Happy 2023! Sorry, I was a bit all over the place in this video. I'm still getting my thoughts together with all this. Never stop your self-discovery journey.
Your 'fab! ... Miss Danielle knew that after getting to know ya, then scooped ya off the market 👍...and she is 'smart people' for doing so. I hope that this new information allows you answers and that ya continue creating unique content. Hope that 2023 is very kind to you both (also kitty of course).
Great video! Really appreciate you putting this out there. I’m going through the same thing right now. After a life of not fitting in, it’s such a relief to discover this and hear others talk about it.
@Matt Archambault Thank you Matt. Yes it's been allowing me to form a healthier perspective on myself and why I do what I do. Looking forward to continuing to learn. Happy to hear the discovery has brought you relief man. It's a complete differance maker in how to navigate life moving forward. Enjoy the new found clarity. All the best!
And another person describing most of my experiences. I relate to you and your self-searching journey. For many years I searched through many topics to learn about myself and in recent months I started to learn more about autism. And another reason for this research is my autistic partner whom I understand almost completely and it almost scared me at some point. Now I'm searching for a good place for my diagnosis.
It's interesting, because in hindsight I realize most of the people who I felt I understood, and understood me deeply, are clearly neurodivergent. I just didn't have the awareness of that term to categorize it. Even recently I met someone at the gym who I instantly clicked with, only to soon find out she is seeking testing for an autism diagnosis. It feels really good to come across people who understand us and our experiences. Happy to hear you have that relationship and understanding with your partner, few achieve that. I hope you can find a place locally for it, the diagnosis isn't just a formality, the psychologist will also be a source for deeper understanding and resources specific to you. All the best!
Internalized Stigma & Ableism is a hard thing to fight and wade through. Representation matters, autism has always been and will continue to always be. All the best to you, Adrian and welcome!
Thank you for sharing! Kudos to your partner for being willing to be open & honest with you, despite the possibility of hitting your feelings. While it did hurt for you to hear her concerns, it led to this conclusion.
This is so honest. Thank you for sharing and being so valuable in this video. I may not be Autistic, but I’ve always had trouble fitting in and you being so open here helps, makes “us” (those who don’t fit) feel seen
Hiya.... Happy New Year Danielle (from 'the' shoreline of the Salish Sea) 👍 Hope you both have a great year ahead. 'Now' grrrrl we have 'got' to get ya some accent colour walls in y'alls place, hehe.
@@abeach5420 happy new year!!! Now I understand why he doesn’t care for a busy space lol. I looked into those peel-able wallpaper and the reviews for some are amazing! Now to get some options for the living room and bedroom. Thanks for the recommendation! 😄
Thank you for continuing to share your self-discovery journey with us. I don’t know much of anything about the ASD spectrum, so I won’t comment on that directly, but I will say that I know from personal experience how it feels when you come across something or “the thing” that makes you have the deeper insight into yourself you felt you have been missing. It truly is like a light coming on. For me, it has been astrology and delving into my full natal chart. But like you, I had a journey of going through different kinds of personality assessments and such trying to further narrow down so I could have a clearer picture/explanation of what made me “me.” Like you, I always felt different. Like you, even when I came across things like the MBTI and saw I was an INTJ, it was interesting to see alignment, but still didn’t capture me completely. I never thought about any kind of disorder (other than struggling with depression or anxiety). It wasn’t until I really got into astrology and my full chart that I had that “a-ha!” moment. I am sure many people view astrology as illegitimate, but for me, it has been the ONLY thing that made me have a full and complete understanding of myself. I think this is imperative and I think every individual knows what clicks with them on that deep level. If this diagnosis is what makes you feel like you finally have a deep resonance with why you are as you are, then I am glad that this understanding is now a part of your journey. I trust that with this, you will be a brother and light to others on a similar trajectory. ❤️🙏🏾
Thank you Winter. Though I've never dabbled into the astrology world, I know of people who are very well studied in it and it's obvious many people resonate deeply with it as a way of understanding themselves and how they relate to others. Whichever path one connects with most, it's that self-interest and fascination that is important. Thank you and all the best!
Thanks for the video Adrian. I consider myself neurodivergent as well, in what way I haven't yet quite found out, but I've always felt different to people as well. I think thats a big reason I resonate with your channel so much.
