But, what does autism FEEL like?

Describing autism, and what autism feels like, is something I've always found difficult, since I can struggle to articulate my feelings. But, I thought I would try here, and share some brief insight into my personal feelings about being autistic!

[@john1703]

Autism is what a psychologist has given that label. A better question is "what does normal feel like?" Many people fear what they describe as abnormal, but the world needs all shades of people. It was a damn good job that Alan Turing existed, even though he was little appreciated.

[@aarondavis8433]

Autism isnt a system error, It's a different operating system

[@hemn8682]

omg about the looking for an adult thing. a) i'm raising a whole ass child and still do that b) i have a very clear memory of being a kid and looking at myself in the mirror and thinking, once i'm around mid 20's i'll catch up, i'll get on the same wave length and really understand or get life. nope lol

[@AKcess_Dnied]

I didn't realize I still do this, for me it's more looking for guidance for what I haven't figured out yet. Though I usually end up stumbling through it on my own.

[@Kauffy901]

I have said for _years_ that I always felt like I "missed the first day of class" and can never catch up. That didn't mean anything to anyone around me I guess.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

''Missed the first day of class'' is a really good way of putting it!

[@duncanpoundcake]

As you get older, maybe a lot older, you stop caring about fitting in, what others think, trying to fit in, not understanding why how you think about any given situation, is so different yet so bleedin' obvious (and generally right) At that point, you embrace it and wear it like a badge of honour. Embrace that good shit, Charlotte 🎉👍🏻😎

[@xlerb2286]

I was going to say it's like you're watching a play where things don't quite make sense and you don't always know why the characters are doing what they do - but everyone around you seems to get it and know when to laugh or cry ;)

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Omg yes! This is a perfect analogy.

[@octopeople]

Am grieving for the person I was trying to be for so long. Teared up at this. Thank you ❤️

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

I relate to your grieving. Thank you so much for your comment ❤️

[@Subrosathefirst]

Feeling you,me too xx

[@Zgurkogel]

The birds chirping away @3:50 totally raised the bar of your video. Love it. More please. And Bernie rules. 🙂

[@heatherinde]

This is so relatable. “The game without the rules” hits home. So do the superpowers. Thank you for sharing.

[@naomiparsons462]

This was super interesting to see one person's perspective of autism - very similar to mine but also quite different too.

[@FindingYourSerenity]

You explained this SO well.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Thank you! I won't say explaining things well comes easy to me haha 😅

[@Moddage]

Out of all the content I have ingested, both in text and video format regarding the subject of autism during my fairly recent unintentional self discovery journey, I honestly think I related to this one the most, and I don’t think I could have done nearly as good of a job explaining it as you did. I also sent this to a friend of mine that I regularly discuss being neurodivergent with so she can watch it too. Thank you for sharing such an eloquent explanation from your own experiences and perspective!

[@tubbydammer]

The game without rules analogy is exactly right. It reminds me of the Go Johnny Go Go Go Go scene from The League of Gentlemen

[@ohreeta]

Another amazing video!!! I think it’s so so important to talk about the internal experience of autism since so much of it is discussed through external behaviours (even academic research…). Hearing how people feel makes me feel less alone, and I completely resonated with the bit where you talked about feeling like you experience/notice things more intensely. I’m so glad that I get to feel such a deep connection with tiny things I notice in nature (also really liked the background birdsong in the video!)

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

This makes me so happy. I used to think I'd be a weirdo (the irony) if I talked about this stuff outloud. But I'm so glad I'm sharing it now and finding others who feel the same! Thanks so much for the lovely comment ❤

[@justinhambidge8811]

Love it, responding to a conversation that finished 30 minutes ago. Great video. Yes noticing the small things and sounds no one else is experiencing 😊

[@jstr66]

What a beautiful and articulate description! Thank you for this.

[@sarkie83]

Really interesting watch. My daughter is autistic and trying to understand how she perceives the world is the biggest challenge I find. I'm trying not to use the word 'diagnosis' as just cause her brain works differently doesn't mean it's wrong. it should be embraced that there are people who think differently! Hoping that by the time she's and adult that is a more commonly held viewpoint.

[@naomiparsons462]

I relate to the last bit about seeing things that nobody else sees, but not in a literal way. I feel like I'm living on a slightly different plane of existence and I can understand and interact with concepts that cannot be explained in this world, which is why I love to be alone with my thoughts. I feel like I know things that nobody else knows, but I don't know what. And vice versa too, as it seems that everyone else knows something that I don't - but they aren't aware of what that is, and couldn't even begin to explain it to me - so it's a slight mismatch in life where everyone else seems to know how to human but I don't know how to human because nobody explained it to me, because it's meant to be an instinct. I think you touched on this aspect too.

