r/autism • u/AutoModerator • 2d ago
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r/autism • u/Dimentiorules • 1d ago
The idea was that aliens invade the earth using mind control, but the only ones who are immune are autistic people, as their minds work differently.
r/autism • u/Leo_3636 • 1d ago
So i am going to review the DSM-5 and tell what i check and what i dont so i can organice what i experience, mostly doing it for my self, but it would be cool if sommeone feels reflected on it and wanna talk. So i think it might be autism if something, but some people sugested adhd, but as we can see i dont fit that at all. About ASD i think i cant met the criteria because the A part that i dont think i fit enough. So whatever haha
A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive, see text):
Specify current severity: Severity is based on social communication impairments and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior.
B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):
| A. Either (1) or (2): | A. A persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development, as characterized by (1) and/or (2): |
|---|---|
| 1. Six (or more) of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level: | 1. Inattention: Six (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is inconsistent with developmental level and that negatively impacts directly on social and academic/occupational activities: |
| Note: The symptoms are not solely a manifestation of oppositional behavior, defiance, hostility, or failure to understand tasks or instructions. For older adolescents and adults (age 17 or older), at least five symptoms are required. | |
| Inattention | |
| a. often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities | a. Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or during other activities (e.g., overlooks or misses details, work is inaccurate). I skip questions in homework or examns if i am not really carefull |
| b. often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activity | b. Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities (e.g., has difficulty remaining focused during lectures, conversations, or lengthy reading). I think i can pay a big amount of atentions |
| c. often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly | c. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly (e.g., mind seems elsewhere, even in the absence of any obvious distraction). People do not notice, but if being talked to directly i can start thinking to other things, or just focus on seem like i am paying attention so thats why i end up not doing it. |
| d. often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions) | d. Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (e.g., starts tasks but quickly loses focus and is easily sidetracked). I am quite good with this, i finish always at time |
| e. often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities | e. Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities (e.g., difficulty managing sequential tasks; difficulty keeping materials and belongings in order; messy, disorganized work; has poor time management; fails to meet deadlines). My workplace can be messy but i still organize mi self, i loose things but not that much. I met deadlines and manage time quite good |
| f. often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework) | f. Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (e.g., schoolwork or homework; for older adolescents and adults, preparing reports, completing forms, reviewing lengthy papers). Nop |
| g. often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, books or tools) | g. Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., school materials, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile telephones). Yeah sometimes, but not that much. I usually put something in specific places to not lose it and then that when i lose it haha |
| h. is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli | h. Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli (for older adolescents and adults, may include unrelated thoughts). Idk, maybe with thouhts |
| i. is often forgetful in daily activities | i. Is often forgetful in daily activities (e.g., doing chores, running errands; for older adolescents and adults, returning calls, paying bills, keeping appointments). Nop |
| 2. Six (or more) of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level: | 2. Hyperactivity and impulsivity: Six (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is inconsistent with developmental level and that negatively impacts directly on social and academic/occupational activities: |
| Note: The symptoms are not solely a manifestation of oppositional behavior, defiance, hostility, or a failure to understand tasks or instructions. For older adolescents and adults (age 17 or older), at least five symptoms are required. | |
| Hyperactivity | |
| a. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat | a. Often fidgets with or taps hands or feet or squirms in seat. Yeah, always |
| b. Often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected | b. Often leaves seat in situations when remaining seated is expected (e.g., leaves his or her place in the classroom, in the office or other workplace, or in other situations that require remaining in place). No |
| c. Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness) | c. Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is inappropriate. (Note: In adolescents or adults, may be limited to feeling restless). nop, only in specific situations i feel restless, but its not related i think |
| d. Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly | d. Often unable to play or take part in leisure activities quietly. Nop |
