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

  • Is Maintaining Eye Contact the Only Way to Connect?

    Why Do People Avoid Eye Contact? We are told that maintaining good eye contact when speaking is one of the fundamental ways we connect. However, eye contact can vary depending on different factors. For example, some cultures think good eye contact when someone is talking can be disrespectful, rude or aggressive. Neurodiverse people with conditions Read more

  • Is Everyone on the Autistic Spectrum?

    I often hear comments that people make about ‘everyone being on the spectrum’, or ‘a little bit autistic’. I don’t think people say this to be nasty, but it is just a lack of understanding about the condition. After all, I used to think this way too. The answer to this is no. I was Read more

  • Autism Inclusion and the Family

    For me, a sense of belonging is very important, so the attitude of my family makes a difference. Autism inclusion in families is an important place for support and connection. How the family views me makes a difference to my happiness. Image created with Canva Learning from Others I learn from non-autistic people how to Read more

  • What Is the Most Effective Treatment for Autism?

    I have read over the years about the best ways to treat, cure or prevent autism, from diet to not vaccinating children. When I have a good diet, I feel better, and when I feel better, my outlook on life is good. However, this does not cure my autism. What Causes Autism? The cause of Read more

  • Autism and Masking

    All my life, I have hidden most of my autistic traits from everyone around me. It was something I did, and I became an expert. I told no one how I felt, and that I was having difficulties. Observing Others I have learned to socialise through watching my peers, focussing on what and how they Read more

  • The Strengths of Autistic Children

    It is important to focus on the strengths of autistic children rather than trying to get them to spend lots of time on activities they don’t find interesting. My Experiences of School When I was at school, the two main subjects were maths and English. I hated maths, and I hated the fact that I Read more

  • Autism and Emotions

    People with autism can have difficulty identifying emotions, but this does not mean that we don’t feel them and cannot recognise certain emotions. Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay I Feel Emotions My emotions can be very intense, and the emotions of others can affect me. I am also sensitive to negativity. Mean words or Read more

  • Coping Strategies for Burnout

    I wrote a post back in June at a time when I was getting close to burnout. You can read the post here: Burnout – My Autism Life After Diagnosis. I used different strategies to improve my situation. I am feeling better now, and not as exhausted as I was. It is also holiday time Read more

  • Autism and Literal Thinking

    I have had many situations when someone has said something to me and they have meant something else, or not been clear about what they mean, regardless of whether it is intentional. I understand it is the speech pattern of people who are not on the spectrum. However, for me, I like to know exactly Read more

  • My Solution to Gut Problems

    Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay This is a short blog post, but maybe helpful for some of you. I have had gut problems all my life, and I often got an upset stomach eating foods I wasn’t familiar with. I will spare you the details, but I think it is what has caused anxiety about Read more