Being autistic, adhd and random stuff

[Underscore_2]

I was having a bit of a rant wasn’t I?! Don’t take me too seriously

I'm ND. I always take what people say seriously.
I'm minded of the expression "Many a truthful word spoken in jest".

 

[stickygirl]

I may have mentioned this before? There's probably a fancy name for it, but I rarely have any sense of being thirsty. It used to give me headaches as a kid, so I dreaded summer and Mum had other worries over her strange child, so drinking water never came up.
Anyhow, we've had a long hot summer and trying to drink enough became a chore. I can get muscles cramps at random times and can fix them by drinking another pint of water... It takes my body about 20 mins for it the cramps to ease off. When we're out on the boat in hot weather I'll often drink 4 litres ( 7? pints ) to ward off feeling shitty.

 

[BillyWalrus]

I may. mentioned this before? There's probably a fancy name for it, but I rarely have any sense of being thirsty. It used to give me headaches as a kid, so I dreaded summer and Mum had other worries over her strange child, so drinking water never came up.
Anyhow, we've had a long hot summer and trying to drink enough became a chore. I used to get muscles cramps at random times and could fix them by drinking another pint of water... It takes my body about 20 mins for it to take effect. When we're out on the boat in hot weather I'll often drink 4 litres ( 7? pints ) to ward off feeling shitty.

Your post really struck a chord with me. I am chronically thirsty but I never seem to drink. I used to put a water bottle on my desk in the morning. At lunchtime it had exactly the same amount of water in it that I started with! Meanwhile I see these people guzzling water like maniacs and I cannot seem to emulate them even though I know it's healthier to be hydrated. What is this ailment??

 

[stickygirl]

• Adipsia (also called hypodipsia when thirst is only partially reduced) means you lose the normal urge to drink water, even if your body is low on fluids or has high salt levels.

• It often links to damage or problems in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls thirst and fluid balance

There's a lot more info on Wiki... Drinking plenty keeps UTIs away too - people with a penis have a nice long urethra.

 

[BillyWalrus]

• Adipsia (also called hypodipsia when thirst is only partially reduced) means you lose the normal urge to drink water, even if your body is low on fluids or has high salt levels.

• It often links to damage or problems in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls thirst and fluid balance

There's a lot more info on Wiki... Drinking plenty keeps UTIs away too - people with a penis have a nice long urethra.

Thanks. I am going to follow up on this and continue my quest to try to drink more water.

 

[stickygirl]

I stumbled onto this youtube site and stayed a while. The guest in this particular video is SO insightful and offers great advice to couples ND/ND and ND/NT.
Wow... If I'd have known this trick ( ie wait until the next day to make your point when no one is tired ) then I might still be with my old gf. However, the advice will really help me with my lummuck, who is so patient with me

Make yourself a drink and put twenty mins aside.

 

[PMarky3]

I often think the biggest problem in ND/NT relationships is the difference of communication style. Hello! Tell me; don't make me guess!

 

[newhere2learn]

I may have mentioned this before? There's probably a fancy name for it, but I rarely have any sense of being thirsty. It used to give me headaches as a kid, so I dreaded summer and Mum had other worries over her strange child, so drinking water never came up.
Anyhow, we've had a long hot summer and trying to drink enough became a chore. I can get muscles cramps at random times and can fix them by drinking another pint of water... It takes my body about 20 mins for it the cramps to ease off. When we're out on the boat in hot weather I'll often drink 4 litres ( 7? pints ) to ward off feeling shitty.

My current GF is this, to a tee. Can go all day and be like: "I drank loads".

She's had 200ml of fluid in 12hr. Nightmare for it. But now she's explained why, I help, but bottled water. Chuck it to her and remind her etc.

The thought to eat or drink, just doesn't cross her mind.

 

[newhere2learn]

I often think the biggest problem in ND/NT relationships is the difference of communication style. Hello! Tell me; don't make me guess!

Again yes. Current GF moved in with me in summer. Within a month there's been weeks where she'd go mute on me. Id be feeling totally isolated.

Eventually the second time resulted in a row. She suggested me and her son (21) hasn't spoken to her. I listed umpteen conversations we'd had about the various subjects. Where she was present

"Oh fuck. I remember that, but not any of the conversation"

She then informed me that when she senses stress, conflict etc she basically withdraws and becomes deaf.

We worked around it and she said the same:

"I'm literal as fuck, want a cuddle tell me, want sex, tell me, want a hug because bad day, tell me. Otherwise I'm stood here clueless"

Right. Ok. Now we know what we're dealing with

 

[newhere2learn]

So now I'm waiting on everyone's thoughts about the adhd diagnosis boom programme on BBC Radio 4 this evening...

Missed this. However I've had close to thirty years of undiagnosed but generally assumed. Maybe others, like me take time to get there?