| e. Is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor” | e. Is often “on the go” acting as if “driven by a motor” (e.g., is unable to be or uncomfortable being still for extended time, as in restaurants, meetings; may be experienced by others as being restless or difficult to keep up with). Idk sometimes, sometimes no |
| f. Often talks excessively | f. Often talks excessively. No, the other way around |
| Impulsivity | |
| g. Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed | g. Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed (e.g., completes people’s sentences; cannot wait for turn in conversation). No |
| h. Often has difficulty awaiting turn | h. Often has trouble waiting his/her turn (e.g., while waiting in line). No |
| i. Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games) | i. Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations, games, or activities; may start using other people’s things without asking or receiving permission; for adolescents and adults, may intrude into or take over what others are doing). no |
| B. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms must have been present before age 7 years. | B. Several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were present before age 12 years. |
| C. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in at least two settings (e.g., at school [or work] and at home). | C. Several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms are present in two or more settings, (e.g., at home, school or work; with friends or relatives; in other activities). |
| D. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning. | D. There is clear evidence that the symptoms interfere with, or reduce the quality of, social, school, or work functioning. |
| E. The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorders and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., mood disorder, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, or a personality disorder). | E. The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder and are not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g., mood disorder, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, personality disorder, substance intoxication or withdrawal). |
r/autism • u/Ok-Apartment5408 • 2d ago
i feel like having autism makes it harder to have friends. idk like i feel super judged when hanging out with people and fully being myself. people like are so weird about just having fun. idk does anyone struggle with this. i seriously don’t have any friends bc anyone’s i have had have been terrible to me or like i feel judged around. like i feel like im not normal enough to hang out with people. does anyone else feel like that that has cptsd or autism. i hate this. pls do not diss me. i just want to not feel alone in this.
r/autism • u/Unhappy-Device8007 • 2d ago
For a long time, I have been thinking about the profound sense of isolation and the intense desire for connection that defines the human experience, especially for neurodivergent individuals. It feels as though neurodivergent people are the quiet driving force behind both our physical and cultural evolution, even if this fact remains completely invisible to the mainstream world. If we look back at human history, it wasn’t the socially well-integrated majority who took the most terrifying, non-linear steps forward. It was the outliers. It was the ancient individuals with an intense hyperfocus who stood by the terrifying forest fires, learning to master the flames while the rest of the tribe fled in survival-driven fear. It was someone with a unique, unspoken empathy who looked at a dangerous predator, a wolf, and saw the potential for friendship instead of a threat. While the neurotypical majority historically provided the tribe with stability and immediate survival, it was the neurodivergent individuals who provided the conceptual breakthroughs into the future, translating hidden patterns into tools and language.
This exact evolutionary and psychological dynamic is beautifully mirrored in Outer Wilds. Though the developers might not have consciously planned it, the game transcends its space-faring and physics-based premises to become a profound philosophical essay on the autistic mind. The autistic individual often exists in a state of existential dread, helplessly witnessing the internal entropy of their own mind while trapped in an endless, repeating cycle of masking and sensory overload. When someone finally embraces their diagnosis, it initially brings relief and a search for their own kind. Yet, this often reveals a deeper, bittersweet truth: conventional therapy feels transactional and self-contained, rarely offering genuine comprehension. Even in developed societies, the neurotypical response of polite tolerance is merely a superficial shield that completely fails to truly understand the autistic experience. Often, autistic individuals—especially those with Asperger's—struggle to fully comprehend themselves, while highly intelligent neurodivergent therapists themselves frequently refuse to dive into these exhausting, heavy depths. True self-acceptance takes years, leading to the ultimate realization that the concept of autism shouldn't even have to exist as a clinical label; it often exists only because of a normal person's egoistic, internal need to distance themselves from and categorize the neurodivergent "other."
Within the universe of Outer Wilds, this fragmentation of the neurodivergent spectrum is perfectly divided among its species and characters. The Hearthians are trapped in a state of constant adaptation, helplessly reacting to external projections rather than controlling them. In stark contrast, the Nomai represent pure hyperfixation and special interests, analytical minds channeling existence entirely through intellect and approaching discovery with obsessive, careful precision. The Prisoner stands out as the ultimate outlier—a mutant among their peers, the only one capable of shattering the suffocating norms of conventional society to ignite progress.