I'm about to buy a book my psychologist recommended called "Neurodivergent Mind" by Jenara Nerenberg. May be something you find insight in. Happy to hear you resonate with these videos. Knowing that really helps me feel I'm on the right path. Thank you
Wow - really powerful testimony. Your story is going to help me be more understanding, nuanced and empathetic to more people’s experiences and neurodivergence in the future. Thank you for being so open here so I could learn from your story and authenticity. Also congrats on finding out this new info to help you more fully understand yourself! That’s amazing and biggest win!
Thank you TH-cam and Adrian for this video. I have a lot of the same feelings about myself throughout my life and I think I'm going to get the ASD evaluation however that is done!
I'm happy it helped you. My inner world has really opened up and gained clarity after finding out I'm autistic and I still have a lot to learn. I hope it does the same for you if you find out you are autistic as well. I'm sure a Google search for "ASD assessment" in your local area would help you find psychologists that administer them. Also, if you have any type of health benefits, the cost of the assessment may be included in that. Otherwise, a private psychologist may be the way to go. All the best on your journey :)
Welcome to the club! 👐 I’ve found out that I’ve only been able to feel a strong emotional connection to people when those relations are heavily information-based. I can’t help but suspect many of the people we call “eccentric geniuses” often had turbulent personal relationships but thrived in academia because they had relationships with people just as obsessed with sharing and distributing information as much as they were, back before there was any understanding of autism spectrum disorders. Thank you for sharing, best of luck to you moving forward, and in whichever direction you choose!
This is really great because it’s brought everything together. Yes it’s mind blowing but also you’re fortunate to find this out, like you managed to find the mother of all keys that unlocks a special box and now you have access to an even greater level of understanding of yourself (and others). I’m looking forward to your continued insights 🎉
"The mother of all keys that unlocks a special box" lol Yes exactly. It very much feels that way. The self understanding I get to dive into from here is very much looked forward to. Thank you for your support!
Congratulations! I'd be lying if I said I'm surprised 😁 This probably explains why I like your content. I'm currently trying to get a diagnosis myself, but it takes ridiculously long here (I had to wait half a year just to get on the wait list)...
haha Thank you. Where I live, if I was to go through the public benefits to get the assessment, the waiting list would have been 6 years+! So I went the private route and that was $1700. Not cheap at all but I couldn't wait 6 years and this was too important to not address. I needed certainty, though for some people self diagnosis is enough. Thanks for sharing, I hope your wait isn't too long!
Now here's another video of yours I have to comment on. Speaking of kids my middle kid my 9 yr old son is Autistic. He had trouble speaking at first but today he is by FAR my smartest kid and outside of his social wall people who he doesn't know have to break you can't tell he's autistic. He's level 1 autistic like you and he is better at math than his 16 yr old sister. He gets straight As and either finishes his homework at school or as soon as he gets home. Now the thing you said about your partner I too had that negative connotation with Autism. Like u I only associated Autism with level 3 autistics. I had to learn about the spectrum and with me and my partner agreeing that our son was autistic when he was young I decided to research it. After I did that I came to the conclusion that he got it from his mother. It described the way she acts and everything about her so perfectly. I've known her 15 years and right away I knew she was DIFFERENT but I didn't know exactly how. She would always say she thought her one sister was autistic and the 2 of them act just alike. Even though I was certain she's autistic I never told her because I didn't want her to feel insulted until one day she said it herself when we were talking about our son "you know what I think I'm autistic" I told her oh you definitely are I'm glad you finally said it so I didn't have to. All the traits you go over in this video she has. I love her to death though and like our son she's smart as hell.
I really relate to this! I just recently came to realize I'm autistic. Me being autistic also NEVER occurred to me until someone else mentioned it to me recently. Now it seems so obvious. I just had never really understand what autism is. I noticed in this video that you and I talk in the same patterns (with faster moments and pauses).
Congratulations! It's a wild ride going through the discovery process. Like you said, it does seem all so obvious now. It's interesting that you relate to my speech patterns. I wonder if that's a trait in itself? It's like my mind has a train of thought, comes to an obstacle and has to work around it, and then goes speeding down the path again. Which is why I often outline my videos in advance otherwise I'd never stay on topic lol "Info dumping" is strong with me. Thanks for sharing Erica. It's encouraging to know you can relate!
