Autism
Autism presents differently, depending on the person. Not one autistic person will look exactly like another autistic person. The DSM-5 conceptualizes autism as a struggle with social communication along with the engagement of “repetitive behaviors” and “restricted interests”. Unfortunately, the diagnostic criteria for autism don’t capture all of the many different strengths and struggles of the autistic experience.
Below are some common autistic experiences and characteristics; these are not criteria to diagnose autism.
Numerous of my autistic clients described or agree with each of the below. However, it is important to keep in mind that autistic traits occur along a spectrum. The “symptoms” of autism in adults often vary widely. Not everyone will relate to every single one of the descriptions.
Social Characteristics of Autism in Adults
· You’ve consistently felt different from your peers.
· Even in situations where people have included you in social outings, you feel out of place or very uncomfortable.
· You find it difficult to relate to the general public. Oftentimes, you don’t understand why they like the things they like or do what they do.
· Others often misinterpret your behavior. People mistakenly think you’re being rude or behaving as if you don’t like them.
· You often feel misunderstood by others.
· To prepare for a social outing, you think of jokes or phrases ahead of time to use in conversation.
· You feel like you’re playing a character or hiding your authentic self in social situations.
· When you spend a lot of time with certain people, you find yourself mimicking their mannerisms (e.g., phrases they use, how they dress, how they behave).
· You have trouble reading people’s non-verbal cues.
· Small talk feels pointless. If you engage in it, it feels cumbersome.
· You love talking about your passions. Spending hours discussing your hobbies or interests is easy and doesn’t feel boring.
· You prefer to have a select few friends who you are deeply close to versus having numerous, more superficial friendships.
· Some of your friends have ended their friendships with you, and you don’t understand why.
· You are extremely loyal to your loved ones.
· You value honesty, transparency, and truth in your relationships.
If you found yourself relating to many of the descriptions above, it may be worth pursuing an adult autism diagnosis.
An Adult Autism Assessment Can Help Bring Peace of Mind
As an adult who is wondering, “Am I autistic?” you may question why you should bother getting an autism test now. After all, you have lived your entire life, thus far, not knowing. Drawing from my knowledge working with autistic adults identified later in life, there are numerous reasons to want an autism assessment as an adult. Firstly, it can help you get specialized support for your struggles. You’re probably not surprised that therapeutic interventions for allistic (i.e., non-autistic) people don’t always work for autistic people. Oftentimes, a diagnosis provides context for better understanding yourself. So often, after being confirmed as autistic, we hear making sense. So much of their life had been confusing. Now it’s understood through a helpful lens. Additionally, because many autistic people tend to feel “othered”, knowing you’re autistic can help you find like-minded people. You can begin to feel as if you’re part of a community, rather than just an outsider always looking in. Many of my autistic clients have found that the struggles from socializing with allistic people are no longer an issue when they spend time with other autistic people.
When Is Autism Normally Diagnosed?
There’s a misconception that you need to be diagnosed with autism when you’re a child. Sadly, this leads to many adults thinking it’s a waste of time to get assessed. The truth is a therapist will be able to help you get clarity. The assessor will ask you about your childhood. However, being assessed as an adult doesn’t eliminate your ability to get diagnosed
