This is a dumb question probably, but can autism get worse for a person as they age? Meaning, can symptoms become more prevalent when a person gets older?
I realize most autistics are diagnosed at a young age, but I was diagnosed this year (I’m 30). I’m not sure if it’s just in my head, but I feel like my autism “symptoms” are getting worse – mostly the social aspect (or lack thereof). I grew up as a pretty social person (I def showed traits of autism), but I was fine. Nowadays, I really struggle with socializing and social cues, especially. Anyways, any feedback would be great.
I’ve always been quite asocial. Periodic attempts,as an adult, to socialise have not gone well. I’ve not tried again since the disastrous attempt about 4 years ago.
Yes. I am “autism 2” and bright lights and loud noises bother me more as time goes on. I do rather poorly on IQ tests and was told I would never get any better. I stopped trying to do anything about it since each time I see someone new they generally diagnose me with more stuff as time goes on. Getting a referral to a government agency with the phrase “mental retardation” was the low point.
The main way autistic kids coped in the past was by learning and practicing social skills. Lots of people just spent 1-2 years not socializing. If you were always autistic, you just spent 1-2 years with zero practice maintaining your skills. Makes sense that the symptoms would be more noticeable.
I don’t know whether my symptoms have got better or not. If I take ‘autistic Twitter’ at face value, with its plethora of people doing great things despite 12/10 level symptoms, then that leads me to think I may not be autistic at all, but just one of life’s total losers.
There’s an intensity of symptoms/authoritarianism/ disdain for NTs/fanaticism etc that I can’t identify with.
Twitter is a nightmare. I can’t identify with these sorts of people either.
I watched an interesting YouTube video that was showing how Tik Tok users were disproportionately diagnosing themselves with DID and how this was becoming a dangerous trend of self-diagnosis
Back to the OP - I don’t think that ASD can be ‘made better or worse’ more than the choices you make in life that triggers events.
My advice would be taking a step back, and working out how you can overcome your issues and still live a full life
12/10 symptoms for ASD in my book is being non-verbal into adulthood. The spectrum is wide, with differing levels of functionality in different areas as I am sure you know
But I’d say that the representation from those severely affected online is zero, and I can’t imagine how a kid with ASD in 2022’s parents can find what these Twitter people are saying an acceptable thing
If a parent is really struggling with bad behaviours, and a child that cannot speak to them, seeing these idiots on Twitter would quite rightly in my view make them very upset
It’s not a badge of honour.
People like playing identity politics, but there is more to a person than their diagnosis, sexual preferences or the colour of your skin
I’m on the autism spectrum along with my schizophrenia. They mimic each other in certain aspects. I had undiagnosed schizophrenia as a child because of the day and times and being in a small southern town where the Baptist Church said everything was spiritual warfare. I had a lot of problems growing up like drinking alcohol at a young age (13) and smoking and doing other street drugs to self medicate with. I mainly kept to myself and had just a few friends.
That’s awesome that you have been clean for so long! I’ve slipped up in my recovery from time to time but I’m still working on being a clean and stable person. Easy does it as they say.
It was made easy by the court order. Not sure I would have got through it
My relapse was when I was 23 and an old friend contacted me, and I withdrew £1,000 cash on a credit card and spent it all on cocaine
Slip ups happen, I wouldn’t let it get you down
The important thing I think is not to surround yourself with people who have easy access to substances
I have kept away from it all, but the isolation is a killer, as I never worked out how to find non-drug addicted people, as it’s all I knew from age 11
I grew up near the spots to score dope so when I was introduced to them I was all in. I keep a clear head for the most part these days but I’d be lying if I didn’t still think about those days.
I know exactly what you are saying. A drink, a toke off the pipe, a line to snort….but I know that those aren’t good for me and won’t help me on the path I’m now on.
Just one of the very many reasons I am glad we divided the caregiver forum from this one. The folks who do self-advocacy are speaking up for other folks who are capable of self-advocacy. The caregivers are speaking up for their best guess of those who cannot advocate for themselves. Anyone CAN recover with the right supports, but it had to be disheartening for the parents who logged on to vent after their 30 year old child tried to stab them, when they were met with dozens of us telling them to stop being so pessimistic.
And I KNOW it was disheartening for me to log on and see a parent talk about some of their most hopeless moments.
Self-advocates and caregivers have wildly different experiences and wildly different support needs.