Surprise! It's Autism | Woodshed Theory

Hi! I’m Claire, and this is my channel, Woodshed Theory. Here, you will find the awkward ramblings of an adult autist. I love being creative and sharing my experiences with you. Subscribe to see more DIYs, Discussions, and Bunnies on your feed!
I wanted to say thank you for everyone's kind words and comments on my first video. I am excited to see where this thing goes.
In this video, I talk about my how I learned I was on the spectrum, how I reacted, how I went about getting diagnosed, and how it has changed my life.
Instagram: @woodshed_theory
FACEBOOK: / woodshedtheory
The video that started my journey: • Invisible Diversity: A...
The organization that pointed me to a doctor who could help: The Autism/Aspergers Network www.aane.org/

[@carole5648]

i believe i'm on the spectrum (i'm 37) but i'm deciding if i want to pursue an official diagnosis. it feels exhausting. but the two people i told about it, my brother and husband, immediately said, no you're not, as if they know me better than myself, and it really pissed me off.

[@WoodshedTheory]

Hi Carol, getting a diagnosis is exhausting - I don’t know if anyone would have thought I was ASD either so I did it for myself

[@pandalove9844]

So vulnerable and expensive too!

[@whitneymason406]

That color looks lovely on you! ❤

[@WoodshedTheory]

That’s so sweet thank you

[@pandalove9844]

I love your authenticity!

[@WoodshedTheory]

Thanks 🙏

[@nunyerbizness9598]

I recently came to know I was on the spectrum myself, at 53 years. It is nice to see someone who understands the joy of having hope for the future about this, how being able to point at it helps deal with it. Attached find a poem I wrote about that which I am sure you will understand.

[@nunyerbizness9598]

A Poet Who Didn't Know It I was a poet but wasn't aware of the fact I wanted to be, didn't know how to act I knew all the words, I knew what they all meant I knew much was still missing, from my poetic intent I knew what was said, understood every word I knew much was still missing, still unseen or unheard I knew not what it was, I knew not where it went I knew it was very very im-por-tant I resisted and wandered and floundered and faught I persisted and wondered and pondered and thought I learned what was missing, still invisible to me I learned I could learn what I still could not see I learned emotion was the missing part I learned I could listen, speak to and from heart I learned I could not just speak, but sing I learned the most important thing I don't need be a poet to write poetry I only need be me "A Poet Who Didn't Know It" By Paul T. Lykes, © copyright 2021

[@WoodshedTheory]

Paul thank you for sharing your beautiful poem!

[@nunyerbizness9598]

Thanks. I'm glad to share it with someone who can understand it is not just a sweet poem about poetry.

[@wednesdayaddamsghost]

You’re right that getting a diagnosis is emotionally draining and psychologically difficult. I went through it for almost a year but for a different neurodivergent diagnosis, though they didn’t mentioned autism. My therapist was the one who found a child psychologist who did an autism assessment for one adult. I was the second autistic adult. It was pretty quick than the other doctors who didn’t believe that i could be neurodivergent. All i did was watched one vid of how to adhd youtube channel a year ago but then later i’m actually on the spectrum. It’s frustrating on how no one sees it in all of my 28 years. I’ve always been a quiet and “shy” person. I always have anxiety about literally anything, especially the social aspects. It’s still kinda bittersweet. I’m trying to accept the part of myself that have been always there my whole life and I didn’t know..

[@WoodshedTheory]

thank you for sharing

[@forgivenonce]

The end was my favorite part!

[@WoodshedTheory]

me too ;)

[@kristalsiders3843]

Absolutely 😆💓

[@EmilyFPC]

Me, four!

[@didntcreateahandle]

I laughed out loud because I was thinking about my childhood on stage presence. She fully gets it. 🎉

[@Freddiemaus]

😂

[@christinerollings3431]

Claire, this is beautiful and powerful. Thank you for sharing this!

[@WoodshedTheory]

Thank you for your kind words

[@LakeLivingPA]

I saw that same video!!! A Ted Talk. And it is almost a twin of my youngest daughter. ❤️

[@WoodshedTheory]

Yes! A very powerful video that helped me a lot.

[@wendy8561]

Loved the end part too I'm 49 and on the spectrum

[@WoodshedTheory]

Thanks :)

[@OldTimer1970]

I did grow a beard look first time in my life and it's great for stimming, I stroke it and my wife says it makes me look old, handsome and wise! I do still love her because two out of three aint bad lol

[@anjachan]

i never had autism on my radar. i always felt different, even as a person with spina bifida/hydrozephalus. then I came across a video on KZbin ...

[@WoodshedTheory]

I also felt different too - didn’t have a clue it was asd

[@anjachan]

@@WoodshedTheory you see, I already had some things that could explain my feelings. But it didn´t 😅

[@heatherhutcherson8152]

You are describing almost exactly my lived experience 😅 except I thought "oh how funny that I share all these traits with Autistics and I am not! Wait... Am I? So funny I scored so high on that self exam....hmm..."

[@heatherhutcherson8152]

Diagnosed just this year at 31 :)

[@madberry]

I happen to know a thing or two about growing a beard so..... The weirdest thing to me is there are no resources for us who have been diagnosed later in life. My insurance did cover it luckily because I had to go find a therapist as well. The first guy I went to shouldn't have his license if you ask me. I walked in and he didn't want to evaluate me at all, as an autistic person I've studied body language my entire life and this guy was un-interested. He started with why do you want a diagnoses? You live by yourself you have worked you seen to be fine. In addition to him explaining that there aren't any resources anyway so why bother. Then he asked me to get on a scale so I walked out.(the guy had a belly himself so I answered with I will if you do it first lol). I had to search around but I did find a therapist who was wiling to diagnose me even though she doesn't believe in labels herself. I got my diagnoses last year at age 47, it has helped me figure.out why I can only manage two work for a few months to at most a few years(with a lot of sick leave) at a time. A lot of other stuff became clear as well it has given some peace. Which I am grateful for. The hardest thing some one does in live is asking for help once you are over that step it becomes easier. Thanks for coming to my TED talk have a goodnight.

[@WoodshedTheory]

no there aren't many resources out there. i might suggest the BARG from taylor over at mom on the spectrum - it's a growing resource guide

[@michellebarclay7574]

Claire can you remember the video that you saw that confirmed to you that you may be on the spectrum? If so please link it.

[@WoodshedTheory]

OH hmm yes let me look for it - it was a ted talk i remember the woman had short hair and glasses

[@xoxoLeony]

Hi I found your channel via lana rhiannon's comment section. I was wondering if you would be comfortable sharing the (ballpark) cost of your diagnosis. I am a few years older than you and that's probably what's in the cards for me, too. If not I completely understand, as money is a sensitive topic to many, no hard feelings :)

[@WoodshedTheory]

Hi I believe it was 600-800 dollars

[@xoxoLeony]

@@WoodshedTheory Thank you very much, I appreciate it!

[@WoodshedTheory]

@@xoxoLeony no problem - i wish i had more information for you. i know it is not an option for everyone.

[@didntcreateahandle]

Ok, I see how that makes sense. The human brain of a female is fully functional at age 26. Because autism is seen as a developmental condition, the cognitive analysis will only go up to age 23.

[@WoodshedTheory]

i am not sure if it works that way but it is an interesting thought

[@didntcreateahandle]

@@WoodshedTheory just a theory. The world of psychology still references Freud Pavlov and Jung. Of course there’s a delay in diagnosing and a misunderstanding about developmental delays.