If there was a cure for autism...

[Gerard]

Waiting on these to arrive. My friend and sister swear by them. https://www.loopearplugs.com/

[Vermilion]

I've been shutting down over the past few weeks and I hate myself for it. I can barely function and literally beat myself up in anger and self loathing. I can't really do anything, which doesn't help when things just keep piling up.

Rabbit cages need cleaning
Dishes piled in the sink
Floor needs hoovering/mopping
Dust accumulating on windowsills/shelves etc
Clothes still in the washing machine
Grass is so overgrown I need a Rambo tool to cut through it
Etc etc etc...

I should make a start but I can't for some reason. So it just gets more and more overwhelming. 

[Gerard]

Did anyone have a cognitive assessment done? I never did. Looking into it now due to working memory and attention problems.

[Vermilion]

I really wish that I could, I've got some problems with memory and attention myself. Zero support for adults post diagnosis. I'm not even under CMHT anymore, they know almost nothing about autism. DBT was helpful but there's not much else that they can do for me.

It's so b***** exhausting to try and navigate adult life with these problems, physically and emotionally exhausting. It's so difficult to explain why I can't remember the simplest everyday tasks, yet I can waffle on about my 'special interests' for hours and I can remember every detail about them. I can tell you everything there is to know about rabbits, but can't remember to take my meds, shower, eat, do laundry etc    Oops, that reminds me, I haven't taken ,y meds today....  I've been finding things like this really frustrating lately.

On a sort of a side note, does anyone else doubt their diagnosis when they meet someone who has a very severe case of autism? I'm on the milder part of the spectrum (aka Asperger's) and when I meet anyone who struggles more I think things like 'See, I'm not like that, there's nothing wrong with me. No reason that I can't function' etc I frequently doubt my diagnosis when I meet those who struggle more than I do. It took a few years of discussions with care coordinators, therapists and psychiatrists to really accept my diagnosis in the first place. The doubt always creeps in when I meet the more severe cases.

[Gerard]

I had some grief before acceptance. It took a long time.

I don't make the comparison in that way because I find 'mild', 'severe' somewhat ableist and it usually comes from NTs.

I will rant about one thing and that's what I call casual diagnosis. People diagnosing you behind your back or diagnosing you 30 seconds after they've met you. I've experienced both and seen it done to others. This is the downside of 'awareness', imo. Disgusting, entitled and undignified and yep, again, largely NTs who do this. There are things people say they wouldn't dare do so about Down's syndrome or something else. Yet their BS about autism is generally met unchallenged.