Spotting Autism in Adults - Common Signs and Traits of Autistic Adults

Hi! I'm Orion Kelly and I'm Autistic. On this video I share some of the top signs and traits to look out for to spot an #autistic adult. Plus, I share my personal lived experiences as an #actuallyautistic person. #orionkelly #autism #autismsigns #whatautismfeelslike #howtoguide #autisticadult

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ABOUT ORION:
Orion Kelly is an #ActuallyAutistic vlogger (YouTuber), podcaster, radio host, actor, keynote speaker and Autistic advocate based in Australia. Orion is all about helping you increase your understanding, acceptance and appreciation of Autistic people.

#AutisticVoices #ActuallyAutistic #Autistic #Autism #OrionKelly #ThatAutisticGuy #ASD

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⛔️*Disclaimer: The videos contained on this channel are for general education and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute professional advice. For professional advice and training seek assistance from a qualified provider. All views are my own and do not represent those of my employers or sponsors. Some images used are stock images.*⛔️

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[TheDerangedBlood]

I get confused when someone tells me to "just be yourself." Okay, so I drop the mask and be myself, then they tell me to not do certain things. So I've learned that no one really wants me to be myself because when I am myself, I do things they don't like. Hence, why I like being alone and by myself. I get zero criticism when I spend time alone. Its incredibly lonely at times, but I find that being lonely is better than feeling alien. I never ask others to change who they are to fit into my life. I wish others would extend the same curtesy.

[TheContraryView]

1. Desire to be alone - "home is a safe place"
2. Pepper people with follow up questions to better understand others
3. Focus time and energy inwardly - focus on their passions
4. Seem to live in a world of their own, unaware of wants and needs of others
5. Struggle with muti-tasking
6. Startled by noises - sensitive to noises
7. Make lists synopsizing the video's main points in the comments section 😁

[marglarsen]

Having someone show up at my door uninvited is absolutely traumatic. Thank you, Orion. So glad to not be alone in this.

[brandyballoon]

Can you imagine being autistic, single, and being forced to share a house with someone who's not a close friend, [due] to financial circumstances? The only safe space I have is my bedroom, and even then I don't really feel comfortable unless the door is shut. When the person I live with comes home it's like the dreaded knock on the door, but they don't knock, they just let themselves in. I only feel comfortable in the house when they are out. When they come home I go and hide in my room and only come out if it's absolutely necessary. It's not at all a reflection of the person I live with, they're fine, I just don't want to share my home with anyone. To me, shared living feels like not having a home at all. It feels like visiting or staying in someone else's home, but I don't have anywhere else to go. [edited because I missed a word in the first sentence]

[emmettobrian]

When you say "can you get to the point?" something to keep in mind, most conversation isn't intended to communicate information. It sounds weird, but it's absolutely true. Most conversation is to convey the emotion the speaker is feeling. If you look at it that way, finding the emotion they're trying to deliver and then acknowledging it makes everything start to make sense.

[jonathanrobinson]

Fantastic . I am in tears. 61 years old and always asked my family." who dropped me on my head when I was a baby" literally.

[SteviePaints]

My husband is on the spectrum, and I learned early on not to have a conversation just to have a conversation. I also learned that he takes everything very literally. It is impossible to joke with him. He’s an engineer (probably no surprise), and he is definitely single-task-oriented. His work as a software developer requires a lot of focus. I can see why there is a high percentage of autistic people in that line of work.

[bqxcfll]

Buddy I think you may have just explained 50 years of trying to understand the people around me and why I've never felt like I fit in anywhere. Thank you so much for a new road to explore. Until today I had decided that I'm just a terrible person, and no amount of inner struggle would ever change that. Thanks for a little hope my friend.

[mariecait]

I live alone with my 2 cats. Its heaven for me. I do have a boyfriend he stays over but in a separate room. He is social so I let him have his friends over but will lock myself in my room. I dont mean to be rude but this is just where I feel safe and happy. The smaller the room the better. Socializing is so confusing and exhausting. I'm on disability so I dont work. When I did work I was always so lost. Got bullied alot.. Oh well.

