The Autism/COVID Connection

[@melissaskinner2199]

The pandemic was the start of my path to learning I am autistic. I THRIVED at home alone and STRUGGLED when my coworkers and I returned to the office. Without realizing it, I had started unmasking at home by myself, and now that I was aware of what it could be like to live differently, there was no going back to the previous "normal." I thought I was developing anxiety and started seeing a therapist. I also moved in with my boyfriend at that time, which was another catalyst to my diagnosis. I love living with him, but it all felt like too much at first. I wasn't adjusting well to another person making noises in the house, and I started to realize I have major issues with being perceived. The combination of these major life events lead to my AuDHD diagnosis. It wasn't anxiety, I was just completely overwhelmed and overstimulated when I was no longer in my quiet controlled environment at home.

[@selbyhill4905]

Yes to this. I felt this way as well.

[@melissaskinner2199]

@@selbyhill4905 it helps so much to know I'm not the only one.

[@pamelamayton3135]

Same!!

[@Pjolter365]

Thank you for sheering Melissa, iI can really relate to the part of thriving at home by my self in my own world with me two special interests during lockdown and the year that followed. Now needing do socialize and "pretend" was the start of my unmasking and discovery jurney!.

[@EliW95]

that's great for you and all but it caused a serious disruption to supply chains, deprived people of being able to to basic things in life, and caused the largest theft of wealth from the *common* people to gangs of kleptocrats in recent history. the job that you do should have probably allowed you to work from home in the first place if modern company structures weren't so bureaucratic to begin

[@lisaharrison8845]

Gosh I loved the pandemic. It felt as though the playing field had been leveled for the first time in my life. It was the closest I've ever been to feeling like "the normal one."

[@EliW95]

tell that to the millions who lost livelihoods that they worked a lifetime to achieve, the multigenerational local establishments gone forever, and the excess deaths and extreme poverty in the underdeveloped world caused by supply chain disruptions

[@CaroEllis]

Same for me. 😊

[@TheRealTMar]

Working from home finally became normal. Something I had wished for ages to escape from the noisy office. I know the pandemic brought along a lot of horror, sadness and troubles, but I never had any trouble with the lockdowns etc. And when people complained about their lack of social interaction, I was like 'whatever, I've suffered from too much social interaction for half a life time and you've never considered that'. When you're often told to get over it, then the same goes for panicking extraverts. Sometimes you have to work things out for yourself.

[@justwilliamcatapultpoacher2275]

​@@EliW95Government actions did all the damage not the virus

[@marthamurphy7940]

Improved diagnosis always increases the apparent numbers of any condition.

[@ZhovtoBlakytniy]

That's a huge factor, and diagnosis may become exponentially more accurate in the near future. The more diagnosed people, the more data. The larger the community, the more representation and attention we will garner.

[@mariezguitar5029]

Awareness exploded and information was exponentially everywhere all at once.

[@marthamurphy7940]

@@ZhovtoBlakytniy Researchers are using brain scans to study autism. I think diagnosis will move away from a checklist toward use of brain scans. When that happens, the vocabulary around autism may change.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

Piccolo by zoom sounds like a tinnitus simulator Once lockdown started I started having so much anxiety I had to quit coffee for a while. I was able to get some mild medication that helped a lot and start enjoying coffee again. That edge never went away completely though; the world feels like a darker more dangerous place these days

[@EliW95]

i personally don't like to call autism a 'condition' as if it is by itself a medical condition and i especially hate it being called a 'neurodevelopmental disorder'. rather, i just consider it a neurotype, just as a tall muscular body structure is a body type

[@jasonturl6548]

I miss lockdown, it was the only time in my life I've ever felt safe

[@JoTa-LLL]

I loved wearing a mask, lockdown, social distancing, routine, hand sanitising, rules to follow. I also felt guilty about feeling this way. I bought a new flute and enjoyed playing again. It felt like a complete reset of my body and mind. I also didn’t want to rejoin society when restrictions were lifted. I supported both of my clinically vulnerable parents at this time, which was still easier than normal daily life. Thank you for doing this video, Taylor. I’ve watched all your videos and think we are very similar on the way we present with autism. Much love and many blessings - you’re doing an amazing job. 💜

[@MomontheSpectrum]

🙏🏼

[@mariezguitar5029]

@JoTa-rq8iz Similar to you, I was caring for my terminally ill Mom and so my time outside was very limited. It was thanks to society pivoting as to how business was done that I was able to continue to work and care full time for her. It was a blessing for me, as guilty as that makes me feel. I can only hope that hybrid work options and supports have improved what so many caregivers need - flexibility.

