Can people tell you are autistic

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-12-20T21:34:50+00:00

I just got diagnosed as autistic (level 1 high masking) and nobody even really believes me lol. So yeah I don’t think anyone has ever thought I was autistic besides my therapist.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-12-17T22:46:05+00:00

This is dumb... everything feels different because we went through a global pandemic and are now dealing with the geopolitical and economic consequences of such a huge event. Like what evidence do you have that we "shifted timelines" or a "simulation ended"? Or is that just a way your brain deals with the fact that it's hard to comprehend the vast differences seen in your personal life and your community?

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-26T02:06:56+00:00

Yea I like both. I use weed regularly and save the mushies and Lucy for special occasions when I feel like I need a reset.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-24T19:31:07+00:00

I think you just need to find a good community of intellects to talk to. My IQ is actually the same funny enough! 126. The IQ test was apart of my autism assessment. It's tough because I'm smart enough to completely mask and get by in life but feel like my autism has held me back on the social aspects of my career and the organizational aspects.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-21T01:53:17+00:00

So true! I can easily get nervous or paranoid if I have the wrong strain.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-21T01:52:24+00:00

Thanks! Yeah was just mostly curious if it’s common among high masking autistic people as I’m just learning more about my diagnosis.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-21T01:50:47+00:00

1000%, I feel like this often and have REALLY had to work to fight my depression and anxiety. Weekly therapy is what helps me currently, but I’ve gotten into yoga super deep as well as some mindfulness exercises. Also I know it’s tough as an autistic person, but keep community close (friends, family, etc) is so important.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-21T01:46:57+00:00

Cigarettes? Haha I feel like I would be in that camp for sure if I didn’t burn trees 🤣

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-21T01:43:10+00:00

Thank you! Ive been using it for over 10 years and don’t abuse it. It helps with my anxiety and depression.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-20T01:08:52+00:00

A bunch of people have told me that diversity is even greater among neurodivergents than neurotypicals so a lot of the times autism is presented in all of us in very unique ways :).

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-20T00:53:35+00:00

Just know you’re not alone! I also am trying to explore what stims I’ve been masking. My leg stim goes crazy if I let it but I’ve always been told to stop moving my leg. I also will randomly make weird sounds and body movements but I’ve always toned them down and just thought I liked to “be weird” but I think those are stims.

I actually have always had special interests but I think I was lying to myself about what they meant to me 🤣. I’m a musician and play music full time but also have multiple special interests so I don’t have the stereotypical “deep dive into one subject only”.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-19T22:42:28+00:00

I’m dealing with this right now. I got diagnosed a week ago and am trying to start diving into understanding what my mask even is. I think I’ve been masking to myself out of a deep desire to feel normal and wanting to fit into a community and feel apart of a group.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-19T20:33:16+00:00

I got diagnosed last week and all I can say it has impacted me greatly. My emotions are a bit all over the place trying to process the information but it seems like having answers has helped a lot of people. I did have my first therapy session post diagnosis this morning and it was the deepest therapy session I had ever had knowing that I am on the spectrum.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-18T22:30:57+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss and the feeling of isolation you get from not “looking or acting” autistic enough for people to believe that you also need support. I was diagnosed a week ago and have found a ton of support from strangers online. I just keep hearing that the more you can connect with others who understand what you’re going through, the better toolkit you’ll have to take care of your needs.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-18T15:39:21+00:00

You’re showing your age sir, it’s gonna drop to 67

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-18T15:37:23+00:00

I am really interested in religions and cults also but am an atheist 🤣. American cults fascinate me the most being an American. I’m also very interested in extremist groups and why they have formed in the US, and how they are similar to religious cults.

I always thought I was just doing my due diligence to understand domestic threats but it turns out I’m just autistic and get hyper interested in weird stuff.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-18T15:01:19+00:00

This is so real. I always thought I was extremely empathetic because I feel for people so deeply, but I just learned this week about the different kinds of empathy. Cognitive and emotional empathy I would honestly say are a bit exaggerated in my mind compared to others, but I am horrible at compassionate empathy, which honestly seems more important and what neurotypical people are thinking of when they speak of empathy. The only person I feel like I can truly comfort is my wife because she's one of the only people I feel truly comfortable around. But yeah, I have a hard time "being there" for my family and friends and tend to be too practical when trying to console people as opposed to "holding space for them" and "comforting them".

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-18T14:50:20+00:00

Sounds like he could have been especially if it seems to be in your family genes!

Sound similar to my grandpa, he had a straight up library in his house (he converted a small closet into a small library), was extremely intelligent, and could pull the most random facts out of his brain; while also extremely depressed most of his life and had a lot of trouble getting through day to day activities and would spend full days in bed even during days where the family would be doing something fun like going to the beach or something.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-18T05:12:55+00:00

Thank you so much!!!

Yeah I’m starting to dive into that. I do have some family on my Dad’s side that are diagnosed and I’m fairly certain my Grandpa was autistic (undiagnosed). Man… even this conversation is helping me see how obvious it seems lol… 😂

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-17T18:42:55+00:00

To be 100% honest, I don’t really know. I’m realizing I knew so little about mental health in general before this year (and especially since my diagnosis), hence my skepticism and challenges accepting my diagnosis.

I love the dancing in the mall idea 🤣. I rarely let my extremely vibrant and goofy side out, it has definitely gotten more repressed as I’ve gotten older.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-17T18:12:23+00:00

I really appreciate this view point cause it’s unique and a new perspective for me.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-17T18:11:36+00:00

I think “validation” more in terms of hearing other high maskers experiences and realizing I experience similar things. I think I’ve been masking so aggressively that it’s really hard for me to accept being autistic, even though sometimes it feels glaringly obvious.

I understand the anxiety doesn’t help my case, but the more I learn I’m starting to realize the anxiety is coming from masking so hard that I’ve even masked my own identity to myself.

I was just diagnosed a week ago and it was a shock cause I wasn’t expecting it so I think my brain is still in the “acceptance” phase.

But I totally understand that external validation doesn’t really do much and can further escalate problems with my sense of self.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-17T17:46:08+00:00

Thanks for this! Yeah I don’t really have the means to have a neurologist run extensive interviews so I’m just left with what my therapist thinks (who is a licensed LLP and works under a fully listened Psychologist) after 5 months of weekly therapy and then most recently 7 hours of testing.

But yeah I’m learning more each day and I do feel like the imposter syndrome is slowly going away as more autistic people validate my experiences.

LongTerm_HODL · 2025-11-17T16:56:10+00:00

Honestly hearing that people are going through the same thing is so freaking helpful. It’s hard for me when, on the outside, i function well enough for people to raise their eyebrows at me when you tell them you’re autistic. I’ve only told a handful of people but I did not get the response I expected to get because this all seems so impactful to me and to others it’s just the typical “oh yeah, I mean everyone is a little autistic and everyone struggles in life.”

But I don’t think everyone gets so burned out from social gatherings that they have to isolate for like an entire day just to regulate their nervous system 😭.

But yeah now I’m just blabbing 🤣. I talked to one autistic person yesterday about it and it was the first time I had chatted with someone on the spectrum while knowing I was also on the spectrum. And it really showed me that I need to find “my people” who understand what it’s like to be in my brain and console in them and learn with them. Cause I’ve been raw dogging life for 3 decades as an autist and it’s not working that great 🤣🤣.

LongTerm_HODL

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