I'm back! Turns out I'm autistic myself. Lots of realizations...

An update on recent life events, five years after my last upload to the channel

[@JMeyer-qj1pv]

Like many others I also found out I have Asperger's late in life, and it was a great relief to finally understand why I was different from other people and never quite fit in. I used to always beat myself up wanting to be like other people, but always failing. Now I am comfortable with who I am and can just be myself. For me Asperger's is a super power that lets me have laser focus on technical details at work and also unusual creativity, and I just accept that on a social level I will always be awkward. I used to take on all the burden of trying to avoid or fix that awkwardness, but now I expect NTs to meet me halfway if they want to interact with me.

[@AutismEtc]

I agree! Such a relief! And a touch of autism *can* really be a superpower, so I'm not surprised that it survived in the gene pool. Heard an interesting theory recently that both being hyper-focused (autism) and being easily distracted (like in ADHD) can be advantages in certain situations, in a community of hunter-gatherers. Only now in today's ultra-social society has autism become more of a flat out disadvantage in life (quite often).

[@turtleanton6539]

Agreed 😊😊😊

[@andrewgarcia6951]

Welcome to the club ❤

[@gregoryburne5251]

The way you describe these issues really makes it clearer for me. Thank you.

[@WateryStar]

ugh smooth talkers! I feel the same way. I always found it hard to trust charismatic guys( in general).

[@chessnut991]

I'm 53 years old. I learned about Asperger's just two years ago, when I got flustered and did a search for "what did I not learn when growing up?". I always felt like there was some secret I spaced out on and didn't know how to be a "normal" person. Finding out about Asperger's made my life so much better. I now know there's a reason for all the things I've had major problems with in my life and I feel so much better knowing I didn't miss any secrets, I'm just wired this way. It's still a struggle though - a month ago, I almost got fired from my job of 26 years due to an over-loaded system at the end of a stressful and emotional shift (it was actually the best day of my career up to that point) - I went off on my boss, I cussed and yelled at him when he added more stress regarding a side project. It wasn't his fault, it was mine, but I couldn't stop myself. ASD had a hold of me. I'm wandering. My point is, Asperger's is both a blessing and a curse, as most things in life are - I love the fact that I can, in a moment, solve a problem no-one else could in days of effort. But, at the same time, I hate how socially inept I am, unable to make connections with other people and establish friendships in life. Your videos, discussing these challenges and blessings, were a gift, giving to me a sense of community in a very isolated world. Thank you for that, and welcome back. I can't wait for your next video.

[@AutismEtc]

Thank you so much for your comment! Yes it's frustrating how it takes just one day sometimes, one "slip-up", to destroy the public image you worked so hard on trying to appear normal. I wish life had something like those safe "off-ramps" that you see on steep hills, for truckers when their brakes fail, so they can come to a stop safely before they continue their journey! haha

[@gregoryburne5251]

I’m also 53 and also realised my Asperger’s 2years ago after hoovering everything on Narcissism, thinking it was a good place to start. You’ve described my life bc I’m in engineering and once, quit my job by throwing the car keys and cellphone at my boss. That was my only stint in employment. It lasted 6 months. I’ve worked alone for nearly 30 years.

[@TheRmoroni]

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL WITHOUT MAKEUP!

[@turtleanton6539]

Very great to find out😊😊😊

[@HLl564]

So cool seeing you again! You helped me alot in the past with your videos

[@republicofsandles]

It's great that you came back to give a fresh perspective.

[@Jschwab96]

I was just starting college when I watched your last video, and just last year, I graduated. The social aspect of college was hard but it’s also the first time I made my first “real” friend. Five years later I’m realizing that a lot of my social issues came from being self conscious and having low self esteem from growing up. I still feel like I’m on the spectrum but still don’t align with 90% of the symptoms of someone who has autism so I may need to get rediagnosed. Also I experienced the same thing with being selective in dating those on the spectrum and around 2018-2019 I dated someone with Aspergers but that relationship ended because of obvious reasons in that communication was the hardest part. Anyways I’m glad to see your back making videos!

[@orkatelura2965]

So glad to see you!

[@Psy1nZero]

Damn, I didn't think crying as type of melt down...

[@turtleanton6539]

Oh it is

[@The_Vanished]

It took me 40 years, I’m not even sure what happened That surprised me too, I dated all audhd women. Probably not by chance but I had no idea there was a difference

[@The_Vanished]

I’m not perfect so you know, obligatory statement

[@anjachan]

habe schnell gehört, das du aus Deutschland stammst 🙃 lieber später als niemals mehr über sich selbst lernen 😊 das mit dem Weinen kenn ich auch zu gut ...

[@FirstmaninRome]

welcome back, welcome aboard, I thought it was hard to tell with you, your german accent is pretty heavy, I didnt realize you were in the US of abominations, that's an interesting choice in itself, if I spoke german I'd be in hamburg in the morning, lol, it would seem a more aspie friendly culture in many ways. There is this Gulf between men and women are spectrum, that a lot of women look at , and then decide there anxieties and traits are something else, like HSP, which doesn't exist, or generalized anxiety disorder, or just lesbianism. I have friends like this, and they are all over youtube. It may even be there are almost as many females with asperger's as males, they are too high performing to ever consider getting diagnosed, running Rings around their NT counterparts in most ways.

[@FirstmaninRome]

Yes, both my parents are autistic too. WIth females that''s common to have both parents on the spectrum, were they both diagnosed though? You have to remember the concept of autism was entirely Wrong, it was refridgerator mothers, before Asperger was translated (and now they want to take his autistic spectrum concepts and all ideas and dump his name, horrible) in 1991. My parents still arent diagnosed, though they are lost in scientology and qanon, point being amerika blows, lol.

[@FirstmaninRome]

But now that you're Here, what do you think about charming southern gentlemen who is on the spectrum with an electronic degree, but tons of Schopenhauer knowledge? :) I here for you girl.

[@AutismEtc]

Haha thanks for the attention. :) In younger years that would've piqued my interest. Men on the spectrum are the best, so creative, smart, and loyal! But I'm not dating anymore... like, at all... I'll make a video about this soon.

[@AutismEtc]

To your comment about Germany being an aspie friendly culture... absolutely! We don't like smalltalk, we are brutally honest, we take pride in engineering feats (even exceeding what's practical), we love rules, etc. etc. I'm sure once scientists come up with genetic markers that indicate autistic traits, they'll find that those genes are all over Germany, haha

[@jonv570]

holy cow! your back

[@monikakrall3922]

I am not suprised as you could observe and describe the two neurotypes and according to my observation a neurotypicsl is not able to do that, unless an expert in autism......😊

[@AutismEtc]

True, it should've clued me in that I was so intensely interested in autism, even when I thought I was neurotypical. These days I watch my raw footage sometimes (like of my latest food tips/cooking video) and wonder.... how could I ever believe I'm NOT autistic? Haha.

[@Kille86aa]

Yes that was probably why you dated so many autistic men. You felt some commonalities with them.

[@jonv570]

I love your videos