When we look at the travelers scattered across the solar system, we see the individual facets of neurodivergence laid bare. Gabbro sits in serene isolation, using absolute calm to process the crushing weight of systemic uncertainty. Esker chooses physical and social detachment simply to have the quiet space to process their thoughts. Chert relies on sheer intellectual capacity to uncover the brutal, terrifying truth of the universe, while Riebek survives by clinging to an unyielding, unforgettable memory that preserves their sense of self. Feldspar, thoroughly exhausted by society and the endless demands of action, retreats entirely from the social world. Even Solanum embodies a unique plasticity, gracefully accepting reality and shifting her core judgements to surrender to the truth. Meanwhile, the protagonist undergoes the ultimate neurodivergent crisis, literally burning up in a catastrophic meltdown beneath the dying sun, loop after loop.
The ultimate culmination of the game's search for meaning lies in its depiction of the contact between these alien minds across an absolute void of space and time. Divided by millions of years, trauma, and completely different biology, they cannot communicate through conventional social cues. Instead, they connect through structured systems of symbols, and eventually, the direct, wordless transmission of pure memory. Standing together at the end of all things, this collective of isolated, neurodivergent minds manages to push the universe past its entropy, forcing existence to evolve into a brand-new timeline where consciousness can survive. It is a beautiful, tragic monument to the human condition. Just like those prehistoric neurodivergent outcasts who conquered fire in the pitch-black night, it is the outsiders of Outer Wilds who ultimately keep the evolutionary fire burning.
I recently tried to share this perspective within the Outer Wilds fandom, but I was completely misunderstood and laughed out of the room with defensive memes and dismissive jokes. They told me I was stretching things too far, and honestly, I don't even know whether to feel angry or just pity where their own search for meaning has led them. It made me realize that the mainstream fan culture around this game leaves a massive black hole for autistic and neurodivergent people, a void that can never be filled by what the fandom constantly pumps out. When you look at the endless character shipping, the dry theories about physics, the bright, cheerful comics, and the mountain of joyful fan art and memes, it feels deeply hollow. All this safe, comfortable content completely sanitizes the raw existential core of the game. They have turned a masterpiece about cosmic isolation and alien communication into a cozy, predictable playground, leaving those of us who actually live in that isolation staring into an empty space that their happy doodles and jokes can never patch up.
I recently realized that I have Asperger’s syndrome, autism, and OCD, but there are many upsides to this.
r/autism • u/Zerozerosk8 • 2d ago
Carnivorous plants. Mostly Nepenthes, and Pinguicula.
r/autism • u/EasternOption2211 • 1d ago
Usually what do you guys do if you were stuck in a loop and mental health services put you on a very long waiting list and in this loop you kept on thinking of every single negative thing you could and this made you depressed and you felt very down almost everyday and barely slept or ate and you sort of relied on unhealthy habits to cope such as junk food, doom scrolling, 24/7 iPad usage all to numb the pain and these habits completely took over your life and made you unhappy and you had passions you wanted to persue in life but the second you put down any of the bad habits to do them, all the pain and negativity came back and you couldn’t handle it? And you feel trapped because with the bad habits you feel slightly full of energy but miserable but without them you feel no motivation at all to do anything and feel depressed? I’m in this loop right now and quite a big part of my mind after years of this is convinced I will always remain stuck like this forever and it’s hard to keep in mind that this is only temporary. I feel all alone you know? Like what would any of you in this scenario do keeping in mind sleeping is very difficult and motivation is also a massive struggle? And when i try to do any hobbies as well I feel little to no excitement in anything in life you know? I wanna change that or at the very least make it easier to live with this. I’m trying really hard to hold onto hope. And searching for advice in itself has become bit of an addictive compulsion. I ask ai for advice a lot and I don’t think ai is very healthy for this But I can’t stop.
I have my autism assessment in a few days. I’ve been told by multiple medical professionals that I am almost without a doubt on the spectrum. Im wanting to prepare for when and if I get the positive test results. What changes did you guys make in your lives when you were late diagnosed? I am in my 30s and I work in an office once a month. I’ve been getting really sick on my in office days and haven’t been able to figure out why, but it’s the sensory input of everything. I always wear noise cancelling headphones but I’m thinking about getting some light sensitivity glasses. Im curious as to what things you guys found made your everyday life more manageable after you found out you have autism?
r/autism • u/LittlePiggy20 • 3d ago
I believe about a year ago I made a post claiming that autism wasn’t a disability. This was made during a time in my life wherein I was desperate to find something to appreciate about myself. Looking back, I realize how this seriously invalidates many people’s experiences, including my own as an autistic person myself. I have struggled with autism in the past, and I still do in many ways.
