#autistic asks

[beekneelsformommy]

I heard that there are levels on autism, is that true?

Hi Lovely!

What a great question you have asked, and the simple answer to that is yes and no. So let me expand and explain a little more!

So the reason I say both yes and no is because there are only certain places in the world that use a level tier system in their diagnosis. But it’s definitely not something that is done everywhere.

So levels are mainly used in Australia and I think in the US too but don't quote me on the US, because I'm not 100% sure, but I do know Australia use them.

So for places that diagnose with levels, they look at the DSM-5 (Just like other places do too) and this includes three levels.

Here's the DSM-5 Levels of Autism Support Needs with the Levels that they look at to diagnose.

Level 1 – Requiring Support

• Struggles with social communication without help.

• Finds it hard to start or keep conversations.

• Trouble with organisation, flexibility, and changes.

• Can often live independently but still needs some support.

Level 2 – Requiring Substantial Support

• Clear difficulties with communication, even with help

• Repetitive behaviours / resistance to change interfere with daily life

• Needs regular support at home, school, or work

Level 3 – Requiring Very Substantial Support

• Very limited speech or non-speaking

• Strong repetitive behaviours, struggles with change

• Needs daily, intensive support in most areas of life

💡 Extra notes:

• These aren’t “types” of autism, just a way to describe support needs.

• Autism is a spectrum, not a one size fits all.

• Support needs can change over time.

• UK diagnoses usually don’t come with “levels.”

These levels are not permanant labels, it's just a way for doctors, clinicians etc to be able to indicated the support each individual will need day-to-day when they are diagnosed.

In the UK, at least from my own experience Labels are not something that is used within the diagnosis process. The NHS, as well as privatly (I went private for my diagnosis) usually focus more on describing someone strengths, struggles and support needs without giving a number.

So yes, levels do exist in some systems of the worlkd when diagnosing autism in individual, however it is not universally given, and even where they are used, a lot of autistic people feel those numbers don’t capture the whole picture, because there's more to being autistic and our support than levels.

But I, as an autistic person, do somewhat understand why places like Australia use levels of support.

Bee 🌻

[honeypiehotchner]

ooh bc i’m autistic as well and love ur autistic! reader x hotch work, what r ur head canons for the relationship?

🍒🤍🍒

OOOOOOOOOOOOO hell yeah let’s go it's delusional hours 😍

i’m a big fan of the idea that he can tell when you’re masking 🫣 he won’t call you out on it in a bad way, but he Knows. and when he does tell you that he can tell a difference, it's very very sweet and caring

the man has a strict routine as well with general day-to-day work so I fully believe that will mesh the best whether or not you're an agent

AND when it comes to him being on cases and breaking that routine, he for sure has ways to keep it in place. like if you're not an agent, he makes sure to text you at least in the morning and at night before bed. but if you are an agent, he for sure develops almost like a second separate routine for when you're in the field to keep things familiar still despite how chaotic it'll get

you make one mention of it being too loud and that bitch will have noise-cancelling headphones delivered to your door the next day no questions asked.

((i'm a VERY firm believer in hotch doesn't like to spend his money on himself but anyone else? sure why not they're $300? why don't you get the $500 pair those look nicer just put it on my card))

he's so patient with reid that i for sure see him also showing that same patience to you. like if you're rambling for too long (and let's be real if you're an agent then you and reid are feeding off each other) hotch will just gently/quietly reel you back in to get back on task

but if you're just at home? oh heart eyes out the ass bitch he will let you ramble as long as you want and he will just listen and ask questions and retain it all. same if you have a favorite show or movie that you just want to watch constantly, he'll be the first to suggest it

back to the patience, i can see him helping in social situations too, if you're ever confused, he'll explain or even keep you from speaking at maybe an inappropriate time. you're usually good on picking up certain things, but he fills in the gaps where you miss other cues

ALSO for my own guilty pleasure, he's defensive as hell. if anyone tries to talk down to you like you're a child or says some bullshit about how "they never would've guessed you're autistic!!!!" hotch is right there to call them out on it. he has your back all the time, especially after you decide to be more open about being autistic in public/at work

he's also super supportive of whether or not you want to pursue an official diagnosis. he believes you no matter what and wants you to do what's best for you, with or without the "official" diagnosis

he's such a protective person in general that i feel like he's the best during/after autistic meltdowns when you feel so out of control. he's right there to ground you and do whatever you need, even if that's just him sitting with you until it passes

i love writing these hehe!! send any other autistic questions/headcanons you have because this soothes my soul ngl 💗💗

[autism-official]

bleep blorp

Ok?

[arthyritis]

🧸 Do you have any comfort objects?

Headphones and hoodies aside, I find a lot of comfort in wearing a mask these days!!

[hell-is-a-teenage-girll]

Fellow person on the spectrum here (  pronouns she/her ) but how do you deal with being in a relationship with things like physical touch and maybe other things that affect people on the spectrum or like getting super overwhelmed because I’m 19 I’ll be 20 in a few months and I’ve never been in a relationship but I’m scared to have to do things like explain I’m on the Spectrum and dealing with other things also I can private message you if you want to go into more  detail 

Hey there!

first of all don't push yourself to be in a relationship because you might think it's the right next step in life, because if you get in a relationship, it has to be because you've really got those feelings and you let it happen.

Physical touch is not an issue for me from a person that makes me feel safe. But when I do am overtriggered or can't be touched at that moment, I can just speak out and let my partner know.

which brings me to the next part; it goes for everyone basically but specially with people on the spectrum, Find someone who is willing to learn about you, your specific needs, maybe read a book about autism, that will ask you questions about do or don't, that will also be okay with you asking questions. Me and S recently also started with some non verbal ques for when I can't speak.