@@AdrianLoganLive I'm not sure. I've wondered if that's a common speech pattern with ASD. I have other neurodivergencies too though haha So not sure. I really relate to your special interests. Listening to your video made me realize that's one thing that makes me feel really close with someone is if they take interest in my current special interest. I'm also prone to info dumping (and I tend to fall into monologues and not realize it), especially when it's about a special interest (Autism became my special interest once I learned about it. But I also have had long time special interests for animals, languages, and various other niches)
@@AdrianLoganLive I think you described it well about having a train of thought! That's how I feel too. For me it's like my mind has concepts it wants to express but sometimes moves too fast for me to keep up with. I'm a very fast typer so I find that I can express myself better in writing a lot of times because my fingers can keep up with my mind in a way my mouth can't Haha :)
@@AdrianLoganLive The reason I finally found out about my autism is that I had been treated for anxiety and OCD, and had finally come to a better place mentally, but I often still got deeply depressed because I felt so "different" and felt like I could never fit in how I was supposed to. Learning about autism has been so healing and freeing because my therapist helped me realize that yes, I process things differently, but I don't need to change for anyone! :) I learned that instead of trying to fit in how I thought I should, I can embrace my unique way of doing things and seeing things. It's been such a relief to recognize this. I was also experiencing what you mentioned about needing a lot of solitude and time to decompress. I was experiencing depression, loneliness (feeling like I could never be understood by friends and loved ones), and was often getting burnt out from trying to mask and pass as "neurotypical". Now I understand that I need more time than most people to decompress after being in big social situations or overstimulating situations (like Walmart!! haha). And I accept and love that part of myself the best I can now. I am able to plan better knowing that I might need a lot of alone time after doing something new (like a social event with people I don't know). And I also recognize that I don't have to push myself into doing those things anymore if I don't want to. One of my favorite things I learned from my therapist was that he corrected a thought pattern I was having about my home. I kept feeling like my home was weird and different from other people's. I love my home. But I would tell myself "Before this friend comes over, I need to make my house look normal." I would constantly compare my decor (mostly animals and nature haha) to other stay-home-moms' homes (mostly family pictures and nice interior design and modern decor). I also like pets so I would get embarrassed that I have pets and my other adult mom friends aren't into that. But my therapist told me that instead of trying to change my home to make other people comfortable, I can embrace my home and make it my safe space, and only allow people in who respect my safe space. That was really amazing for me to hear.
@@AdrianLoganLive I also relate to your journey of self discovery and thinking about existential questions. Super super relatable. I felt like I could understand other people and many things around me, but not myself. Since I was young I couldn't understand why I could observe other people but not figure out why I didn't fit in.
Lol I just watched your extreme introversion video before seeing this, and the whole time I was thinking, damn I could have wrote this. I think I'm going to get assessed now.
lol There is about a 10 month gap between those videos being made. In hindsight the extreme introversion was the autism. Hopefully, people will discover more about themselves through finding the introvert video, relating to it and then finding this video and maybe have some puzzle pieces fall in place. Totally unexpected for me. I've learned a tremendous amount about myself since discovering I'm autistic. If it happens to be true for you as well, get ready to fill in gaps in your being you never quite understood!
Very interesting. Kinda the same thing happened to me. I won’t go into detail because I’ll be typing for ages, but my husband once suggested, (and he was being dead serious), “maybe you’re on the spectrum.” To this day, I don’t know. I just turned 32, and I don’t really know how to take the first steps in getting a diagnosis. Although I don’t know if it would actually change anything, since I’m pretty much convinced of it at this point. I guess it would just be validating.
I'd say the first step is to Google "psychologists for adult ASD/autism assessments" in your area. Depending on where you live there should be at least some results with someone who specializes in it. Would it make a difference getting an official diagnosis? For some a self diagnosis is enough for them, but for I needed to be able to fully buy into it. Having any doubts would just prevent me from fully diving into the topic, reading the books and evaluating my life in a direct effort to make necessary changes. For me it was more of an internal thing, as I don't have any desire to let me job know unless at some point I find it would be necessary to recieve important accommodations. For now...I'll let the world know, but not my job ;)
There's dozens of different traits like that I've always been aware of having that have no obvious links to each other. To find out they meet in the middle as autism has been mind opening. I'd definitely continue to educate yourself and look into it. So much advancement in research in recent years. It's all very exciting
Ive been thinking that im autistic for over a year now, how can i work up the nerve to get diagnosed officially? How can i not make it seem like im a "fishing for a diagnosis" even though i really think i and my dad might be
My psychiatrist said an autism diagnosis as an adult more leans heavily on you doing the research and understanding the traits beforehand yourself and reflecting on your life not just now, but also in the past, and then bringing that insight to the evaluation. The reason being that a lot of autistic traits would have been suppressed or masked because you learned early on in life that to "survive" you had to become aware of what wasn't viewed as normal and hide it. You get better at masking as an adult. So unlike children who are easier to identify the traits in because they haven't learned to mask them in society yet, adults autistic individuals tend to get good at being chameleons lol Atleast the lower needs/ ASD Level 1 individuals do. Watching videos, reading articles and reading the discussions on the autism subreddit was a great help to me. It will be the psychiatrists job to then help you navigate your experiences and determine with a level of certainty whether you meet the diagnosis for it. My recommendation is to research specifically for psychiatrists who specialize in adult autism diagnosis. Those who are not trained for that may be dismissive of you simply for being able to hold a conversation. They are not all made equal. All the best with your continued self discovery!
