Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Dandelion on June 21, 2022, 09:39:03 PM

Title: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: Dandelion on June 21, 2022, 09:39:03 PM
I have been diagnosed with Asperger's in 2020 at age 54.
My peri started at 42.
I don't know if heavy smoking (now use NRT) caused a long peri, or the autism.
Any others care to share?
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: Marchlove on June 22, 2022, 07:01:32 AM
Hi Dandelion

I’m not, well as far as I am aware.
How do they diagnose that?

The only thing I’ve read about smoking is apart from the obvious issues with regarding it, it can effect your dopamine levels. You could perhaps research that.

Hopefully someone else will be along soon.  xx
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: ATB on June 22, 2022, 07:12:22 AM
Removed personal information.
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: Taz2 on June 22, 2022, 08:43:11 AM
You might find this of interest dandelion https://www.spectrumnews.org/opinion/autism-and-menopause-qa-with-rachel-moseley-and-julie-turner-cobb/
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: Dandelion on June 22, 2022, 11:02:45 AM
Hi Dandelion

I’m not, well as far as I am aware.
How do they diagnose that?

The only thing I’ve read about smoking is apart from the obvious issues with regarding it, it can effect your dopamine levels. You could perhaps research that.

Hopefully someone else will be along soon.  xx
Interviews
Letters to parents.
Questionnaires should I say, and questionnaires to me.
I don't smoke thank God.
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: CLKD on June 22, 2022, 01:33:38 PM
I don't know if heavy smoking (now use NRT) caused a long peri, or the autism.



I'm now confused: did you or did you not smoke ?   :-\

Something fortunately I never became involved with.  MayB contact the National Autism Society?  (NAS)
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: Dandelion on June 22, 2022, 05:31:41 PM
I don't know if heavy smoking (now use NRT) caused a long peri, or the autism.



I'm now confused: did you or did you not smoke ?   :-\

Something fortunately I never became involved with.  MayB contact the National Autism Society?  (NAS)
I used to smoke, now I use nicotine replacement lozenges.
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: CLKD on June 22, 2022, 06:03:43 PM
Tnx.  Do they help? 
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: Whatsupwiththis on June 22, 2022, 06:53:54 PM
Hi Dandelion.  I'm not in that spectrum but why so late in life?  I always assumed it was dx'ed predominantly in young children and teens?  Was this something you had been dealing with as a young woman but was not given a name to your symptoms?  Interesting. 
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: ATB on June 22, 2022, 07:32:32 PM
It’s really common for women to be diagnosed late in life, because it presents quite differently to the more researched male, and for those born before the 90’s with what was Asperger’s you are more likely to get a late age diagnosis.
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: Dandelion on June 22, 2022, 10:22:22 PM
Tnx.  Do they help?
They mean I don't have to smoke fags, they are addictive though, I plan to wean off them as I hate dependency.
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: Julila on June 23, 2022, 03:05:02 AM
I am not on the autistic spectrum but my friend is, so I know how hard it might be. Stay strong!
Title: Re: I am on the autistic spectrum, anyone here?
Post by: Dandelion on June 24, 2022, 07:42:46 PM
Dandelion, may I ask why you got diagnosed and do you find it a benefit to have a diagnosis?

I wouldn't know where to start getting a diagnosis and I know my family would be uncooperative about it. I don't have a lot of people who can vouch for my behaviour for the reason I'm not very good socially and don't have many IRL friends, I've online friends where I seem to be able to communicate perfectly well, lol.
I've always considered myself to be on the autistic spectrum since the age of eleven when I first heard about it. I asked my mum and got laughed at, never mentioned it again to her!
I do find the diagnosis helps me make sense of why I lived the life I have.
Sorry to hear your family would be uncooperative about it.
I am under the care of a psychiatrist, and as my previous assessment failed and I didn't feel happy with the reasons why, my psychiatrist, kindly offered to write to them.
He first asked me to write to him as to why I thought I was autistic.
I got a copy of my original letter from the previous assessment.
The assessor then got back in touch, and asked me what I disagreed with.
A video meeting followed that with a different assessor.
I hope that helps.