You need a partner with patience, who doesn't roll their eyes when you can't do certain things or won't make you feel dumb for maybe not understanding things that seem simple to neurotypical people.

you ofcourse sometimes need to realise not everything can be our way. Eventho it would be amazing for us autistic people, it just can't and it's not fair either. So be ready to compromise (which doesn't mean doing things you really don't want to)

if I'm overwhelmed, I tell her, I tell her what I'm feeling, sometimes I don't know, so she starts going over questions and sometimes it's through there that I find out what my "issue" is.

Anyway do not push yourself because you might think you need to keep up, you really don't ❤

I often prefer asks because of my Asocialness. So asks are fine!

[asd-n-me]

so I’ve been trying to figure out what disorder I have for years and recently I learned about autism. (I think it’s grossly over stereotyped because I thought it was weird until I looked it up) and it describes me for the most part. I stim when happy like the flapping. I have sensitivity to textures. Executive dysfunction is very real. I get distracted easily and motivation is so hard to come by. I have small routines rather then large ones. Your account has been really helpful in this process

Pt2 but I’m nervous that I’m just trying to fit a box.Like my social skills are horrible but I speak and understand sarcasm. I don’t get sensory overloaded but i hyperfixate on things. I have a special interest(s) on weird things but I also like things in the “normal way” I stim a lot and have weird mood fluctuations that I try to keep down so no one asks or sets me off.But I’m almost 18 and there should have been a earlier signs?Idk do you think it’s possible Or am I just trying too hard to fit

I am sorry my response is a little late, I’ve been having technical troubles but I am back. 

Friend, I am so glad that you find my account helpful because that is always my goal. 

I have always disliked people asking these things in asks, just because I know the typing is limited so it’s hard to describe all your experiences in 500 spaces or less. 

Hyperfixation, executive dysfunction, distractability, mood fluctuation, and some stimming and sensitivities can be seen in our ADHD cousins. I’m sure you are aware of that already. 

1.That being said, if you’re just discovering your autistic traits recently I am sure you are missing earlier signs that you haven’t even put together yet. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there. 

Not to mention the fact that, “high-functioning” considered individuals tend to be able to somewhat handle things in their youth, but start breaking down as they excel in age. 

2. You do not have to have sensory overloads to be autistic. Many autistics are adept at self-regulation and can for the most part avoid overload. 

But I hope you realize you do not have to meltdown or shutdown to be in overload. If a sound or texture or anything else sensory related has ever had you afraid you might yell at someone, scream into the abyss, or had you white knuckling the table or breaking a pencil or ripping paper to keep your cool etc. than you have suffered the effects of sensory overwhelming you. 

If the last thought in your head is, “how did i manage to not lose my shit?” It’s because you were being overwhelmed. 

3. No need to differentiate between little and small routines, if you’ve been on my blog you know I am a big supporter of people who experience small routines. You are no less. 

4. Plenty of autistics understand sarcasm and use it frequently. It doesn’t somehow disqualify you despite what certain Neurotyicals think. Late diagnosis autistics often manage certain aspects of socializing with their deficiencies written off as being awkward or quirky. 

Something to think about as well. A. did you always understand sarcasm? B. how much sarcasm do you not realize you are missing? 

I live in a sarcastic household, we use sarcasm constantly, but there are still times I don’t realize someone is being sarcastic and no one explains it. I have felt very proficient in sarcasm my whole life, but I was quite surprised to find out how much I was still missing. Not saying that’s your story, but it is something to think about. 

5. Now that I’ve been talking forever, sorry for that, there are always some earlier signs of autism because it is a lifetime disorder, however that doesn’t mean people around you or even yourself will notice them. 

Don’t stop looking into autism. If it resonates with you look deeper. When I first read about autism I didn’t think it was me at all. You’d think that would be ridiculous and that I should have seen myself immediately but I didn’t. It wasn’t fancy articles and informational videos that helped me see it either, although they helped, it was through the experiences of other autistic POV. 

I can post somethings about recognizing earlier signs or autism soon, I would recommend for now watching the video I posted about being a teenage aspie, neurowonderful and invisible I are good youtubes for learning about autism. Neurowonderful is more informative and invisible I is a little less accurate but fairly relatable. 

A good blog to look into on tumblr is asdmemory tagged #ASDmemory because they talk a lot about childhood autistic memories. undiagnosedautismfeels is off track of its real intentions, which I know drives the admin nuts, but has stories of before they knew they were autistic. 

Save the things that resonate with you, write em in a book, whatever you want. I wish you well in your journey to self discovery and no friend, I don’t think your are just trying to fit it. I think you are trying discover who you are. <3

(if you still have questions feel free to hit the ask box again i will answer, if you’d like to talk more please don’t be afraid to send me a message. if you still prefer asks because of the anon feature than don’t be afraid to spam me with like 5 in a row. whatever helps you feel like you explained yourself. dont be afraid to ask the same question either if you didnt feel i answered it as it was intended.)

Have a great day! 

[autistickeely]

What does 'burn out' mean in the autistic community? How long does burn out last for other people?

An autistic burnout happens when an autistic person is exposed to prolonged stress which can be caused by several factors such as trying to mask their traits, trying to adhere to social norms, taking on more tasks than they can handle, experiencing frequent sensory overloads etc. The brain’s response to all of this stress is to shutdown as a way of protecting itself. A burnout can look very similar to a depressive episode and depression can influence a burnout too. During a burnout autistic traits can become more “extreme” and as a result things get harder to cope with. A burnout can last anywhere from weeks, months to years, it’s long term and it can be hard to recover from.

[spacemancharisma]

22 for the autism asks !

what’s your favorite song to stim to?

ohhhhh I mean, whatever’s playing, but more specifically I enjoy rocking to songs that have a sound like “portable television” by death cab, or “hate yourself” by tv girl