@eleonoreperras-dyotte7630 He does, although he's legally not allowed to take on clients who are not residents of Alberta or Ontario so unfortunately he wouldn't be able to work with you. I'd recommend going on www.psychologytoday.com and searching. I did a search based on the Montreal location and filtering for specialization with autistic adults to narrow it down for you - www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/qc/montreal?category=autism&spec=327 Read through some profiles and even give them a call. They typically have free 15min phone consultations. Do it with a few of them until you find someone you resonate with :)
LMAO Bro this is outrageous. Are you me? It was my ex who brought things to my attention too. She said almost exactly what your partner said. I want to thank you for sharing your stories. I'm almost brave enough to say to hell with being anonymous, make a real account and subscribe. When I do, you'll be one of the first channels.
The other two things were reasonable coincidences, but you also being able to relate to this is next level lol I'm happy to hear you resonate with it all man. Great to connect with you and thanks for letting me know.
Spectrum... Some of us is different, but can't read others to tell we are different, so I never got past the WTF is wrong with me stage, until I learned autism has a genetic element and someone else in my biological family got diagnosed and I found out that if I use the how to live your autistic life handbook, instead of the normal life handbook, the world just works better. I can at least understand why people react badly to me. I can't look you in the eye, so I'm no good dishonest person... No, I have a communication issue. Though I do most likely have mental issues from the fact that it makes no difference if I tell the truth or lie, everything I say is a lie due to my body language.
Yes, the reality is that most societies are set up in a very rigid way, towards those who are extroverted and neurotypical. The more introverted or neurodivergent someone is, the more they need to conform and camouflage in order to blend in and thrive. If they aren't able to confirm or recognize what the mold is to confirm to in the first place, then they are at a significant disadvantage. It's better now in society than it was even 20 years ago, but there is a long way to go. Also, working in a corporate environment, I've realized almost EVERYONE is conforming at work. Conforming in the way they speak, conduct themselves, and interact with others. No one is able to just be themselves, everyone (including myself) is changing themselves at work to be the "corporate emplpyee" that we all know we are expected to be to maintain the job. And those who can't figure out how to do that get fired. That's the way it works unfortunately out there. It's absolutely not fair, yet it's the society we live in. The more you can study others and learn what they expect, the easier life becomes interacting in the world. Probably why psychology tends to be a topic of interest for many neurodivergent people. You're doing a good job! Don't be too hard on yourself.
Happy 2023! Sorry, I was a bit all over the place in this video. I'm still getting my thoughts together with all this. Never stop your self-discovery journey.
Your 'fab! ... Miss Danielle knew that after getting to know ya, then scooped ya off the market 👍...and she is 'smart people' for doing so. I hope that this new information allows you answers and that ya continue creating unique content. Hope that 2023 is very kind to you both (also kitty of course).
@@abeach5420 haha Yes she did. Thanks a lot. Always appreciate your support. Have an outstanding 2023!
Great video! Really appreciate you putting this out there. I’m going through the same thing right now. After a life of not fitting in, it’s such a relief to discover this and hear others talk about it.
@Matt Archambault Thank you Matt. Yes it's been allowing me to form a healthier perspective on myself and why I do what I do. Looking forward to continuing to learn. Happy to hear the discovery has brought you relief man. It's a complete differance maker in how to navigate life moving forward. Enjoy the new found clarity. All the best!
Thank you for sharing your story
:) My pleasure, thanks for watching.
And another person describing most of my experiences.
I relate to you and your self-searching journey.
