Are You Undiagnosed Autistic? How To Tell If You're On The Autism Spectrum | Patron's Choice

Are You Undiagnosed Autistic? How to tell if you're on the autism spectrum

In this video, Paul discusses how to tell if you are undiagnosed autistic. He breaks down the topic into three parts: the trouble with external factors and looking at behavior, the inner experience of three defining experiences of what it's like to be autistic, and what should you do next.

The Trouble with External Factors and Looking at Behavior

• Diagnosis criteria for autism essentially looks at behavior and other externally visible criteria to make an assessment.

• External behavior especially in adults does not tell the whole story as masking is a common experience where individuals cover up their differences so that others don't see them.

• Focusing on your internal experience of what it feels like to be autistic rather than looking at external characteristics on how to spot autism from the outside.

Inner Experience of Three Defining Experiences of What It's Like To Be Autistic

• Feeling different is a defining experience where individuals feel they don't fit in or belong.

• Sensory processing difficulties can cause discomfort or pain when exposed to certain stimuli such as loud noises or bright lights.

• Social communication difficulties can lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and social isolation.

What Should You Do Next?

• Seek out professional diagnosis by finding a specialist who understands adult autism diagnosis.

• Connect with other autistic people through online communities or support groups.

• Learn more about yourself by reading books or watching videos about autism.

Feeling Different

In this section, the speaker talks about how they felt different from their peers as a child and how it affected them.

Feeling Like an Alien

• As a child, the speaker thought that they might be an alien because they couldn't relate to their peers.

• They felt so different from their peers that they didn't have anything in common with them.

Not Joining In

• The speaker did not feel compelled to join in with their peers' activities because they didn't register that they were one of them.

• Even if the speaker did try to join in, it often didn't work out because of social confusion.

Social Confusion

• The speaker experienced social confusion when trying to figure out how to walk with a group or participate in social situations without feeling left out.

• Autistic people may over-intellectualize social situations and analyze everything happening instead of just participating naturally like neurotypical people do.

Not Being Believed

In this section, the speaker talks about how difficult it can be for autistic people when others don't believe them.

Invalidating Experiences

• When autistic people share something true about themselves, others may think they are exaggerating or making things up which can lead to a chronic lack of self-confidence.

• This invalidation can happen when autistic people hear or smell things that others don't or have trouble reading despite having an engineering degree.

Coping Mechanisms

In this section, the speaker talks about how autistic people may develop coping mechanisms to deal with their differences.

Scripting

• Autistic people may use scripting as a coping mechanism in social situations.

• Scripting involves preparing what to say or do in advance instead of participating naturally like neurotypical people do.

Masking, Camouflaging, and Faking Confidence

In this section, the speaker discusses how masking, camouflaging, and faking confidence can be relatively easy to do but exhausting at the same time. The speaker explains that looking people in the eye can be difficult because it requires knowing exactly what they are thinking and feeling.

Masking and Camouflaging

• Masking, camouflaging, and faking confidence is relatively easy to do but exhausting.

• Most people have experienced some level of masking or camouflaging at some point in their life.

Looking People in the Eye

• Looking people in the eye can be difficult because it requires knowing exactly what they are thinking and feeling.

• When someone looks you in the eye, they're expecting you to know exactly what they're thinking and feeling.

Finding a Community That Believes You

In this section, the speaker talks about how finding a community that believes you can be life-changing. The speaker explains that being diagnosed as autistic can be an incredibly powerful moment in a person's life.

Being Believed

• Finding people who believe you and validate your experiences is life-changing.

• Being diagnosed as autistic can be an incredibly powerful moment in a person's life.

What To Do If This Resonates With You

In this section, the speaker encourages listeners who resonate with their defining experiences to look into the matter further. The speaker explains that most adults realize they are autistic before receiving an official diagnosis.

Realizing You Might Be on the Spectrum

• If you resonate with the defining experiences, you might be on the spectrum.

• Most adults realize they are autistic before receiving an official diagnosis.

How To Know If You're on the Spectrum

• The most definitive answer is if you highly resonate with another person's experience who knows they are on the spectrum.

• Look for people of similar age, gender, culture, and experience to see if their experiences and internal struggles resonate with you.

Getting Support

• Take as much evidence as possible to speak to a professional about being on the spectrum.

• Finding a support network is important, especially in crisis situations.

Understanding Autism

In this section, the speaker talks about how reading diagnosis stories and watching Aspire interviews can help people understand what autism looks like in real life. She also suggests checking online for autistic support groups or social groups to meet autistic people in real life.

Reading Diagnosis Stories

• The speaker has published over 20 diagnosis stories from people all over the world.

• These stories show how different yet connected the autistic experience can be.

Watching Aspire Interviews

• Aspire interviews are a good way to get to know what autism looks like in real life.

• Seeing autism beyond just a medical definition can help people relate better.

Finding Autistic Support Groups

• Check online and on Meetup for autistic support groups or social groups.

• Meeting autistic people in real life can provide a better understanding of autism.

Asking Yourself Questions About Autism

In this section, the speaker encourages viewers to take their questions about being on the spectrum seriously. She emphasizes that it's important to ask yourself these questions and seek an adequate answer if you think you might be on the spectrum.

Taking Your Questions Seriously

• If you think you might be on the spectrum, it's important to take your questions seriously.

• Seeking an adequate answer is worth it.

Asking Yourself Questions

• The next video will go through some questions that viewers can ask themselves.

• These questions are not meant to diagnose someone else by looking at them from the outside.