Why Did NOBODY Notice YOU'RE Autistic Before?

Millions of adults worldwide have been diagnosed or discovered they're autistic in recent years but why so many? Why did nobody spot it earlier?
#EngageAutism #AutismAcceptance #actuallyautistic

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00:00 Introduction
01:01 Up above the streets...
03:14 1976
04:40 Human Calculator
06:27 The Biggest Barrier
08:39 2 out of 3
09:44 not what it seems
11:06 Celebrities & media
12:03 Chicken Man
13:32 Full Set

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Autistic Primer (playlist)

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[yarnbomber]

Picture It, SmallTown USA, 1982.

"She can't be autistic. She talks and she's a girl."

[ame-chan]

To this day, even being diagnosed, people said to me "I don't understand why you are having so many problems, you are SO INTELLIGENT" and I just wanna punch something because *WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!*

[sharmalarm]

List of neurodivergent behaviours/responses in this fantastic video:

1. Easily perceive rejection, whether it’s there or not (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria)

2. Struggle to process or accept criticism of any kind, including friendly constructive criticism

3. Rehearsing scripts over and over in your head to prepare for any kind of social or professional meeting

4. Difficulties making or maintaining eye contact with others

4.5 (Mid-list bonus 🥳) Making important lists in preparation and then not referring to the list firmly in your hand the whole time totally winging it probably EVERY SINGLE TIME 😂

5. Struggle to connect with people who don’t physically show or express their emotions clearly. Struggle to read and pick up on various types of non-verbal forms of communication and social cues, often leading to awkward and potentially dangerous situations

6. Having authentic, organic, creative ideas but really struggling to articulate them or to make a plan of action to formulate and explain the idea

7. Talking fast and using hands to express and communicate

8. Skin Picking, nail biting (Stimming)

This list took me about an hour to write as I kept getting distracted and I had to listen over and over again for it to all go in because, you know. However I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself and I really wanted to do it and hopefully it might help someone, so it was well worth it, especially now that I’m finally starting to accept who I really am. Thank you, Molly 🤗🫡✨

[karenpublic]

I’m a female, born in 1975, raised in backwoods Georgia, USA. The only advice EVER RECEIVED was “just try harder.”
Easier said than Autism and adhd can do…
Diagnosed 8/2023.

[BreezyBriest]

"Just try harder" "youd be late to your own funeral" "just spit it out" "youre just being lazy" "get to the point" common phrases ive heard throughout my childhood and into my adulthood. The sensory overwhelm is real, the anxiety is real, the executive dysfunction is real, the self hatred becomes real too. Thankfully since getting to know myself sober, its opened up a world of compassion and acceptance of myself which has replaced a lot of the self hatred. There is hope. Dont lose heart.

[earlwoodland]

I am 55 years old. I was diagnosed with Aspergers in the 4th grade but my parents did not tell me. I only know because a therapist thought I might be Autistic. I went on Facebook and read entries from a Parent of Autistic children group. Their stories about their children sounded a lot like my childhood. I told some of my friend and none of them were surprised. I told one of my cousins and she told me I was diagnosed with Asperger's in elementary school. I think my parents did me disservice because I constantly wanted to commit suicide because I was not fitting in and could not understand why.

[megb]

I’m a teacher, we are NOT allowed to diagnose people. Can we tell you have it? 100%! We can see, but are not allowed to talk about it with parents. We can say observations we notice, and ask for the family to undergo testing, but if parents don’t realize the importance of following up, it never happens. I see so many children in school struggling, particularly girls.

[jo]

The first I ever heard of autism, was my mother explaining to me why I wasn’t vaccinated. She made it sound so horrible!
Well, jokes on her, becaus we are definitely BOTH autistic 🎉

[lambsauce]

I argued when they said my son was autistic. I said, sarcastically, "Well if he's autistic, so am I, because I was the same as him". That's when I first started to understand why being 'the best at reading books' wasn't a family gift passed down from my mother.

