| Author |
Message |
Forum: In-Depth Adult Life Discussion Topic: Your own life timeline |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 02 Aug 2025, 9:23 am
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Replies: 21
Views: 4,855
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| 8y.o. grade 2. Realize I’m not a boy. Can’t say anything to anyone about it. Colleen Gosh ! same for me; Realizing at 8 that "His Highness" has made a mistake by putting you in a boy's body makes all your strange AS differences (incl. shame, isolation, etc.) to be self-interpreted as a re... |
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Forum: General Autism Discussion Topic: Receiving a diagnosis in later life |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 28 Jul 2025, 9:20 pm
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Replies: 3
Views: 193
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| I’m 69, and haven’t been formally diagnosed, but I just realized it recently (like, a few weeks ago). I was given a link to a site called Embrace Autism, which has a number of screening questionnaires. I took 6 of them, and every one scored well into the autistic range. I consider that pretty defini... |
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Forum: General Autism Discussion Topic: Diagnosed Late? Let’s Talk Childhood Signs |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 15 Jul 2025, 6:34 pm
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Replies: 16
Views: 14,634
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| I remember that as a child, I exhibited echolalia (sp?). I would say a word out loud, then repeat it to myself quietly or silently. I was always the “weird” kid. On the playground, I vastly preferred hanging out on the periphery by myself. I was often bullied. I was very smart, but did poorly in sch... |
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Forum: General Autism Discussion Topic: Unfair punishment |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 14 Jul 2025, 3:43 pm
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Replies: 11
Views: 2,418
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Some punishments from childhood (I was born in the 50s):
Spanked on the bare bottom with a wire hanger
Mouth washed out with soap
Grounded (for low grades)
Model airplanes (my special interest at the time) taken away |
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Forum: General Autism Discussion Topic: Special interests |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 14 Jul 2025, 12:23 pm
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Replies: 56
Views: 9,127
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| I’ve had a number of special interests during my life. I define a special interest as something that most people wouldn’t be interested in, but I am, to the point of obsession. My special interests can last years, or weeks/months. I once read Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time”, and then I h... |
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Forum: LGBT Discussion Topic: I seem to do everything late, lol. |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 12 Jul 2025, 9:20 pm
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Replies: 6
Views: 7,445
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| I attended a songwriting workshop this week (whole week). I had some trepidations going into it, and I was right. The sessions tended to go long, completely messing up the schedule. So I found the strength to advocate for myself, telling one of the organizers that the schedule slippage was causing m... |
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Forum: General Autism Discussion Topic: Tried getting diagnosed and then told I’m normal |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 05 Jul 2025, 4:14 pm
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Replies: 13
Views: 2,722
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Forum: General Autism Discussion Topic: Tried getting diagnosed and then told I’m normal |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 05 Jul 2025, 12:43 pm
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Replies: 13
Views: 2,722
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| I recently did the AQ, EQ, SQ and RAADS-R tests, and scored high in the “autistic” range (129 on the RAADS-R, apparently neurotypicals don’t score higher than 64) on all of them. I’m here because of that. How important is it to get a formal diagnosis? I’m 69 and retired. I don’t think it’s important... |
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Forum: LGBT Discussion Topic: I seem to do everything late, lol. |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 04 Jul 2025, 2:55 pm
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Replies: 6
Views: 7,445
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| Good to see another Canadian here! Thanks for the reply. I’ll admit I’m feeling a bit vulnerable right now. Trying to learn all I can about this new landscape. It’s somewhat disorienting. I thought I knew myself pretty well, lol. This opens up a whole new can of worms. Although looking back, the sig... |
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Forum: In-Depth Adult Life Discussion Topic: The Concept of Time: Do We Experience It Differently? |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 04 Jul 2025, 11:32 am
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Replies: 5
Views: 1,552
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| Interesting topic. I’ve honestly never thought about it, but then I only just realized I’m ND. I can say that I have a near-perfect recall of various life events, to the extent that my brother remarked on it, asking how I remember so much about childhood. I remember enough that I wrote a musical abo... |
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Forum: In-Depth Adult Life Discussion Topic: Late diagnosis/realization: What changed for you? |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 04 Jul 2025, 9:08 am
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Replies: 7
Views: 2,258
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| So, I’ve just realized I’m autistic. No formal diagnosis, but strong confirmation from online tests and feedback from folks who have known me a long time. So… now what? Wondering how to navigate this, or if it’s even necessary, given that I’ve been obviously living with it my whole life. I’ve had mo... |
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Forum: In-Depth Adult Life Discussion Topic: Your own life timeline |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025, 6:17 pm
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Replies: 21
Views: 4,855
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| This might be long (I’m old AF, lol…) 6 kindergarten 7 grade 1. Not doing well. Mostly bored in class, daydream and fall behind 8 grade 2. Realize I’m not a boy. Can’t say anything to anyone about it. . Bullied throughout school. Everyone thinks I’m weird. Move a lot. 13 high school. Suicidal. 16 “g... |
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Forum: Getting to know each other Topic: Just found out… at 69 |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025, 5:16 pm
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Replies: 13
Views: 3,764
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Thanks for the welcome. I do think this is where I should be. Maybe I’ll learn some things. I do know that it’s always good to be with folks who have something in common. Looking forward to getting to know the place.
Colleen |
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Forum: LGBT Discussion Topic: Gender in Bio? |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025, 4:15 pm
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Replies: 3
Views: 2,205
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I think female is the default for some reason. At least it was when I set up my profile.
Colleen |
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Forum: LGBT Discussion Topic: I seem to do everything late, lol. |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025, 4:13 pm
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Replies: 6
Views: 7,445
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| I’m transgender, bisexual, and polyamorous, but I didn’t come out until age 55. Now I’ve just learned, at 69, I’m autistic. I always knew I was trans, but it wasn’t safe to come out until relatively late in life. But I never thought I was autistic, although recently I began to wonder. My ex-wife now... |
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Forum: Getting to know each other Topic: Questions about you |
| ColleenArtisan |
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Posted: 03 Jul 2025, 3:52 pm
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Replies: 5,808
Views: 1,302,715
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| What is your first name? Colleen Age: 69 Location: Ontario, Canada Hobbies and Interests: Art, music, luthierie (made a violin), songwriting, recording/production, control line model airplanes, brewing, winemaking Why are you here? I just found out I’m likely autistic, and want to know more. When we... |
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