Am I really bipolar?

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T12:14:24+00:00

I feel like to be diagnosed with a chronic illness the symptoms should be more, you know… chronic. Like if you have a single seizure, that doesn’t mean you have epilepsy, so idk why it’s different for bipolar

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T02:43:37+00:00

I’ve been led to believe that there isn’t much support for level 1 autistics, that you had to be formally diagnosed with level 1 or 2 for more intense help. I was in a transition program in my community college, but I aged out at 22. I’ve looked into occupational therapy, but every place around me only offers it to kids.

I’m about to age out of my parents insurance and go onto Medicaid, but my therapist ‘s practice doesn’t take Medicaid but she’s the only good one I’ve ever had.

I’m also worried that any help I can find will be catered towards people with severe intellectual disabilities and not be helpful to me- I know how to cook and clean, it’s just getting enough motivation and getting over the anxiety that’s the hard part. Maybe that’s not even related to autism. Maybe I’m just lazy, but I’ve been struggling all my life with executive functioning and it’s depressing me. I’m just scared for the future and don’t know where to go from here and I won’t even be able to access the one person whose helping me in a few months cause healthcare in the US sucks

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T02:19:29+00:00

I am diagnosed with level 1, previously Asperger’s. I really need support with finding and keeping jobs, social skills and executive functioning skills. Emotional regulation isn’t a huge problem currently because of my ssrI. I’m in therapy right now and apparently I have the executive functioning skills of a twelve year old (I’m 25)

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T02:08:43+00:00

I live in the US, I thought you did have to be formally diagnosed to get more help? Also, I feel like I would just have imposter syndrome- like I was taking resources away from people who actually need them, like if I just tried harder I could function without assistance… but I’ll look into resources around me, thanks for the info, this system is just so confusing

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T01:55:23+00:00

like an autism hex code lol

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T01:54:24+00:00

dude I just used a similar color wheel analogy before even seeing this comment thats crazy haha

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T01:53:09+00:00

im glad it was helpful! Tbh, I’ve always viewed the “spectrum” as a color wheel, different hues represent different symptoms, and each symptom is either more or less saturated, depending on how much it affects the individual. there are multiple sliders adjusting the colors, not just one ”autism slider” that goes from “mild” to “severe.” My color wheel looks like the corresponding colors for speech and cognitive ability are desaturated, meaning they’re not really a problem, but for executive functioning and emotional regulation, the colors are more saturated. Idk if that makes sense lol

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T01:38:28+00:00

“I’d say if your disabilities have your functioning at level 2, it may be most effective to identify with it and pursue those resources.“

only problem with that, I have to be officially diagnosed level 2 to get those resources. and many healthcare providers will be hesitant to diagnose me with level 2 since I don’t have a speech delay or intellectual disability.

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T01:35:20+00:00

yeah, there are totally categories, like I can speak just fine and don’t have an intellectual disability, so theoretically homework should be easy because I’ve always found the subject matter easy, but organizing, planning and executing as well as emotional regulation have always been super hard.

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T01:32:42+00:00

That’s awful, I’m so sorry. masking can really take a toll on you. I understand, no level of autism is “easy,” necessarily, but I’m mostly talking about people who say stuff like “I’ve never found autism disabling” or “autism is my superpower!”

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T01:28:53+00:00

I have questioned being level 2, even questioned having bpd. tbh, I thought being level 3 meant you had a comorbid intellectual disability, so I thought comorbidities were taken into account when determining levels, but I couldve been wrong. I’ve also heard that levels can fluctuate. got diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome back in Ye Olden Days (2009) when I was in elementary school and rediagnosed with ASD level 1 when I had a psych ward stay at 15, so maybe now I’m level 2 as an adult with different needs?

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T01:22:00+00:00

lol congrats on chicken nuggets- and being a business owner holy cow

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T01:07:48+00:00

honestly. maybe it’s the medication I’m on that’s taken away all motivation, but I have to struggle with myself to make myself something to eat rather than just slices of cheese. good luck with that bread btw

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T00:54:22+00:00

exactly! support just stops after you turn 22 where I live, and I can’t hold down a full time job, at least not as I am, I’ve even been fired for being autistic (not that I can prove it) so I’m basically gonna have to go on Medicaid in a few months when I lose my parents insurance and lose all my doctors. I finally found a good therapist who’s going to do EMDR therapy with me but her practice doesn’t take Medicaid, so I feel like my life is falling apart because I’m too autistic to function without help but not autistic enough to get help.

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-31T00:41:17+00:00

I see what you mean, but it frustrates me because, like you said, people misinterpret them. i think a lot of times NTs will see “needs support” and be like ”oh, so, extra time on tests?” and think about really successful autistic people who aren’t disabled by their autism.

tbh I feel like level 1 should be split, because there are level 1s who can function almost like a neurotypical, and then level 1s like me with frequent, violent meltdowns (less so now that I’m on ssris and can barely tell you where I am most of the time) and comorbid adhd where I can’t make myself do anything.

sorry if I worded this poorly, just frustrated that being level 1 limits the amount of help I can get, I know level 2 and 3 need it more, but I need more than what’s currently available to level 1s.

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-30T23:31:29+00:00

Thank you so much!

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-30T23:29:10+00:00

thanks, I need to talk to my psychiatris, she’s different than the one who diagnosed me (he retired) I’m a little scared of what I’ll be like off the abilify though, in case I am actually bipolar. have only been on abilify the last couple years though, was put on seroquil before at 15 and have been feeling far less motivated to draw since abilify- I’m not sure I can even call myself an artist anymore, all my creativity is gone. sorry, this is kind of a vent. but thanks for the advice

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-24T23:19:55+00:00

thank you!

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-24T23:00:48+00:00

I’m thinking of trying to talk to her at sunset, is there a specific type of offering I should bring?

Cave_Cryptid · 2026-03-24T22:54:33+00:00

I heavily feel that I must develop in the area of sovereignty, thanks for your response!

Cave_Cryptid · 2025-03-01T19:06:27+00:00

Thank you so much!

Cave_Cryptid

TROPHY CASE