 

[PMarky3]

The comment I got when I was finally diagnosed was that the combination of autism, inattentive ADHD, and high masking made me very difficult to spot. I think the clue to the diagnosis explosion is a combination of both the general public and the medical profession being more aware of it. However, the diagnosis rates will really explode when they invent a treatment for it and Big Pharma can convert it into a revenue stream.

 

[stickygirl]

The comment I got when I was finally diagnosed was that the combination of autism, inattentive ADHD, and high masking made me very difficult to spot. I think the clue to the diagnosis explosion is a combination of both the general public and the medical profession being more aware of it. However, the diagnosis rates will really explode when they invent a treatment for it and Big Pharma can convert it into a revenue stream.

Treatment for ... society? That's the root of it, because we're just differently brained. The co morbid medical problems generally reported are depression, anxiety plus fun bonuses like epilepsy, motor impairment, gastrointestinal issues and our old friend, adhd of course.
I saw some reports in the UK, from new research carried out over a 30 year period, that the true level of adhd and autism in society is pretty much flat ( sorry - couldn't find the reference but i was surprised ). You're correct that diagnoses are simply better. When the first quasar was discovered it was taken to be unique but now there's millions recorded, same with black holes. There is no explosion of stellar events, we just got better at looking...

Feels like so much of human suffering today stems from misinformation, insecurity and a lack of compassion ( I could blame data centres, Musk and Zuckerbrg but I'll keep my powder dry for a different thread!! ). Simply saying 'please' and 'thank you', holding doors and slowing down to let an old person cross the road makes everyone's day better, including yours. Win win!

 

[Baztrachian]

Just one of those self-diagnosis tools for anyone who's curious:

https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient

My result?

Your score was 41 out of a possible 50.

Scores in the 33-50 range indicate significant Autistic traits (Autism).

 

[stickygirl]

Just one of those self-diagnosis tools for anyone who's curious:

https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient

My result?

Your score was 41 out of a possible 50.

Scores in the 33-50 range indicate significant Autistic traits (Autism).

Ooo I love a good quiz
39/50

 

[BillyWalrus]

I scored a 34 out of 50. Uh oh. Recently my son said that several members of our family including himself, his daughter, his sister and myself are probably autistic.

 

[PMarky3]

I can't resist quizzes - 43/50

Besides ADHD I have a few other issues like migraine, clumsiness, and a sensitive digestion which may or may not go with the AuDHD, but you pays your money and takes your choice! They all tend to be on the milder end, but they fit the pattern.

 

[Noor]

44, but I’ve trained myself to be social, do meeting new people doesnt scare me as much.

 

[stickygirl]

44, but I’ve trained myself to be social, do meeting new people doesnt scare me as much.

Yeah there’s a few in there where I had to stop and think ‘how was I before I trained myself to mask’. Then there’s the ‘strongly disagree’ that sounds a bit boastful or dramatic

 

[richfun]

Have friends, a fantastic family, where both sons are autistic, the younger one severely.
Great people, but of course things can be stressful.

 

[Zrosey]

37 / 50 I felt like the range (from strongly agree to strongly disagree) needed more variation.

 

[SevMax2]

Late diagnosed autistic man about to turn 50. I also have clinical depression.

 

[richfun]

Late diagnosed autistic man about to turn 50. I also have clinical depression.

Hi there

 

[SevMax2]

Hello!

 

[stickygirl]

Well done us ^^ !

There's one of the older guys at work, who is a typical ranter: he'll go off the handle over most things - anything from the internet, kids not learning how to tighten a nut with a spanner, to women wearing false eyelashes *sigh*
So the topic of anger-triggers was on the table and I mentioned that it was common for auties to feel strongly about injustice ( it is the only thing that makes me angry in public ). He chipped in the convo "Oh, I'm just the same. I hate it when I see people being treated unfairly."
There was a pause as I tried to figure out if he was agreeing to show solidarity or if he felt he was on the spectrum ( too ). I replied
"But you're angry about everything!" Cheeky, but true.
"I suppose I am, yes." he responded with a sigh.

So there's my question, because we've surely all been in the situation; where we point out an autistic characteristic, only to have a NT claim it too.
Are they saying it as a kinda team-building thing 'Look, I am supporting you so you don't feel alienated.'
OR
'I must be a little autistic too.'?

Either way, I seldom mention autistic traits to NTs and today's exchange reminded me why. Better to nod and keep it to myself.

 

[PMarky3]

I ran into the opposite of NTs trying to sympathize/empathize yesterday. Most NTs do not seem to have any idea what being on the inside is like. The brain noise, the fixations, the brain randomly squirrelling. Anyway, on the up side, I ran into my Special Person yesterday and we had a meeting of AuDHD Committee. We'd both had unproductive weeks thanks to busy brain. Then we talked about cats, creepy-crawlies, history, cleared the stuff that was beginning to ferment out of the church hall kitchen, and did a lot of 'wow - yes - Me too!' I adore her, and feel safe around her mum and siblings. I can forget to mask around them.