My Autism Life After Diagnosis

My Journal

ABOUT

My name is Louise. I was diagnosed with autism in my late forties.

This blog is my journey from late diagnosis, how I navigate the ups and downs of life, and the strategies I use to cope.

I also write about my lifestyle, my life experiences, and raising awareness about neurodiversity.

Autism is a spectrum, and it can look different in each person. This is one way autism can present.

This blog is for reference and education only, and not professional advice. Please consult a specialist for diagnosis or support.

Please like, comment and subscribe. I would love to read your ideas, thoughts and opinions.

Mindful Reading: Behind the Scenes of This Blog
Things That Matter
What This Blog Is and What It Is Not
Why I Write This Blog

My Journal

ASD co-occurring conditions

  • My ADHD Diagnosis

    The past while has been a lot to process, as I was diagnosed with predominantly inattentive ADHD. A friend suspected it, but I don’t think what she said really sank in. It was a condition I knew very little about until now. There are three presentations of ADHD: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, or combined. As… Read more

  • A Quick Look at Dyslexia

    I wanted to embed short videos about dyslexia. It is considered part of neurodiversity. I am not dyslexic, but I know some people who are, and I am interested in learning more and understanding it. What is dyslexia? – Kelli Sandman-Hurley by TED-Ed (embedded from YouTube) Dyslexia: a differently wired brain by British Dyslexia Association… Read more

  • Coping with Anxiety and Nausea in Autism

    Anxiety and nausea have been a large part of my life. I have learned to manage it better now, as I know that nothing awful is going to happen. However, it can be scary as it is such a persistent issue. Anxiety and nausea are separate symptoms, but for me, they have also been part… Read more

  • Understanding Autism: Co-occurring Conditions vs Pure Autism

    Autism plus refers to an autistic individual with co-occurring conditions, while autism pure refers to individuals with autism that have no co-occurring conditions. People sometimes use comorbidity and co-occurring conditions interchangeably in casual conversation, but I am going to talk about co-occurring conditions because it is used more in neurodiversity contexts. This is where additional… Read more

  • OCD and Autism: Key Insights and Challenges

    OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) can occur alongside autism. However, not everyone with OCD has autism, and not everyone with autism has OCD. The following livestreams contain research information about autism and OCD to help understand how these conditions overlap, the diagnostic challenges and treatment strategies. Videos by International OCD Foundation (embedded from YouTube) Read more

  • The Missed Diagnosis Autism and ADHD

    A very interesting webinar to watch from Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D. It is about individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also having ADHD. Video by Help for ADHD (embedded from YouTube) Read more