[@blueredingreen]

I'd probably say most of the struggle from autism comes from societal norms and society and people not being particularly accommodating towards neurodivergence. Those are things that can be improved. It's probably also worth pointing out that autism is different for different people. That probably goes without saying if you know anything about autism, or just human experience generally, but I feel it's always helpful to remind people that personal experiences are personal experiences.

[@emmettobrian1874]

I made a game that played into this idea. It involves aliens that are slightly telepathic but don't even realize it. Your rocket crashes on their planet and the only real way to fix it is to get help from the local people. Each time you ask for help, the players unintentionally trip over misunderstandings even if they are successful in getting the help. They build up a negative image in the local people's mind regardless of intent. The stated win condition is to fix your rocket and fly away. There is a secret win condition though. It's never stated but it's in the mechanics. No one has ever found it in play. It's where you're able to live on the planet without struggling.

[@leslieephland4499]

I love how you turned it around at the end to focus on the positive. I need to do that too. Every time I complain about how other people treat me, I need to remind myself, that I would not change being who I am.

[@flyingbananatree5661]

this hits home. I wish people had a clue! Maybe I don`t have depression after all, or at least this is why I do. Please don`t hate me for commenting this, it`s hard enough.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

No hate at all!! Nothing but appreciation for you sharing this ❤️

[@Goldenhordemilo]

Living life has been a single player without a instruction book and feels like a giant sandbox. Plus every opportunity seems to be on the poler opposite side of the Earth.

[@itsaboutfam]

KZbin recommended your video so I watched it. As a parent of a son who is autistic, I appreciate your perspective as someone with autism. It's quite interesting as my son grows up and interacting with him. When he was younger it was tough for him being non verbal for awhile and slowly becoming more expressive and seeing him develop. As a teenager he is developing more perspective of the world and opinions and it's fascinating how he sees things. It's also been a little more difficult especially when he is overstimulated and overwhelmed with stress. As a child he would break down and cry and we could hold and comfort him. Now he is still unsure how to deal with emotions and holding him isn't necessarily what he wants most of the time..he would rather be to himself for a bit. You're doing very well and honestly if you didn't mention anything that you had autism, I wouldn't have really assumed you did. Thank you for the great video.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Thank you so, so much for sharing this. It sounds like your son is doing well, and learning the world around him at his pace, with very supporting parents. Couldn't ask for anything more ❤️ thank you again for sharing.

[@itsaboutfam]

@@CharlotteElizabeth3000 It's definitely something new to us but we do our best. He is dealing with teenager stuff but with autism with a much different set of issues we never dealt with in society. He is a really good kid...he is a freshman in Highschool with all AP classes. At his current trajectory...he can graduate HS as a Junior and he is going to start dual enrollment classes next year for college courses. All the sacrifices and struggles are starting to pay off seeing him with successes.

[@Rjhs001]

Hi Charlotte, I just watched and commented on your latest video. You are really amazingly great at making videos and what you say is interesting. My daughter experiences life in a similar way to you I think and she too is an adult. Apart from the aforementioned excellence of your video making, this fact will keep me coming back. Cheers.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Thank you so much for your kind comments! (I'm seeing them across other videos). I really appreciate it. It's nice to hear that someone experiences life in a similar way too, although there are still probably huge differences! Sounds like your daughter has a very supportive family ❤️

[@Rjhs001]

@@CharlotteElizabeth3000 Thanks Charlotte, we try to be and my daughter is very, very creative (like you, I guess), her main problem being flooded by ideas and not being able to decide which one to concentrate on. Cheers.

[@Dkentflyer]

Your videos are amazing, i have learned so much about autism through your experiences please do continue to share your journey with us x

[@drmaverick6656]

Thank you...from one neurodivergent to another

[@juanvalencia4222]

Loved the way you explained it ❤

[@isabellammusic]

This is wonderful and you explain it so well without talking down on yourself. We have beautiful brains.

[@ytb40]

Your videos are very informative, and I think you are a very good speaker/moderator, also having a very pleasant voice and such a friendly attitude. And, if I may add, your hair is fantastic and absolutely gorgeous! Such a giant and super beautiful mane -- you can be so proud of what you have been managing to grow. :) :)

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Thanks so much! I'm still learning so that means a lot. And also thank you, 11 years of growing 😬❤

[@liamwatts8597]

Thank you. Thank. YOU.