For many years I searched through many topics to learn about myself and in recent months I started to learn more about autism.
And another reason for this research is my autistic partner whom I understand almost completely and it almost scared me at some point.
Now I'm searching for a good place for my diagnosis.
It's interesting, because in hindsight I realize most of the people who I felt I understood, and understood me deeply, are clearly neurodivergent. I just didn't have the awareness of that term to categorize it. Even recently I met someone at the gym who I instantly clicked with, only to soon find out she is seeking testing for an autism diagnosis. It feels really good to come across people who understand us and our experiences.
Happy to hear you have that relationship and understanding with your partner, few achieve that. I hope you can find a place locally for it, the diagnosis isn't just a formality, the psychologist will also be a source for deeper understanding and resources specific to you. All the best!
Internalized Stigma & Ableism is a hard thing to fight and wade through. Representation matters, autism has always been and will continue to always be. All the best to you, Adrian and welcome!
Thank you :)
Thank you for sharing! Kudos to your partner for being willing to be open & honest with you, despite the possibility of hitting your feelings. While it did hurt for you to hear her concerns, it led to this conclusion.
Thank you Brian. Yes she's awesome and I'm super appreciative of her. Hope you have a great 2023!
My Friend of 12 years 🙏🏽💜 Gratitude & Love
Crazy we've known each other for so long!
This is so honest. Thank you for sharing and being so valuable in this video. I may not be Autistic, but I’ve always had trouble fitting in and you being so open here helps, makes “us” (those who don’t fit) feel seen
Hiya.... Happy New Year Danielle (from 'the' shoreline of the Salish Sea) 👍 Hope you both have a great year ahead. 'Now' grrrrl we have 'got' to get ya some accent colour walls in y'alls place, hehe.
@@abeach5420 happy new year!!! Now I understand why he doesn’t care for a busy space lol. I looked into those peel-able wallpaper and the reviews for some are amazing! Now to get some options for the living room and bedroom. Thanks for the recommendation! 😄
Thank you :)
@@danielleince3230 Oh kewl.... yes those wallpaper treatments became big like in NYC it seems some years ago.
Thank you for continuing to share your self-discovery journey with us. I don’t know much of anything about the ASD spectrum, so I won’t comment on that directly, but I will say that I know from personal experience how it feels when you come across something or “the thing” that makes you have the deeper insight into yourself you felt you have been missing. It truly is like a light coming on. For me, it has been astrology and delving into my full natal chart. But like you, I had a journey of going through different kinds of personality assessments and such trying to further narrow down so I could have a clearer picture/explanation of what made me “me.” Like you, I always felt different. Like you, even when I came across things like the MBTI and saw I was an INTJ, it was interesting to see alignment, but still didn’t capture me completely. I never thought about any kind of disorder (other than struggling with depression or anxiety). It wasn’t until I really got into astrology and my full chart that I had that “a-ha!” moment. I am sure many people view astrology as illegitimate, but for me, it has been the ONLY thing that made me have a full and complete understanding of myself. I think this is imperative and I think every individual knows what clicks with them on that deep level. If this diagnosis is what makes you feel like you finally have a deep resonance with why you are as you are, then I am glad that this understanding is now a part of your journey. I trust that with this, you will be a brother and light to others on a similar trajectory. ❤️🙏🏾
Thank you Winter. Though I've never dabbled into the astrology world, I know of people who are very well studied in it and it's obvious many people resonate deeply with it as a way of understanding themselves and how they relate to others. Whichever path one connects with most, it's that self-interest and fascination that is important. Thank you and all the best!
Really man, thanks for the video.
This really hits home for me, I appreciate this.
So glad to hear it Jeffrey! Thank you
Thanks for the video Adrian. I consider myself neurodivergent as well, in what way I haven't yet quite found out, but I've always felt different to people as well.
I think thats a big reason I resonate with your channel so much.
I'm about to buy a book my psychologist recommended called "Neurodivergent Mind" by Jenara Nerenberg. May be something you find insight in.
Happy to hear you resonate with these videos. Knowing that really helps me feel I'm on the right path. Thank you
Wow - really powerful testimony. Your story is going to help me be more understanding, nuanced and empathetic to more people’s experiences and neurodivergence in the future. Thank you for being so open here so I could learn from your story and authenticity.
Also congrats on finding out this new info to help you more fully understand yourself! That’s amazing and biggest win!