[@JoTa-LLL]

Thank you for taking the time to write a message and sharing your story. Flexible working has helped enormously and seeing the benefits of this has pushed me to try to advocate for myself better. I think I’ve become more resilient and tenacious (some would say stubborn), which has to be a good thing. We are all trying to find our way. Take care ❤

[@jamesphillips2285]

It concerns me that this was written in past tense. Covid did not go away: we were merely told to get back to work.

[@whitneymason406]

My son was diagnosed autistic in December of 2019. When the shutdown occurred, all his services went virtual, which was impossible to do with him. When they were reintroduced, his speech therapists wore masks. It was an incredibly stressful time. When your child is diagnosed autistic, especially high support needs, they harp on early intervention and how crucial it is. I was so anxious and constantly felt like I wasn't doing enough. I got my diagnosis in 2021. I started seeing a professional because I was really struggling being a mom with 2 small children, having a full-time job, and navigating my son's challenging behaviors. I was on KZbin for support with my son, and I kept getting video suggestions for autistic women. After working with a professional, I got my diagnosis in July 2021. Such a stressful but insightful time in my life! Thanks for sharing your experiences! Great video! 💞

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Oh my goodness. I hadn’t even considered how difficult online therapy had to be for autistic kids (and parents!) during this time! Thanks for shedding light on this Whitney.

[@CC-xn5xi]

It caused extreme anxiety and delayed treatment.​@@MomontheSpectrum

[@RivLoveshine]

I had early intervention and it CHANGED MY LIFE! Best thing to happen to me. Now I can walk, talk, and more that I couldn't do before then.

[@bityew]

YES! YES! This all rings sooo true for me! I absolutely did not want people being sick and dying, and I loathed all the misinformation that spread like wildfire, but "forced" staying home, eating at home, not socializing, not traveling, having reasons to do more reading and "deep diving," and oh my gosh MOVIES! Movies were streamed, so no LOUD, smelly, weird-feeling movie theaters! All that was HEAVEN, and it helped me in my unmasking journey, because I could be more of my authentic self more of the time.

[@Shinigami2c2]

I just find it so ironic that a lot of us started to learn to unmask during the pandemic while the rest of the world was forced to wear an actual physical mask.

[@ZapatosVibes]

I actually miss the peace and quiet of those days.

[@tudormiller887]

Same.

[@resourcedragon]

Obviously, I did not like people dying or getting really seriously ill during the pandemic. But I have to say I loved the extra hygiene precautions in shops and the like, I loved the reduction in "must attend" social events, I loved not having to shake hands or hug. I didn't get to enjoy WFH until the later stages of the pandemic - but again, love that! My second line supervisor made a specific comment that she was surprised at how well I maintained productivity while working from home.

[@andymiles5156]

Knowledge from my daughter, and the covid work from home restrictions, are what made me realise I was autistic. I use to lose much of my weekends exhausted, and working from home I suddenly found I was getting more of my weekends back. I also grew closer to my work colleagues, as the team social events moved online and I was able to participate more. After 2 years on the NHS waiting list I was diagnosed in March in my 50s.

[@neon-kitty]

I liked the virtual nature of socialising during the pandemic. You weren't expected to leave your house in order to meet people, have game nights, etc. That was great. And people were always up for having virtual meet ups cause they were just sitting at home being bored, anyway. I do kind of miss that tbh.

[@BuckeBoo]

Taylor's Ultimate Guide to Autism was extremely helpful as a newly diagnosed person. COVID pandemic caused many people to focus on their mental health for the first time in their lives. Masks were a big problem for me. I have auditory processing problems. I actually looked forward to the work from home, solitary work. But ultimately it was how the pandemic effected my son that led to his need for help and through him I was advised to seek testing for myself. Zoom meetings are painful. I prefer to slide the speaker's window off screen and just listen to what they are saying. Its hard to process while looking at someone in the eye/face. Yes, Taylor... I'm sorry but I'm only listening right now LOL.

