"Am I Autistic?" Guide: Difference between revisions

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==Basic Concepts==
== Basic concepts ==


Watch this video of [[https://youtu.be/A1AUdaH-EPM Why Everything you Know About Autism is Wrong]] by Dr. Jac den Houting, an Autistic Autism Researcher.  
Watch this video of [https://youtu.be/A1AUdaH-EPM Why Everything you Know About Autism is Wrong] by Dr. Jac den Houting, an Autistic Autism Researcher.  


This talks about the Autistic experience and intoduces Damian Milton's Double Empathy Problem.
This talks about the Autistic experience and introduces Damian Milton's Double Empathy Problem.


This video will give you the basic information you need to start to [[ grok]] Autism
This video will give you the basic information you need to start to [[ grok]] Autism


==Lived Experiences==
== Lived experiences ==


[[https://twitter.com/autismsupsoc/status/1488554496691257350 Click here]] for a list of over 100 lesser known Autistic traits that Autistic people experience every day of their lives expressed as lived experiences rather than clinical experiences or diagostics.  
Here's [https://twitter.com/autismsupsoc/status/1488554496691257350 a list] of over 100 lesser known Autistic traits that Autistic people experience every day of their lives expressed as lived experiences rather than clinical experiences or diagostics.  


Reviewing this list can help you identify that your personal *quirks* might actually be manifestations of Autism.
Reviewing this list can help you identify that your personal ''quirks'' might actually be manifestations of Autism.


==Multigenerational Normalization==
== Multigenerational normalization ==


The dominant factor of being Autistic is genetic.  
The dominant factor of being Autistic is genetic.  
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One reason you may have reached your age without being diagnosed is that one or both of your parents may have "normalized" Autism because Autistic traits are normal for their family.
One reason you may have reached your age without being diagnosed is that one or both of your parents may have "normalized" Autism because Autistic traits are normal for their family.


We polled Autistic people and the results indicated a 72% chance that at least one of their parents is definitely Autistic but only a 13% chance that their parents are aware of it.
We polled Autistic people and the results indicated a 72% chance that at least one of their parents is definitely Autistic but only a 13% chance that their parents are aware of it.


==Diagnosis Criteria==
== Friendship and selection bias ==
 
This is compounded by it being easier to make friends (and even find a romantic partner) with people of the same neurotype, leading to you very likely making friends with other Autistic people who may also not know they're Autistic.  As a result, what's demonstrably "normal" to your friends and family may only be "how everyone is" in your limited social circle.
 
== Diagnosis criteria ==


The DSM-5 is a diagnosis methodology used to assess if a person is Autistic.  
The DSM-5 is a diagnosis methodology used to assess if a person is Autistic.  


You can read a [[https://actuallyautistic.wiki/wiki/Non-Derogatory_DSM-5_Diagnosis_Criteria_for_Autism  non-deragatory and accessible version of it here]] or watch [[https://youtu.be/1yva4RZW_s0 @Samantha_Stein / Yo Samdy Sam video.]]
You can read a [[Non-derogatory DSM-5 diagnosis criteria for Autism|non-deragatory and accessible]] version of it, or watch [https://youtu.be/1yva4RZW_s0 Yo Samdy Sam's video] on the topic.
 
== Expansive example ==
 
The show ''Parks and Recreation'' is filled with Autistically Coded Characters in day-to-day life. It is a show about Autistic people without being about Autism.
 
Watching the show though the lense of Autism can be astonishingly revealing about yourself.
 
Here's [https://twitter.com/autismsupsoc/status/1457345058848530438 a thread] that explores how Autism is presented throughout ''Parks and Recreation''.
 
== Autistic vs. allistic face language ==
 
If you are Autistic you probably emote in a different way than most of the people around you.
 
Here's [https://twitter.com/autismsupsoc/status/1532060884952293376 a thread] that explores the difference between Autistic and allistic face language.
 
== Atypical memory ==


==Atypical Memory==
If you are Autistic you probably have an atypical episodic autobigraphical memory and other nuances to your memory that stand out from the norm.