[ShyamalaMa]

I’m black and born in 1977 I was just diagnosed in May. Race and gender is a major factor that has hindered diagnosis in America.

[harrietwindebank]

My autistic traits were written all over my school reports. My struggles were blamed on my other disability and I was told I had to fix myself.

[pookahchu]

I sucked my thumb until the 4th grade, skipped everywhere, carried my schoolbooks on my head, and couldn't properly socialize with other kids, was constantly beat up, and was sent to a special school bc i couldnt mainstream. Finally diagnosed at age 49!

[AuntyProton]

Gen X, born in 1969, I wasn't diagnosed until age 50. I wouldn't have been anyway since I'm female. I remember going back out to my car after the diagnosis and just raging and crying, couldn't believe no one had ever seen it.

[you-tube-user-minimal]

Quinn, please contact the suicide loss groups and suicide prevention people. These Youtube videos have made it crystal clear to me that my friend who took his life was autistic. Survivors deserve to know. Teachers, pastors, medical doctors, cops and suicide hotlines need to understand this risk.

[leticiasoaresberwanger]

Not only ignorance, but my parents were both struggling with their own depression and problems, and most likely were neurodivergent as well. That might be the case for many other late diagnosed autistics. Frankly, I blame my teachers and school staff a lot more than I blame my parents. My parents probably saw our traits and thought they were normal because that's what their own childhoods were like.

As for advocacy, I can only thank creators like you for helping me not feel ashamed or scared or hopeless about my diagnosis. Seeing autistic people being so open and honest and sometimes even proud about their autism makes me feel less embarrassed, stronger, and more patient with myself. I'm even making art and comics about my own experiences now. Thank you!

[leeboriack]

I’m 63 years old and relieved to understand the basis of the 24/7 struggle. So many years lost spent on therapists, who never ever suggested Autism. Damn the professionals!

[tyrannosapienlex]

It's too bad, that the World use(d) *punishment* to _deal with us_ and our unknown condition, but offer NO FORGIVENESS even after learning about its existence.

[god-rjwf]

before i got diagnosed by a doctor, or recognized by my parents, a random stranger on tumblr diagnosed me as an aspie. :]

i made a lengthy vent post on my blog about my life long struggles with communication, self harm, school, and retaining/following instructions and they told me i should look into signs of autism in girls! matched me to a T. though my mom denied it, but a few years later i had the papers to prove it. Lol

the strange thing is that—
*A.* apparently my older sister (who basically raised me) had been pointing out that i had textbook development differences and difficulties since i was a BABY and should be tested, but my parents ignored her since she was a teen and there was "nothing wrong" with me.

and *B.* the moment my diagnosis became public, every aunt and uncle came out of the woodworks to admit they "had a feeling"!

it's so frustrating that autism is such a taboo topic that adults would rather watch a child struggle with a lack of understanding of the world & themselves than be the one to break the "bad news" that they're just different and need support.

[IdeaGrazer]

I have been called "weird", "loser", "anti-social", "smelly", etc. I have been ostracized and the target of bullying (physical and verbal). I was not good at many physical activities (also did not enjoy them) and went out of my way to avoid them. I spent many days crying in the bathroom during class time and getting a poor attendance record as a result. One year I could spend most days not talking to a single person, including the teachers. I went through this without any diagnoses of autism. Since those years my life has been a mess and I have dealt with depression more than once and my poor health has nearly killed me. I don't really care what anyone thinks at this point. I feel relief and a better sense of self than I have ever felt before. So much makes sense now.

[robertmailey]

I am 68 and was never diagnosed with ASD. At 31, I accepted my doctor's diagnosis of chronic anxiety/depression (bipolar). When all antidepressants failed to work even with Lithium added, I accepted that I was untreatable, resigned to a life of confusion and misery. It was only in the past 8 years, as I have worked alongside an Autistic man. We connected immediately and I began to notice similar behaviors. After videos on YouTube like this, I am clearly on the spectrum. What a relief to finally be aware, although sad to think so much trauma could have been avoided. And I accept the time is right for me in this moment.
Thank you for your help.