[lovemusicbandchorus]

I'm definitely all of these, but especially the social one and the home bit. People try to say I'm just an introvert but they don't understand that like... it really does not matter who you are, how nice it feels to be around you, at some point, I will need to recharge on my own, in my own space. People always say "you just haven't found the right people yet" but literally everyone drains me, some just drain me slower than others

[douglasburnside]

I reconnected with my childhood sweetheart after more than 40 years. She had become a psychologist.

I discovered that I was autistic when she "accidentally" left one of her diagnostic books open on the page that listed symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome. Being a compulsive reader (another autistic trait) I was curious and went down the list, and found out that I met _every one_ of the criteria.

I went to her, book in hand, and said, "Hey! This is me." She just looked at me, with a shake of her head, and said, "Well, Duhh!" 20 years later, we're still together.

[joylynne]

The way I've found to completely dispel the deep sense of loneliness has been to always have at least one project going on, all of the time ... and to keep reading and learning, all of the time as well.

For me, this shift into infinite curiosity has turned my "alone" time into "magical" time.

I hope this inspires whoever reads it. 👍👍👍

[farcamp]

When I was in nursing school, I was reprimanded because I was asking too many questions. And I thought to myself can someone learning how to take care of other people really ask too many questions? Thanks for your videos. They are very spot on.

[aishaburhaniyya]

68yrs old and just realising why I think, feel, say and do things the way I do. Have always been "different". Your short video has absolutely hit the nail on the head in describing an autistic adult and ITS ME!!. So thank you!

[robertbyars]

I’m a veteran with PTSD. I feel like there’s a general disconnect between me and anyone who hasn’t experienced things that I have. One of the things I do as a coping mechanism is that I spend a lot of time turning inward with my thoughts and being by myself. My son is autistic (Asperger’s syndrome) and he fits perfectly with your description. I think that I actually understand him better because of the few similarities in our conditions. By the way, as a Gulf War veteran, I have a 30% higher likelihood of having a child with autism because of what ever I was exposed to during Desert Storm. Thank you for sharing your insights so that the rest of the average (normal is a terrible description because it is a relative term, what is normal for me is not normal for anyone else) people can treat you with the respect that all people deserve until they prove individually that they don’t deserve respect.

[notthatnick]

My whole life, I felt inadequate. I have never been able to maintain friendships/relationships, preferring alone time rather than social events. I always had communication issues and really struggled with understanding what other people meant or felt. This gave rise to several uncomfortable situations where I did not react in the right way. I’m also extremely sensitive to noises; as I’m writing this, I’m wearing noise-canceling earplugs in my own house.
Sadly, my parents never wanted me to get a diagnosis; they probably didn’t want me to have an “excuse” or a “crutch” and forced me to confront social situations. The result: I avoid those situations at all costs.
To make a long story short, at 34 years old, I finally decided to get evaluated at a psychology/neuropsychology clinic. The process was expensive and took about 2 months, but in the end, I had a diagnosis: ASD Level 1. Receiving this diagnosis really helped me be at peace with myself. I’m not broken; I’m just different. Also, the assessment revealed that I am very bad at identifying emotions on other people's faces, which makes a lot of sense and explains a lot. 😆

[justgo]

Never been diagnosed with autism but i have a lot in common with what you’re saying. I definitely feel like an alien on this planet. Id rather be alone most of the time. I tried to get help but the psychologist told me because i can look her in the eyes im not autistic. What i didn’t tell her is when i look people in the eyes for too long my mind goes blank.

[sunshineelm]

People REALLY need to emphasize that Autistic traits are also parallel with trauma or PTSD, especially if you've been in an emotionally/physically abusive household growing up.

[lilycat]

I sure do relate to a lot of what you discussed. I am 60 and feel like I am undiagnosed autistic. Human relationships have never worked out for me. I love animals and relate to them, especially cats. It is very challenging for me to work, and hate office buildings with the over bright fluorescent lights. They make me feel really tense and uptight. Struggling with depression because I feel so alienated from people. Just can’t seem to connect.

[meandtaco]

The feelings of isolation from the rest of the planet is what I find myself fighting. Thanks again for your podcast. David... again.