Thank you Eric. You've been a big help deepening my interest and understanding into personality types and cognitive functions. Thank you as well!
I subscribed a few months ago, and can relate to a lot of what you said. I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome as a kid, thank you for the info.
So glad I found your content brother. Keep it up 🙏
I appreciate it! Happy to know you're enjoying it man.
Thank you TH-cam and Adrian for this video. I have a lot of the same feelings about myself throughout my life and I think I'm going to get the ASD evaluation however that is done!
I'm happy it helped you. My inner world has really opened up and gained clarity after finding out I'm autistic and I still have a lot to learn. I hope it does the same for you if you find out you are autistic as well.
I'm sure a Google search for "ASD assessment" in your local area would help you find psychologists that administer them. Also, if you have any type of health benefits, the cost of the assessment may be included in that. Otherwise, a private psychologist may be the way to go.
All the best on your journey :)
I love this so much. Had me over here crying, because I relate 💯 to ALL of it!
Welcome to the club! 💜
Awe thank you, I appreciate it! I'm glad to know it touched you in that way.
Welcome to the club! 👐
I’ve found out that I’ve only been able to feel a strong emotional connection to people when those relations are heavily information-based. I can’t help but suspect many of the people we call “eccentric geniuses” often had turbulent personal relationships but thrived in academia because they had relationships with people just as obsessed with sharing and distributing information as much as they were, back before there was any understanding of autism spectrum disorders.
Thank you for sharing, best of luck to you moving forward, and in whichever direction you choose!
Yes, that's it! I believe there is a term specifically for that. I bet your suspicion is right. Thank you for the constant support :)
This is really great because it’s brought everything together. Yes it’s mind blowing but also you’re fortunate to find this out, like you managed to find the mother of all keys that unlocks a special box and now you have access to an even greater level of understanding of yourself (and others). I’m looking forward to your continued insights 🎉
"The mother of all keys that unlocks a special box" lol Yes exactly. It very much feels that way. The self understanding I get to dive into from here is very much looked forward to. Thank you for your support!
Thank you for sharing
My pleasure. Thanks for watching Nadi
Congratulations! I'd be lying if I said I'm surprised 😁 This probably explains why I like your content. I'm currently trying to get a diagnosis myself, but it takes ridiculously long here (I had to wait half a year just to get on the wait list)...
haha Thank you. Where I live, if I was to go through the public benefits to get the assessment, the waiting list would have been 6 years+! So I went the private route and that was $1700. Not cheap at all but I couldn't wait 6 years and this was too important to not address. I needed certainty, though for some people self diagnosis is enough. Thanks for sharing, I hope your wait isn't too long!
Now here's another video of yours I have to comment on. Speaking of kids my middle kid my 9 yr old son is Autistic. He had trouble speaking at first but today he is by FAR my smartest kid and outside of his social wall people who he doesn't know have to break you can't tell he's autistic. He's level 1 autistic like you and he is better at math than his 16 yr old sister. He gets straight As and either finishes his homework at school or as soon as he gets home.
Now the thing you said about your partner I too had that negative connotation with Autism. Like u I only associated Autism with level 3 autistics. I had to learn about the spectrum and with me and my partner agreeing that our son was autistic when he was young I decided to research it. After I did that I came to the conclusion that he got it from his mother. It described the way she acts and everything about her so perfectly. I've known her 15 years and right away I knew she was DIFFERENT but I didn't know exactly how. She would always say she thought her one sister was autistic and the 2 of them act just alike. Even though I was certain she's autistic I never told her because I didn't want her to feel insulted until one day she said it herself when we were talking about our son "you know what I think I'm autistic" I told her oh you definitely are I'm glad you finally said it so I didn't have to. All the traits you go over in this video she has. I love her to death though and like our son she's smart as hell.
Thanks for sharing, Adrian
My pleasure. Thanks for watching!
I really relate to this! I just recently came to realize I'm autistic. Me being autistic also NEVER occurred to me until someone else mentioned it to me recently. Now it seems so obvious. I just had never really understand what autism is. I noticed in this video that you and I talk in the same patterns (with faster moments and pauses).
Congratulations! It's a wild ride going through the discovery process. Like you said, it does seem all so obvious now.
It's interesting that you relate to my speech patterns. I wonder if that's a trait in itself? It's like my mind has a train of thought, comes to an obstacle and has to work around it, and then goes speeding down the path again. Which is why I often outline my videos in advance otherwise I'd never stay on topic lol "Info dumping" is strong with me.
