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My truly amazing therapist suggested my testing two years ago, when I was 60 years old. I turned out solidly on the spectrum, with moderate sensory processing disorder and mild to moderate proprieceptive insensitivity. I’d strongly suspected the ASD and SPD. I guess I was a bit surprised that I was “worse” than I’d expected. I still have no idea how to unmask around anyone else, including my husband. There is literally no one in the state of Indiana (like an occupational therapist) who works with Level I or “high functioning” (ASD with no intellectual deficit) adult autism, so most of my best hacks, tips, and self-awareness epiphanies have come from channels such as yours. Thank you SO much for putting yourself out there and sharing.

Great video! "The fear"... Yes!

I didn't even think about you always looking the same much. I realized it but it didn't matter to me. If you feel more comfortable then 👍.

Would like to connect with you more- fellow Mcas er

TY for sharing. Have struggled with much the same, especially the alexithymia/alcohol connection. But still on shorts not beer (and smoking cigs and weed). Smoking to regulate whilst working too, a great excuse to get some moments to oneself and reset. Not healthy ofc, but the only way us later discovered have got to this point in our lives. The common undiagnosed autistic expectation that we will not survive to mid (let alone later) age lets us not care so much about the deleterious effects until they become obvious/pressing and is one I still struggle with.

I hate getting my photo taken because it requires staring into the sun without closing your eyes, and then getting flashed in the face with another bright light.

Being at the moment self diagnosed autism, I haven't had alcohol issues but I love a drink when socialising with family and Christmas. Thanks for the video.

Well done on sharing your experiences. 'The Fear' is very real!

Thank you for the 'inside our autistic minds minds' recommendation, gonna watch it after this (Fern Brady's book is so good 'for anyone' thoroughly recommend the audiobook, hearing her speak it is GREAT). I am 3 months into figuring this all our for myself and trying to gain GOOD information, your channel has been lovely and helpful. Best Wishes

Thanks for another fab video Lizzie 😊🙏

My dad used to go on booze runs to france and fill a van up with it and store it in the garage, so i would take some in the morning on the way to school, thats how i started. Then i used alcohol for confidence as you know the 90's and early 2000's britain was a hedonistic time for a lot of people, so to cope with the nightlife and sensory issues i would drink to excess and pop pills smoke weed, take speed. And also drink a lot of whiskey at home to try and blank out work pressures. I got to the point where i would hardly get hangovers anymore and when i woke up i would be thinking about when i could get my first drink. I had an alcohol support worker for a while, and then i just wanted to live a healthier life no drugs no smoking stinking weed or ciggarettes and cutting the booze right down, and eating healthy foods everyday. I enjoy an ale/ beer or glass of wine with food or if im watching or listening to music but these days it is strictly in moderation, ive done the wild days and moved on to spinach and yoga😂🙋‍♂️

I feel as if this might have been me if I hadn't been prevented by my severe emetophobia. Struggled with other stuff though, SH and ED stuff as coping mechanisms.

Such an important topic, thank you for sharing your story. ❤I can see myself in so many memories you’ve shared. We were out and about at similar times (nineties, early 2000s) and I was a heavy drinker, too. And I know „the fear“ all too well. I stopped drinking regularly two years ago and since I take ADHD meds, my cravings for alcohol are gone. 😮I do drink a glass of wine like three times a year. But that’s about it.

As a student in my late teens/early twenties I drank often and a lot. It definitely made social situations more tolerable but also made it absolutely impossible to contain my honesty - which burned a few relationships. Although a fairly small person, I seemed to have quite a capacity for booze. I think it is quite common for autistic people to have either unusual tolerance, or extreme sensitivity, to drugs in general. Hangovers really started to catch up with me in my later twenties and, combined with ongoing tight finances, put an end to regular drinking. Now, because of medication, I really shouldn't drink at all, and I don't miss it. (Maybe just as well.) I smoked between about 18 and 20. I really appreciated what that did for anxiety but stopped cold turkey after quite a bad chest infection. I don't plan to start again but very much miss the effect on my mental state. Totally agree with what you said about the stimmy aspects of both smoking and drinking - a very acute observation. Nowadays, hot drinks are a constant, throughout the day, and always in a giant mug. 🍵 Edited to add this thought. I also think I used alcohol and cigarettes to help construct and support my masking persona. Brands and types of booze have strong cultural associations with different stereotypical characters - think G and T drinker versus real ale enthusiast versus the person who chooses the alcopop. At the time I'm referencing, many more people smoked and we had been conditioned to make similar associations with cigarette brands. By letting me develop from 'the girl with the really long hair' into 'the girl with really long hair who drinks pints and smokes Regal King Size', drink and ciggies allowed me a more developed mask. They also provided more for neurotypicals to latch onto with their small talk - so they smoothed socialisation, even aside from their drug-related effects.