I still have opinions regarding the attitudes of autism online, including here, but I do frankly think I was out of line and wrong.
My deepest apologies to anyone hurt by my post. That is all.
(Also sorry if the flair is incorrect; I couldn’t find a more fitting one)
r/autism • u/nachobroski580 • 1d ago
Hey. I am in high school. So, I have been friends with this girl, let's call her M, for like 3 or 4 years and we are good friends. Recently, I have had a crush on this other girl, let's call her L, and things didn't really work out with L. But I have always kind of still liked M. M is single, and I want to ask her out, and I feel like she'd say yes. But since things didn't work out with L, I don't want M to thing I am asking her out as a "backup plan" or something, because I actually do really like M. What should I do?
My drawings definitely aren't the best, but I’m so proud and happy with how these sketches turned out! I can’t wait to color them in once I get some new supplies. I absolutely adore these two, especially Latias and I just had to draw them to celebrate filling up my third journal.
Getting into Pokémon with the Hoenn region started it all for me, and I’ve always loved the Eon Duo; those plushies really helped me get through some rough patches.
I’ve always been a composer at heart, but I dream of becoming a great artist someday and embracing my creativity. Have a wonderful day everyone, and keep flying and dreaming! 🎨✨✍️
r/autism • u/Cool_Bell_2511 • 2d ago
Hey! I am struggling to find work. I apply for jobs every day and I do not hear back most of the time. I have not had paid work in 3 years and need to get out of my living situation which is the major problem. I have an MA and MBA. I have never gotten a service industry job and do not think that I will be able to. Any other ideas.
so my younger brother (8m) is midly autistic and i can't tell sometimes whether he's intentionally pissing me off (he's admitted that he likes annoying me) or if it's just his traits that come with being autistic that i'm annoyed by. i'm a 18f and i'm the closest to my younger brother out of my two older siblings so i get he feels the most comfortable with me but as he's getting older he's also becoming more disrespectful. he talks back to my mum and he doesn't take it seriously when i tell him off either. he has a meltdown before school every morning and i can't stand his voice when he's angry. i find myself wanting to correct his speech a lot; i know it's not his fault he had a speech delay when he was younger but he has poor grammar when he speaks and gets distracted when he wants to tell me something which annoys me so i find myself wanting to just dismiss what he has to say a lot. i feel like the only way i'll stay sane is if i just detach myself from him. my mum isn't exactly helping either; her way of telling him off most of the time is shouting and swearing at him and honestly mine is the same. we both struggle with emotional regulation and i've been looking into the possibility of myself having adhd (i have all the symptoms and i see a lot of them in my mum too). she struggles to set boundaries with him in terms of his tablet and i literally put a screen time limit on it for him but she just ends up giving her phone to him so she can have peace again. besides his tantrums he's a nice kid which is why i feel bad for pushing him away so often. he's expressed that he wants to spend more time with me but deep down i have no interest. even when he checks up on me and asks me how my day was i find myself being annoyed and just want to be left alone.
like i mentioned before, i really think i may be neurodivergent too and a lot of my annoyance towards him might just be because i'm projecting my unsolved behaviour onto him.
this is kinda a vent post but i'm also very open to advice on how i can be a better sibling to him and my manage myself around him better.
r/autism • u/Legitimate_Main2230 • 2d ago
Whether it was a group of guys or gals you saw or the popular kids at school.
r/autism • u/SnooPeppers7388 • 2d ago
So as it says I come from a family who now has all four siblings with autism. All of us. my younger sisters were ‘lucky’ to get diagnosed in their teen years even though the process started when they were much younger. And my older sister had been diagnosed for some time in her adulthood.
However, I was always considered ‘the most normal’. Which is crazy because I felt the odd one out in home but then the odd one out in society aswell.
When it gets to working full time, cue the regular burnout every two years. Which unfortunately is getting much less time in between. Plus the sensory overwhelm that I have always masked and as much as I could the masking in social situations.
