Anyone else feels more stereotypically autistic while on stimulants?

  • NanoTriffid@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    1 year ago

    I’ve been struggling with whether to get an autism diagnosis or an adhd one (or to blow the money on therapy instead). I feel like I’m functioning less and less the older I get and sometimes wish a test trial of stimulants could tell me if I had ADHD.

    Like if I functioned better on meds then I’d know I’m ADHD. I know it’s not a logical wish but I hate all the loopholes and money. I struggle to make medical appointments for anything that is immediately obvious like a wound or rash. Need to get a script ready in my head and hate advocating for myself or the kids to indifferent professionals.

    • can@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Need to get a script ready in my head and hate advocating for myself or the kids to indifferent professionals.

      I hate it too. Stay strong. You got this.

  • Blake [he/him]@feddit.ukEnglish
    9·
    1 year ago

    I haven’t been formally diagnosed with autism but I definitely relate with this. My psychiatrist said it was quite likely that I was on the autistic spectrum but they don’t bother to diagnose people because there’s no real value in it, according to her

    Edit: I disagree with the psychiatrist - I think an autism diagnosis definitely has value. From her perspective, there aren’t any additional treatment options available where I live (e.g. no medications, any therapy would be just as accessible without a diagnosis, etc.) and the diagnosis itself is a long, expensive process, so I can understand the reluctance, but obviously I feel like diagnosis would still be worthwhile.

    • BOMBS@lemmy.worldMEnglish
      10·
      1 year ago

      there’s no real value in it

      A formal thorough autism evaluation and diagnosis has been considerably helpful for me as now I can make sense of all of the difficulties I’ve had my entire life, and adjust so that I can make my life what I want it to be.

      You might find the assessments at the following site helpful: https://embrace-autism.com/

      • Blake [he/him]@feddit.ukEnglish
        5·
        1 year ago

        Yeah, totally - I don’t agree that an autism diagnosis is useless at all, I was merely quoting what the psychiatrist said to me, though the way I wrote it was confusing. Thanks for the link, I’ll take a look

      • Blake [he/him]@feddit.ukEnglish
        3·
        1 year ago

        Agreed, definitely. Personally I’ve got a number of other diagnoses and neurological disorders so it’s not hugely important for me but for someone who is dealing with autism a diagnosis can be hugely helpful. I apologise for my lack of clarity in the original comment, I was quoting a psychiatrist, not sharing my own beliefs.

    • may0ren@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Yeah, I got the same response (hints of ASD Level 1, I can get formally diagnosed but even with a positive diagnosis no treatments will change).

      I still need to look more into it, but my psych said that just accepting that might be the case and finding general Autism advice / coping strategies / etc (idk what to call this?) and seeing if they work for you is generally what she’s seen to be helpful for people.

  • _Anonymous_Aardvark_English
    7·
    1 year ago

    I definitely get much more in my head and overthinking everything that I say when I take meds. Which makes socializing much less fun. On the other hand when I don’t take them I am more likely to blurt out the first thing I think which can also be bad.

    • Drew Got No Clue@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      6·
      1 year ago

      It’s fun that I meet certain people almost only in certain environments (like uni), so they normally see me on meds—and it’s disorienting when “I’m acting weird”.

    • can@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Have you consider altering the dosage. With consultation with your doctor of course.

  • Autonomous@beehaw.orgEnglish
    7·
    1 year ago

    I experience less anxiety pressuring me to create conversations. The result is that I more confidently refrain from participation.

    I don’t consider this making me more autistic, but rather helping me to mask less / accept what I really want more.

  • Ergonomic_Keyboard@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago

    This meme better take that right back! I’m waiting on my both diagnosis and … nah, it’s fine.

    I’m going to pretend I didn’t see that. It’s cool, life is cool, yup. 8-)

  • MadgePickles@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    Treating my ADHD definitely helped me so much but not in the ways I was expecting and it definitely allowed for my suppressed autism traits to become more apparent.