[@viking_nephilim8883]

I'm going to show my daughter these videos. I am sure she will resonate with these.

[@tomchamberlain4329]

Well, I feel seen now. You've described a lot of things we experience in a better way than most autistics have managed. Good summary of being "an outsider" especially the bit about when yu think you worked something out then everyone shuts you down. I guess I don't feel lucky though, more just a recipient of a sequence of events

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Thank you for sharing this and for your kind words ❤️ explaining myself (to other people) has always been a challenge, always thinking I need to use 'big words' and describe the appropriate feelings. But it was much easier to just explain it in my words, in a way that I understand. So it makes me so happy that others can relate. Not sure if that made sense at all 😂 'recipient of a sequence of events' is a really good way of putting it - I hope you'll feel lucky oneday.

[@tomchamberlain4329]

@@CharlotteElizabeth3000 It did make sense! I think the recipient of a sequence of events thing, it's basicaly that feeling of never having control in a world built for people who think that their way of thinking is correct and our way of thinking is wrong, and to be discouraged, and criticised.

[@JP1]

Thank you for this fantastically touching and concise look inside your world - yet one many of us would feel right at home in. “Lucky…” made me tear up. Love and hugs Charlotte. ❤

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Thanks so much for your kind words! ❤

[@thisisadebrown]

Keep up the good work

[@Touay.]

I wish I had your upbeat view on it. It really is lovely to see ... maybe one day, after much therapy!

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Trust me , it hasn't always been upbeat! Thank you for your comment ❤

[@Touay.]

@@CharlotteElizabeth3000 thanks. It really is great that you are willing and able to share such a positive message ... it gives hope to those of us still having a hard time of it. I am doing therapy, so hopefully in time ...

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

@@Touay. It took a very long time for me to be able (and especially willing) to share anything at all. But I'm so glad I did. F**k what other people think - good luck with therapy, you got this!

[@Touay.]

@@CharlotteElizabeth3000 many thanks.

[@charlottemcguire4732]

I love your name

[@lisawhitehall1870]

❤

[@OldTimer1970]

Adulting is overrated. I have tried it several times over the last 35 years or so. I still have trouble doing it, especially when I need to (inappropriate joke in a business meeting, anyone?). I don't believe we are the same species. I like to think I came from a little planet not too far from Rigel (joking). PS I love your hair (am I allowed to say that?) Well, I did, so, ner!

[@etaontime7375]

Is your guitar a Takamine ? You play it beautifully..

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

It's a Crafter! Thank you :) always wanted a Takamine though haha

[@lukesmith2245]

its so hard now 25 and just feel like everyone is sorted in live now and i failed

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Been there, still am 😅 it's really hard not comparing yourself to others, but it's no way to live. Good luck to you ❤️

[@lukesmith2245]

@@CharlotteElizabeth3000 just got find-someone like me (((SORTA)))so i can settle down before its too late X

[@langserv]

In one way we are magically gifted, in another way debilitated..

[@TheCreateOutdoors]

The Looking for an Adult trait is too real. I am always asking my mom for clarification on things.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Yep, the amount of times I call my mum for stuff I ''should'' already know 😅

[@langserv]

I think part of the/your problem is over-analysing.

[@danika9411]

It's not the problem it's a symptom. Imagine you look at someones face, but very zoomed in. So when you look at someones mouth you get very detailed information about the mouth, but you don't know what the eyes do or eyebrows or nose. So it's hard to put someones whole face together and cognitively read someone. And you can't zoom out to get a broader picture. For me even though the person is standing 1,5 meter away, I still don't see the full face. I have to look around the whole face all the time to "read" someone. I have to analyze and what you call "overthinking" or I'd be completly lost. And I'm just having sensory processing disorder with autistic traits. Without "overthinking and overanalyzing" many autistic people wouldn't function at all in a neurotypical world. It's a coping mechanism and a symptom. Not the problem. The problem is sensory overload.

[@RobManser77]

She's just trying to explain to people what autism feels like, so people have a greater understanding. This is badly needed.

[@langserv]

@@RobManser77 Autism presents itself in different ways, but by over-analysing situations, she would exacerbate her problems..

[@MangoNizer]

Many people out there feeling like you. Just have to find them and feel like home. Me too. I often feel like you. Does that mean I am autistic? Guess it depends which doctor I consult. Others would call it enlightenment. All the way through life we're developing and transforming. Enjoy my dear. ❤️🤍❤️