If you are Autistic you /probably/ have an atypical episodic autobigraphical memory and other nuances to your memory that stand out from the norm.
This is [https://twitter.com/autismsupsoc/status/1523389124769873921 a thread] on the differences between Autistic and Allistic memory.


==Being drawn to ND and the Marginalized==
== Being drawn to ND and the marginalized ==


Autistic people naturally gravitate to other ND and marginalized people as well as media with such characters.  
Autistic people naturally gravitate to other ND and marginalized people as well as media with such characters.  


When they become aware they are Autistic, they often become consiously aware of this effect.
When they become aware they are Autistic, they often become consiously aware of this effect.
Quote Tweet


==How Environment Impacts Autistic Development==
This is [https://twitter.com/autismsupsoc/status/1522710944316637187 a thread] on how Autistic people are drawn to and identify other Neurodivergent people.
 
== How your environment impacts Autistic development ==
 
Autistic people often learn how to unconsiously mask their Autistic behaviors and traits though social pressure.
 
Due to this, any Autistic person not diagnosed early in life can unintentionally subvert an Autism diagnosis all together.
 
This is [https://twitter.com/autismsupsoc/status/1533877588359364608 a thread] that explains how Autistic people will adapt to social norms if not isolated from it.
 
 
{{Template:Resources}}
[[Category:Am I autistic?]]

Latest revision as of 19:29, 25 November 2022

Basic concepts[edit]

Watch this video of Why Everything you Know About Autism is Wrong by Dr. Jac den Houting, an Autistic Autism Researcher.

This talks about the Autistic experience and introduces Damian Milton's Double Empathy Problem.

This video will give you the basic information you need to start to grok Autism

Lived experiences[edit]

Here's a list of over 100 lesser known Autistic traits that Autistic people experience every day of their lives expressed as lived experiences rather than clinical experiences or diagostics.

Reviewing this list can help you identify that your personal quirks might actually be manifestations of Autism.

Multigenerational normalization[edit]

The dominant factor of being Autistic is genetic.

One reason you may have reached your age without being diagnosed is that one or both of your parents may have "normalized" Autism because Autistic traits are normal for their family.

We polled Autistic people and the results indicated a 72% chance that at least one of their parents is definitely Autistic but only a 13% chance that their parents are aware of it.

Friendship and selection bias[edit]

This is compounded by it being easier to make friends (and even find a romantic partner) with people of the same neurotype, leading to you very likely making friends with other Autistic people who may also not know they're Autistic. As a result, what's demonstrably "normal" to your friends and family may only be "how everyone is" in your limited social circle.

Diagnosis criteria[edit]

The DSM-5 is a diagnosis methodology used to assess if a person is Autistic.

You can read a non-deragatory and accessible version of it, or watch Yo Samdy Sam's video on the topic.

Expansive example[edit]

The show Parks and Recreation is filled with Autistically Coded Characters in day-to-day life. It is a show about Autistic people without being about Autism.

Watching the show though the lense of Autism can be astonishingly revealing about yourself.

Here's a thread that explores how Autism is presented throughout Parks and Recreation.

Autistic vs. allistic face language[edit]

If you are Autistic you probably emote in a different way than most of the people around you.

Here's a thread that explores the difference between Autistic and allistic face language.

Atypical memory[edit]

If you are Autistic you probably have an atypical episodic autobigraphical memory and other nuances to your memory that stand out from the norm.

This is a thread on the differences between Autistic and Allistic memory.

Being drawn to ND and the marginalized[edit]

Autistic people naturally gravitate to other ND and marginalized people as well as media with such characters.

When they become aware they are Autistic, they often become consiously aware of this effect.

This is a thread on how Autistic people are drawn to and identify other Neurodivergent people.

How your environment impacts Autistic development[edit]

Autistic people often learn how to unconsiously mask their Autistic behaviors and traits though social pressure.

Due to this, any Autistic person not diagnosed early in life can unintentionally subvert an Autism diagnosis all together.

This is a thread that explains how Autistic people will adapt to social norms if not isolated from it.