Thanks for sharing Erica. It's encouraging to know you can relate!
@@AdrianLoganLive I'm not sure. I've wondered if that's a common speech pattern with ASD. I have other neurodivergencies too though haha So not sure. I really relate to your special interests. Listening to your video made me realize that's one thing that makes me feel really close with someone is if they take interest in my current special interest. I'm also prone to info dumping (and I tend to fall into monologues and not realize it), especially when it's about a special interest (Autism became my special interest once I learned about it. But I also have had long time special interests for animals, languages, and various other niches)
@@AdrianLoganLive I think you described it well about having a train of thought! That's how I feel too. For me it's like my mind has concepts it wants to express but sometimes moves too fast for me to keep up with. I'm a very fast typer so I find that I can express myself better in writing a lot of times because my fingers can keep up with my mind in a way my mouth can't Haha :)
@@AdrianLoganLive The reason I finally found out about my autism is that I had been treated for anxiety and OCD, and had finally come to a better place mentally, but I often still got deeply depressed because I felt so "different" and felt like I could never fit in how I was supposed to. Learning about autism has been so healing and freeing because my therapist helped me realize that yes, I process things differently, but I don't need to change for anyone! :) I learned that instead of trying to fit in how I thought I should, I can embrace my unique way of doing things and seeing things. It's been such a relief to recognize this. I was also experiencing what you mentioned about needing a lot of solitude and time to decompress. I was experiencing depression, loneliness (feeling like I could never be understood by friends and loved ones), and was often getting burnt out from trying to mask and pass as "neurotypical". Now I understand that I need more time than most people to decompress after being in big social situations or overstimulating situations (like Walmart!! haha). And I accept and love that part of myself the best I can now. I am able to plan better knowing that I might need a lot of alone time after doing something new (like a social event with people I don't know). And I also recognize that I don't have to push myself into doing those things anymore if I don't want to. One of my favorite things I learned from my therapist was that he corrected a thought pattern I was having about my home. I kept feeling like my home was weird and different from other people's. I love my home. But I would tell myself "Before this friend comes over, I need to make my house look normal." I would constantly compare my decor (mostly animals and nature haha) to other stay-home-moms' homes (mostly family pictures and nice interior design and modern decor). I also like pets so I would get embarrassed that I have pets and my other adult mom friends aren't into that. But my therapist told me that instead of trying to change my home to make other people comfortable, I can embrace my home and make it my safe space, and only allow people in who respect my safe space. That was really amazing for me to hear.
@@AdrianLoganLive I also relate to your journey of self discovery and thinking about existential questions. Super super relatable. I felt like I could understand other people and many things around me, but not myself. Since I was young I couldn't understand why I could observe other people but not figure out why I didn't fit in.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. Looking forward to connecting again soon and happy new year man
-steven
Thanks bro. Happy new year to you and the whole fam.
Lol I just watched your extreme introversion video before seeing this, and the whole time I was thinking, damn I could have wrote this. I think I'm going to get assessed now.
lol There is about a 10 month gap between those videos being made. In hindsight the extreme introversion was the autism. Hopefully, people will discover more about themselves through finding the introvert video, relating to it and then finding this video and maybe have some puzzle pieces fall in place. Totally unexpected for me. I've learned a tremendous amount about myself since discovering I'm autistic. If it happens to be true for you as well, get ready to fill in gaps in your being you never quite understood!
Very interesting. Kinda the same thing happened to me. I won’t go into detail because I’ll be typing for ages, but my husband once suggested, (and he was being dead serious), “maybe you’re on the spectrum.” To this day, I don’t know. I just turned 32, and I don’t really know how to take the first steps in getting a diagnosis. Although I don’t know if it would actually change anything, since I’m pretty much convinced of it at this point. I guess it would just be validating.
I'd say the first step is to Google "psychologists for adult ASD/autism assessments" in your area. Depending on where you live there should be at least some results with someone who specializes in it.
Would it make a difference getting an official diagnosis? For some a self diagnosis is enough for them, but for I needed to be able to fully buy into it. Having any doubts would just prevent me from fully diving into the topic, reading the books and evaluating my life in a direct effort to make necessary changes.
