Resources on Autism Spectrum Disorder

[Max_V]

Hi everyone,

Last year around when I turned 20, I got diagnosed with being on the autism spectrum. I experience hardship because of it here and there, although I have a mild form of it, and would like to know if you happen to have suggestion about books, courses, youtube-channels, etc. that can help me become more knowledgeable on the subject, and learn how to adapt my life to better fit the inherent alterations of my brain and nervous system.

All the best, 

Max

[Loving Radiance]

What qualities do you have that are considered to be on the spectrum?

[Max_V]

@Loving Radiance That's hard to simplify to be honest. When you go through the diagnosis process, there is a screening for lots of different things. If you end up passing over a certain threshold , you are labeled to be on the spectrum.

The things I struggle most with are:

• Not having an inherent feel for how to behave in the world and in the context of social situations. From a very young age, it has been a race of trying to copy and imitate as best as I can. I suppose being good at this is what's gotten me to 20 without people giving me comments that I might be on the spectrum. But having this as a conscious process, instead of an intuitive thing, makes it very energy draining. 
• Rapid sensory overload, I get overwhelmed very fast. I have a very atypical way of processing information.
• Unless I consciously try to, my mind has the tendency to always think in black and white.
• Having a ridgid set of rules concerning how the world works and how situations are ought to go. If something differs from how I imagined it to go, I experience heavy cognitive dissonance. Luckily I have grown the openness to question all this, and temporarily be free from it, but the baseline and modus operandi of my mind is to be extremely attached to these rules and imagined future. 

[Elshaddai]

I have Asperger's Syndrome so I understand how tough it can be.

There is a site that helped me quite a bit with social awkwardness and other social difficulties I've had and he also has advice for people on the autistic spectrum.

https://www.succeedsocially.com/

https://www.succeedsocially.com/articlesdevelopmental

godspeed!

[Toby]

In Stephen Porges books about the polyvagal theory there are some things relating to it and how it even can be healed.

[Toby]

There are also different forms of trauma treatment that work with stuff like the overload or ability to connect with people and so on.

[mandyjw]

@Max_V Have you looked into Temple Grandin? She has some great insights into autism. I have a 7 year old son who has mild autism. One thing I've found in my research is that it's important to be aware of weaknesses, but also more important to become aware of and develop strengths. In my experience people on the spectrum are gifted in certain areas and if allowed to follow their interests those interests then have a way of giving them the strength and motivation to develop in the areas they are weak in. That's pretty much the story of Temple Grandin's life. 

She has written a few books and has several talks on youtube. 

 

Edited July 26, 2020 by mandyjw

[tsuki]

Leo has a book on autism on his booklist.

[lmfao]

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-FpBZR7DbpvNj5UrFN8qUA

 

[DIDego]

Autism + adhd. 

I got huge benefits from sound and movements, that stimulate communication between left and right hemisphere, makes me function better overall.

 

Be careful and try with caution.

I was feeling terrible in the beginning, scared and ill of the sensations.

Example.

 

[Max_V]

Good suggestions, y'all. Excited to see more.

Thank you <3