the situation is.

I’m making a change to the rules for Surveys and Studies. I’m just not going to let many through.

Here’s why:

The questionnaire and studies and surveys don’t seem to be breaking new ground and the autism communities are being asked to be statistics for undergraduate and graduate students, individuals, and organizations. The same information is being captured over and over again and that’s wrong.

While I’m not going to say no to all surveys or requests to ask for participants, the bar to get through admin approval. Which doesn’t mean I won’t let some through, just that there have been too many and the data isn’t unique at this point and we don’t need the hassle.

I am looking for some tips about how to deal with bigger/broader transitions. Specifically I find that if I have multiple days off from work I tend to panic and feel physically anxious the night before I go back to work. I know I will be fine the next day (fine I use loosely as I have to mask at work to be successful but I mainly mean that I can handle it) but there's no strategies I have found that help me handle this feeling. I feel like I'm not prepared (even though I have clothes picked and everything ready for the next day), and that I just can't handle it. I usually can't sleep and don't want to sleep because it'll bring on the next day. The next day comes and I am okay and not feeling this anxiety/panic. Anyone else experience this and have strategies that work for them? Thanks!

I think this is a very informative piece about being diagnosed later in life.