For me it was more of an internal thing, as I don't have any desire to let me job know unless at some point I find it would be necessary to recieve important accommodations. For now...I'll let the world know, but not my job ;)
This is very very interesting omg 😮😮 i need to get tested - the food the light and comforting blanket of being alone ❤
There's dozens of different traits like that I've always been aware of having that have no obvious links to each other. To find out they meet in the middle as autism has been mind opening. I'd definitely continue to educate yourself and look into it. So much advancement in research in recent years. It's all very exciting
Omg exactly my trajectory
Ive been thinking that im autistic for over a year now, how can i work up the nerve to get diagnosed officially? How can i not make it seem like im a "fishing for a diagnosis" even though i really think i and my dad might be
My psychiatrist said an autism diagnosis as an adult more leans heavily on you doing the research and understanding the traits beforehand yourself and reflecting on your life not just now, but also in the past, and then bringing that insight to the evaluation.
The reason being that a lot of autistic traits would have been suppressed or masked because you learned early on in life that to "survive" you had to become aware of what wasn't viewed as normal and hide it. You get better at masking as an adult. So unlike children who are easier to identify the traits in because they haven't learned to mask them in society yet, adults autistic individuals tend to get good at being chameleons lol Atleast the lower needs/ ASD Level 1 individuals do.
Watching videos, reading articles and reading the discussions on the autism subreddit was a great help to me.
It will be the psychiatrists job to then help you navigate your experiences and determine with a level of certainty whether you meet the diagnosis for it. My recommendation is to research specifically for psychiatrists who specialize in adult autism diagnosis. Those who are not trained for that may be dismissive of you simply for being able to hold a conversation. They are not all made equal. All the best with your continued self discovery!
I am in canada too, may i ask which city or province? I would like to know if i could contact that autistic psychologist!
I live in Edmonton. He is licensed in Alberta & Ontario I believe. If you live in either I can share his page with you
@@AdrianLoganLive im in Montreal, Quebec. im guessing he doesnt do zoom meetings hahaha
@eleonoreperras-dyotte7630 He does, although he's legally not allowed to take on clients who are not residents of Alberta or Ontario so unfortunately he wouldn't be able to work with you. I'd recommend going on www.psychologytoday.com and searching.
I did a search based on the Montreal location and filtering for specialization with autistic adults to narrow it down for you - www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/qc/montreal?category=autism&spec=327
Read through some profiles and even give them a call. They typically have free 15min phone consultations. Do it with a few of them until you find someone you resonate with :)
@@AdrianLoganLive wow omg thank you so much! im gonna check those out
@@racooninmytree My pleasure. All the best on your journey!
LMAO Bro this is outrageous. Are you me? It was my ex who brought things to my attention too. She said almost exactly what your partner said. I want to thank you for sharing your stories. I'm almost brave enough to say to hell with being anonymous, make a real account and subscribe. When I do, you'll be one of the first channels.
The other two things were reasonable coincidences, but you also being able to relate to this is next level lol
I'm happy to hear you resonate with it all man. Great to connect with you and thanks for letting me know.
Spectrum... Some of us is different, but can't read others to tell we are different, so I never got past the WTF is wrong with me stage, until I learned autism has a genetic element and someone else in my biological family got diagnosed and I found out that if I use the how to live your autistic life handbook, instead of the normal life handbook, the world just works better. I can at least understand why people react badly to me. I can't look you in the eye, so I'm no good dishonest person... No, I have a communication issue. Though I do most likely have mental issues from the fact that it makes no difference if I tell the truth or lie, everything I say is a lie due to my body language.
Yes, the reality is that most societies are set up in a very rigid way, towards those who are extroverted and neurotypical. The more introverted or neurodivergent someone is, the more they need to conform and camouflage in order to blend in and thrive. If they aren't able to confirm or recognize what the mold is to confirm to in the first place, then they are at a significant disadvantage.
It's better now in society than it was even 20 years ago, but there is a long way to go.
Also, working in a corporate environment, I've realized almost EVERYONE is conforming at work. Conforming in the way they speak, conduct themselves, and interact with others. No one is able to just be themselves, everyone (including myself) is changing themselves at work to be the "corporate emplpyee" that we all know we are expected to be to maintain the job.
And those who can't figure out how to do that get fired. That's the way it works unfortunately out there.
It's absolutely not fair, yet it's the society we live in.
The more you can study others and learn what they expect, the easier life becomes interacting in the world. Probably why psychology tends to be a topic of interest for many neurodivergent people.
You're doing a good job! Don't be too hard on yourself.