Hi Lizzie, Sharing much of my family story is not appealing to me right now, but both alcoholism and chain smoking ran in my family. As the youngest I was fortunate enough to avoid either. I think this was partly due to being better educated on the issues and partly due to luck. I started out with social drinking, as many do, and found that alcohol just put me to sleep, hardly helpful for socializing. I never considered smoking because I was so well aware of the financial cost to our family. It was later that I found out about the health costs. I just want to thank you for bringing up these issues because, so far, you are the only autism channel I have found that has talked about them. Nancy

I couldn't stop smoking till I finally lived alone. It was much easier to quit when I didn't have to use a cigarette as a way to get away from the other household members as needed. Because now the only other living being here is my cat!

Years ago, I tried to drink alcohol a few times (just to try), but it didn't have any effect on me. Besides some physical distress, I was one hundred percent lucid and vigilant. Anyway, I will never drink alcohol anymore.

I really like your idea of "Autism and XYZ" videos. Although I love free format too, I have trouble following through with thoughts about the subjects. Having one poignant item to deep dive into is great - and this one is a doozy. Most memories from my teens through 30s were beer colored. I did accomplish so much, yet regretted so much, and spent a lot of time on the toilet with fire-rrhea. I too could never have an empty glass. At the end of the day, this behavior didn't change me for the better, didn't make life any easier. Especially for autistic people who may be genetically predisposed to addiction, this is something to watch out for. Thank you for bringing it up again 🙏

🔥It was well hot in the studio when I filmed this so I've probably not included as much as I could have, so I'll maybe do a follow up at some point

I only went through the formal diagnosis process in the last month, but last year I went to the dentist for the first time in five years. I had to go a lot when I was younger so I know I can do it, but it can be really overwhelming so I brought my fidgets with me. It was a teaching school so the dental students were very nice about it and mentioned that they might look at bringing in some fidgets to use especially with kids who are struggling. The experience and sensations was very overwhelming, even though they were very nice, but I think it’s partially because they were students as I went back six months later and the professional dentist’s work was much less painful. I also liked that they explained what they were doing and why, and let me weigh in on what I wanted to do when they found what could be an early cavity (I’ve had a lot of dental work, 11 fillings, and I knew this cavity was there five years ago and hadn’t changed in that time so I didn’t want it filled). Surprisingly enough, the dentist actually said to keep doing what I’m doing as my teeth look good, at a time in my life when brushing my teeth is too much most days.

I had a great experience with my younger brother, who is Autistic, with my dentist. We asked even before the first appointment if the doctor was ok/ knowledgeable, explained what kind of sensitivities/ anxieties my brothee had and it went great: used gas instead of needles, talked through what he was doing before doing it, made the TV play familiar things, checked in when my brother seemed anxious, booked an appointment time a little longer than average so they could take breaks if needed (they were needed lol)... all around small things, but they did make a difference and my brother walked away more than happy to return to this dentist if the need arises.

I had to have a back tooth taken out a couple of years ago, but i had to see another dentist at another location for the procedure. And he said to me you grind your teeth do you wear a mold at night, i said iv'e tried numerous times but i just cant do it, he replied well i can do it why cant you? I said thats a stupid thing to say !! Why cant you sing like pavarotti? I said you are you and i am me . He knew i was autistic and still acted like that. Probably not the best idea to argue with someone who is going to work on your teeth😂 but he was obnoxious. It got infected afterwards so not a good experience🙋‍♂️

Better late than never. I've never had a tribe...always the outside person looking in and having to always find my way by myself. Of course, the solitary aspect is still preferable, but now feeling that sense of belonging, even possibly purpose, is quite a positive experience that I never thought I'd have. It's the age old dream of fitting in, being realized! 🎉

Thanks Lizzie 😊

Typically the prevailing culture still doesn't recognize us as a distinctive culture in our own right but I think we're very much a diaspora and ought to have similar rights and privileges as any Indigenous tribe: we, too, have always been a distinct people in the world. We didn't ask to be inundated by the majority neurotype that continues to actively suppress us, and yet we're expected to politely endure it nevertheless. #uncededminds