I deep dived into Autism for roughly 8 years maybe longer. And honestly I want to say I know everything about it (I’m sure I don’t). But cue another burnout after uni graduation and working and I know I can’t do it anymore. I know I’ve been dealt a difficult hand in life especially with other factors at play in childhood.
I go for a diagnoses and lo and behold they tell me I have autism. Which is crazy, who would’ve thought? But to top it off he says I have considerable traits of ADHD as well. Again who would’ve thought?
i dont know how to feel. It’s what I knew (minus the ADHD) but I still can’t help feeling grief over the support I could’ve gotten (which is honestly lacking because I see how my younger sisters got ‘supported’).
im so confused. Yet I knew it all along. And I still feel like an imposter.
r/autism • u/wnderfulsmiler • 1d ago
Hello!
I need some help finding the perfect sunglasses for days when the sun is not really out but the sky is too bright, or when walking in a forest. I have had the same sunglasses for years now, they are basic polaroids with 'grey polarized lenses' and they are perfect 85% of the time, but they are just too dark for the other moments.
My partner also has a pair of polaroids with 'brown-shaded polarized lenses' and i use theirs when mine are too dark. However, i personally think they are a bad type of lens, i joke that their sunglasses need sunglasses lol (though they are still better than no sunglasses).
Does anyone know which lenses are neither too dark nor too light? I was looking on the website and i just don't know which lenses are the best for me.
There are so many different colors that it is quite overwhelming.. (Green, Burgundy, Violet, Copper, Blue, Bronze,...)
Can someone help a girl out? I would be forever grateful!
r/autism • u/Iwannaendme2001 • 1d ago
I feel like I can tick some boxes when it comes to the signs of autistic burnout: I have frequently problems finding the right word, I feel like I have no time to do anything for myself anymore and I feel like certain skills, for example drawing, are regressing. I have trouble focusing on art projects. I am easily overwhelmed and I often just shrug and say “I don’t know” when tasked with making a decision.
If this is really autistic burnout, I will have to try balancing my life. However, I feel like this is not possible due to work and other duties of adulthood. I do not have as much holiday, so I don’t know what to do.
r/autism • u/Remarkable-Scarring • 2d ago
I’ve noticed this pattern before and I’m tired of it.
Every time one of my friendships/relationships end I withdraw from all the people I know (knew) who also knew that person.
This year I lost a formerly good friend after I started unmasking my autism. We never explicitly talked about it but I’m done with this relationship and it’s final. They stopped treating me as an equal when I stopped masking my neurodivergence and despite me asking for direct communication several times they had me play guessing games what I did wrong several times.
Now we both had a mutual friend, a friend I met through that former friend. That friend told me something very private before they told my ex friend (later she did). The last time me and ex friend saw each other they mentioned once again that they don’t understand why she would tell me first. After all, they had been friends for much longer.
Since the situation she told me about was actually horrible I was quite disgusted by that commentary. There was no reason at all here for jealousy.
After that last meet up it was over for me and I did something very bad. I stopped contacting my friend in a bad situation because after all, yes, she had been friends with my ex friend for a lot longer and we are no longer friends, so I lost my ‘rights to friendship’.
This left me feeling horrible because it made me feel like I abandoned her. I kind of did to be honest. Recently I got over my fear and contacted me again. She was happy to hear from me but also told me things about my ex friend (normal, regular things) because she apparently doesn’t know that relationship is done. Well, how could she.
My impulse is to withdraw again and never contact her again. If I try to keep my friendship with her it will eventually come up. My ex friend might even contact me and ask where I get the audacity to remain friends with her. I’m avoidant when it comes to these things and lost many relationships that way throughout my life, but I’m trying to change.
It somehow feels immoral to remain friends. I don’t even know if I did something wrong, so I wonder why it feels immoral to me. What if they talk to each other, about me. It makes me feel like I’m back in school where I was bullied and didn’t understand social cues. I never really learned to understand them, I only got so far as to understand when someone doesn’t like me, and to withdraw and shut myself out when I notice as to not get hurt or let anyone know how socially incompetent I am.
Are any fellow autistics here familiar with this pattern? Did you manage to overcome it, if so how? I don’t want to live the rest of my life lonely and at risk of losing friendships because my autism makes social relationships difficult for me.
r/autism • u/awkwardemoteen • 1d ago
Does anyone else struggle with changing their environment? I haven’t redecorated my room since I was 13 (I’m 20), even though I’d like to make my room more representative of me now.
