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am i autistic?
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Yes, I am.
I want to know why I am mentally behind other people. Why don't I have the common knowledge/intuition that everybody gets by default? :crying: :no:
You learn it by being attentive to your surroundings.
nobody here will be able to tell you this
why not? it's my right to be mentally equal.
I don't believe that. I don't believe it was true for you.
eh?
Interesting, I've never noticed this. (but I can't do eye contact either)
How do your rights affect your brain function?
Because we're not doctors.
No one here can tell you whether you have autism or not. We're not experts. So Kira, if you have real concerns about being somewhere on the autistic spectrum, your best option is to go to the doctor. He/she will be able to discuss with you your concerns, and then depending on the outcome, decide on any further action to take.
If you're worried about your feelings, or maybe speaking to someone, then please post away.
It isnt your right to be mentally equal with anyone. You either are or you arent. If youre not, you just have to live with it.
why not?
I think it is my right to advance myself and to grow as a person. It's yours, mine, everybody's.
It's my right to be at the normal mental level.
I get this sense you are being dismissive again. Your tone sounds dismissive, and I don't think that is fair. I have nothing to harass you.
Nobody should say, or should be told, that their problem means nothing or nobody should care about it. Would you like this to be done to you? what rational basis is there for this?
If you don't like this topic, then perhaps it's best not to post here.
The point people are making is that you can't have a right to something that nobody is able to give you. There are certain things you do have a right to: adequate medical care and treatment, and the help of specialists and professionals to try to improve your situation and develop your skills.
You don't just have to live with any disability, you have a right to help and treatment. You certainly have a right to develop yourself and your talents and abilities. But you don't have the right to equal mental functioning if you don't have it, just as I don't have the right to be 5 feet 10 inches tall, or to have an IQ of 140. It would be nice if I had it, but no one has an obligation to give it to me, for no one can. And if it turns out that your social skills and empathy are below the level for what is considered "normal", then while you are entitled to help and assistance to develop them, nobody can change the level of your natural endowments.
Nobody has told you that your problem means nothing or nobody should care about it.
People have told you:
1) We can't diagnose you, you need to see a trained professional;
2) You don't have a right to normal functioning if it is indeed the case that you have impaired social ability, as nobody can give you that. But you are entitled to medical help and ought to seek it out rather than hoping we can provide you with answers, because it doesn't seem like we can.
What is stopping you from talking to your GP about this, Kira?
How does that work then? That's like me saying that I have a right to fully functioning eyes - the truth is, I don't. It would be nice; but it's not going to happen.
Its something Ive always been interested in, where austistic people have vasty superior mental strengths in some aspects, compared to weaker ones in others.
I've heard that they do. I remember working with an autistic child years ago - he couldn't talk; but was very good at things such as drawing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sf359/Autistic_Superstars_Episode_1/
Aren't the BBC doing a series on Autism?
This was the final part of the 'Living with Autism' series. Kira, it may be helpful to watch it and see if anything seems similar to your own experience, especially some of the more high functioning young people on the show.
good film. Based on a real guy, but not really anything like what most autistic people are like
I ask this because by speaking to people who have social challenges, you might find some useful information.
I think that even though you don't feel you are normal, there are probably a lot of skills you can learn to help improve how you are socially. For example, learning conversation.
When you say how people say it's good to be kind, but they act the opposite, this doesn't mean that kindness is not a good thing. Often people are bastards because they are angry, or afraid. People are not always honest and not all people are the same either. It makes everything confusing, even for people who function in a way you would consider 'normal' might get confused.
I have social difficulties too, as a part of my dyspraxia. I sometimes misunderstand people and end up in arguments. I have had to relearn things like body language. I have strange intellects for a 26 year old woman (I would rather discuss urban farming, or ants than what most my peers like).
I do not think you are mentally stunted.
i loved that. the presenter reggie did an amazing job. i keep telling people to watch it but whenever i try to explain the premise it sounds tacky but it really, really isn't. loved... i think his name was martin? singing sweet disposition.
I watched it - was awesome. I love these BBC3 gems you occasionally get.
And yeah, Martin was fantastic.