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.

My Journal

autismspectrumconditions

  • Autism and Navigating Honesty in Conversations

    I don’t always say the right thing, especially in new situations that I have never experienced before. Sometimes, I say something without thinking, and I feel bad after saying it if it is not helpful. I don’t like to give details of conversations with others on my blog for their privacy, so I will describe Read more

  • Understanding Autism with Professor Simon Baron-Cohen

    This is a YouTube video by the channel Triggernometry interviewing Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, the world’s leading autism expert. The video uncovers his key discoveries on how we understand the autism spectrum. The World’s Leading Autism Expert – Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen uploaded by Triggernometry (embedded from YouTube) Read more

  • Understanding Autism: Comorbidities vs Pure Autism

    Autism plus refers to an autistic individual with comorbidities, while autism pure refers to individuals with autism that have no comorbidities. People use comorbidity and co-occurring conditions interchangeably in casual conversation, but a comorbidity can be diagnosed separately from autism, and are two or more distinct diagnoses, and a co-occurring condition occurs alongside autism. Autism Read more

  • Understanding Asperger’s Transition to Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Asperger’s syndrome (Asperger’s) is no longer a diagnosis. Now, it is part of ASD (autism spectrum disorder) or ASC (autism spectrum conditions). If I had received a diagnosis over five years ago, I would have been diagnosed with Asperger’s.   Today, they are no longer a separate diagnosis. The difference is that with Asperger’s there Read more

  • Understanding ADHD vs Narcissism: Key Differences Explained

    I wanted to include another post about the difference between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcissism. ADHD can co-occur with autism in families. A family member can have autism and another ADHD, and another can have both autism and ADHD. It is unjust to say individuals with ADHD or autism are narcissistic, and it Read more

  • Understanding Autism vs ADHD: Key Differences Explained

    Autism and ADHD have overlapping traits, but they are not the same condition as explained by Dr Tracey Marks. They can co-occur, but they affect the brain in different ways. They are both distinct neurodevelopmental conditions, and it’s important to understand them, as they can both be misunderstood. Video by Dr Tracey Marks (embedded from Read more

  • Autism vs Narcissism: Clearing the Confusion of Different Conditions

    This is a short post about how autism spectrum disorder and narcissism are very different conditions. They have overlapping traits that can be confused. Narcissism Presentations show a lack of empathy, entitlement, grandiosity, manipulation, arrogance, excessive admiration, exploitation, and a desire for control. Autism Spectrum Disorder Presentations that vary between individuals include social and verbal 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

  • Is Honesty the Best Policy?

    We can define honesty as a virtue, and ethics and integrity are some reasons we consider it in this way. However, is honesty the best policy? Why do people value honesty? When we are honest, we maintain trust in our relationships. If we are not, few of them would survive. This applies to friendships, romantic 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