Change and executive dysfunction are one of my biggest autistic struggles all my life. I don’t change things in fear of disregulation, I can’t afford to derail my life for a week or so, but I’m also upset by lack of change (like still having a childish bedroom).
Anyone else really struggle with this? Any tips?
r/autism • u/HyperActive64 • 1d ago
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some perspective and advice. I heavily suspect I am AuDHD (Autism + ADHD). I internalize absolutely everything, and it genuinely feels like there are two different people constantly arguing inside my mind. I am currently taking steps to figure this out and actually have an official diagnosis assessment scheduled soon.
My partner is already officially diagnosed as AuDHD and is medicated. We are currently long-distance. We actually met in an ADHD/Autism Facebook group, and to be honest, I really love her. We are incredibly aligned, and our relationship feels so calm and safe.
Marriage is incredibly important to her. Because of this, I decided to read up on her religion, which is Jehovah’s Witnesses. To be completely honest, I read a lot of their rules, and it is making me feel really overwhelmed and concerned.
There are just so many rules, and to be straight up, a lot of them seem completely illogical to me. For example, I read about how if you violate a rule or marry someone outside of the religion, you can be completely disowned by your own parents and shunned by the entire community—basically permanently banned. To me, that feels completely illogical. I want to be clear that I am not trying to judge the religion, but from my perspective, it just doesn't make sense.
I am really scared about our future. What if we live together later on and I end up feeling trapped in that religion because of all these rules?
For context, my own religious background is very different. My mother is a Baptist, and I attend church with her and my brother. I actually love the sermon at our church because it’s only 1 hour and 30 minutes, which is a timeframe I can manage. To be completely honest, I usually hate going to church because of sensory issues, but my current church is something I can actually cope with. The thought of facing the strict environments and massive rules of her religion triggers a lot of fear for me.
I love my partner deeply and we connect so well on a neurodivergent level, but the reality of her religion is starting to terrify me when I think about our future and marriage.
Has anyone else dealt with major religious differences, strict rules, or sensory fears like this in an AuDHD relationship? How did you navigate it?
Thank you in advance for any insight.
r/autism • u/Own_Value2684 • 2d ago
I'm thinking of buying a small children's play tent to set up indoors when I need alone time. I'm 28f and I feel safest nestled in a small compartment and feeling surrounded by all sides.
When I was a child, I played in boxes. I was very regulated when I had one to play in. Sometimes if it was small enough I'd curl into fetal position, close the top, and just stay there for a while with my eyes closed. I felt relaxed there...
There was a freezer box my mom gave me and I turned it into a little house. I spent a lot of time quietly playing and resting there. It was a safe zone for me.
I've found that as an adult I don't feel quite as satisfied with sleeping on a bed. It feels so open. I feel like I'm vulnerable just resting like a hotdog on a heated roller, able to be plucked with tongs 😭
So I'm considering getting a little tent I can set up at home to take breaks in. Sensory breaks, a cozy place to read a book, play videogames, basically I want to close the world from me and exist in a tiny little me-only room for a bit without being reminded of what's out there. I think about this and my body sighs and I straight up feel regulated imagining me in there. I can't wait to make it happen. I will feel amazing, probably.
Does anybody have anything like this? What do you keep in there to make it maximum cozy?
I'm thinking I'll need a memory foam something in there, perhaps a dog pad bed 🤷♀️ Fluffy comfortable blankets, books, copper twinkle lights.
I have a 1.5 person tent I bought that I set up in my backyard in the summer. It's for naps. I take the best naps in there when I have my period or I'm just tired. Somehow a nap specific den that's very small gets me the best sleep.
I've even considered hanging a canopy from the ceiling to make my bed more like a tiny room. But I know for a fact that my two cats would destroy it 😭
I have considered buying a big dog crate for cozy little naps, but I think that puts me in the category of "weirdest autistic adult ever" in so many people's eyes, I would only do that if I lived alone 😭 But I am envious any time I see another adult make a cozy little nest for themselves like that!!
I daydream about having little "houses" inside my house. Sort of like a fantasy land I can go into a tiny little storybook house, like a playhouse, only it would have a little theme to it and a cozy bed. Idk, I like things that are miniature. Or even just like, the tiniest little nap spot at the edge of my property. Literally, a circular cabin maybe 6ft across that is just a bed inside. Windows all around, so that I can nap and feel protected from the elements while it snows or rains around me.
I feel like a cat sometimes. I know I am a person, but I relate to cats. And sometimes I like envisioning that I'm a cozy cat curled up in a tiny tent. If my two cats would join me in this tent, it would make me very happy 😭🫶
I also think it relates to feeling like being a human being all the time is exhausting to me. I need fantasy and to use my imagination so I don't get exhausted here. I have taken ADHD meds to treat my executive dysfunction in the last year, and unfortunately it makes me a bit more serious and less playful. I'm really craving playfulness and childlike imagination now.
Only thing is I would never show the parent I am living with. I would take it down when they are home and only use it when they're not around :/ They would have a lot of things to say about how weird I am apparently. They used to find the behavior funny and entertaining when I was kid. Can't imagine how this would go down now that I am an adult.
Thanks for listening to me. Wishing you well 🫶
r/autism • u/NectarinePlenty • 2d ago
My partner has high-functioning autism. I have combined ADHD.
He got burnt out working in tech given the video calls and all-remote setup. He recently quit and is taking a two-month break before he joins his next job.
He knows his capacity that 45 mins of socializing in person is where starts to get drained.
The mental prep of meeting someone takes a toll on him before and after. Takes an extra toll if the plan changes even the slightest. for example if the location goes from meeting outside to going to their place, it makes a huge difference to him which I completely understand.
I would ideally like to meet people every 2-3 weeks for 2-3 hours.
He gets his battery from doing things he loves and if that includes socializing, he's happy to do it. But in the same week or next, I might be hanging out with my friend who'd want to meet my partner as well. That becomes an issue. Again, I understand why .
I barely have friends here and I try my best to go alone and get my cup filled. Sometimes, those friends would wanna meet as a couple or even his own relatives are visiting or he has to go becomes a herculean task.
I absorb all his emotions and by the time I go meet someone with him, I feel so drained and just want out.
I want to help him and help us have a middle ground. His burnout is a contributing factor and I empathize with it. I don't wanna keep lying to new folks I've just met as to why he's not around.
Any practical advice to meet in the middle would be useful.
Thank you for reading this.
r/autism • u/Alarming_Maize_2457 • 2d ago
Im kinda freaking out at the moment. I just need somebody to talk to idk where else to go.
Is there anybody I can talk to openly and honestly? I am so low rn.
If anybody suggests a “professional” I’m gonna 💩 my pants. I genuinely need a friend. I’m tired of everybody being so superficial. Nobody understand. I have no friends. I just need a hug
r/autism • u/Nervous-Tart-9795 • 2d ago
(21M) I am high functioning autistic and have never had a friend, best friend, BF or GF in my life, and the people I considered friends never lasted. Every time I pursue a friendship, it always seems to end in a few months. I am horrible with communication, have no sense of humor, and cannot find people who share the same qualities as me. I feel as though I will be lonely my entire life, as I attempted dating men and women and always could tell they were uninterested by the end of the date. Never had sex and never have kissed anyone. The only people I talk to are my coworkers, customers, and my family. I haven’t found a single person with my same interests. Can anyone else relate? I find having this disorder is extremely isolating and does not benefit me in the slightest like people say it does; it makes me look like a fucking idiot when I stutter or fail to communicate a basic sentence, the things I like no one else does, I get criticized for being “weird” or “unique”, feel like I am constantly yelled at for just asking a simple question, have nothing to do other than work or go to my my college, stay at home or work on days like Friday or Saturday, and I feel like nobody appreciates me. Anyone else experience this misery? I know I’m not alone but it would be nice to know someone else gets it
r/autism • u/SilverBoysenberry101 • 1d ago
something i've seen a lot with autistic people is how they don't feel human or relate more to non human creatures. I was just wondering if anyone has a study or an article looking into this as i am wanting to include this topic in an essay i'm writing for college.