[@samhiatt]

Side note, I find your voice very soothing. ❤

[@g.lynn.]

I loved staying home and grocery pickup becoming a regular thing. We also developed a garden during the pandemic, and now that life is back to “normal” it’s so much harder to keep up w a garden while working full time, raising a child, and having to make time for rest and other enjoyable activities.

[@UrMom-v6d]

U can often still do grocery pick up ^^

[@PatchworkDragon]

You left out a whole group of us!! That's right, your heroes... the essential workers! For you, there may have been rest and isolation and routine. For me, it was the exact opposite. Routine went out the window as protocols changed every day (sometimes more than that), we were suddenly even more short-staffed than usual, and work got 1,000x harder and more overwhelming. I am definitely someone that got thrown off by the masks, both the lip-reading and the awful feeling of them. (We had to wear them for two years, and I never got used to it.) I was working in an assisted living, and the whole thing was traumatizing on so many levels. Yet as soon as I got home, there were my friends' messages, complaining about how they were *bored* and needed to *socialize.* It was this complete exhaustion, confusion about why everyone was taking "stay home" as a punishment, and a hint of resentment toward the non-essential that led me to try to find out what was going on. I was working harder, but not too many more hours. Still, everything seemed way more intense than usual, and by the time I got home I wanted to crawl in a cave and be left alone. In retrospect, it was autistic burnout. Sorry if I seem like I'm whining - I'm just trying to represent a different perspective, and it was kind of an awful one.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thank you for sharing your perspective! I can imagine this was quite the opposite experience as what I described. Thank you for the work you do.

[@lucemiserlohn]

I feel you. I don't work in that field, but for me, during the pandemic nothing changed except I saw even less people in private. I still went to the office every day (or, almost every day), I was sitting there by myself, did my thing, went home and saw nobody. Workload didn't go down, but went up, and it was an overall very miserable experience. 0/10, do not recommend!

[@gracelewis6071]

I was waiting for this part of the video too. For me it was the autistic burnout and then the POTS/long covid that came with that. POTS goes along with EDS and EDS goes along with autism. Crashing that hard and just not being able to keep going anymore, at all, was my "ok I give up, something's wrong".

[@katkat180]

For me COVID was a huge part of what made me realise I was autistic, but it took a little bit longer. In hindsight, I think what did it was not being forced to mask as much (in the autistic sense, not the COVID mask, which felt horrible to me as well), because of confinement, much fewer social interactions, etc. When everything went back to normal I started noticing I wasn't really up for the things I used to take part in anymore, which involved lots of socialising and having an active nightlife. I found I was much happier doing yoga, having an early dinner, curling up with a book and only seeing a handful of people on a regular basis. Thanks for bringing this topic up, I always thought about this and how huge it probably was for a lot of autistics. Love your content 💞

[@MomontheSpectrum]

🙏🏼

[@AJansenNL]

I think you missed a big one: LongCovid. Many people have never recovered from the initial infection(s) and because they're ill, in pain, tired, etc, have less ability to mask. Where they previously were able to tolerate certain sensory issues for instance, now they may not be able anymore. This may be especially true for high-maskers. While there's overlap between post-infectious illness (LongCovid, Lyme, ME/cfs, etc) and autism, it may also have made previous (masked) autism traits more noticeable.

[@pam-hf5br]

Yep, I loved that people were wearing masks. I felt safe, of course from germs, but also when interacting with others. Maybe, in part because the facial information I was having to process in a conversation was reduced. It was simpler.

[@fabiatrump8734]

As an undiagnosed autistic person at the time, I hated Covid. I already lived alone. I was self-employed and had great flexibility in my schedule but my field (massage therapy) was deemed non-essential, which I get. I was also a full time double major with an emphasis online student. And I have an auto-immune disease that kept me from returning to work when non-essential workers were cleared to return to work in-person. It was during Covid that my already fragile mental health steeply declined. I could hardly sleep because my anxiety would crawl up into my throat when I laid down and it would choke me. And don’t even get me started on the sensory issues of wearing a mask! I’m glad the horrors of Covid are over but here we are more than four years on from the start of it and I’m STILL trying to regain my life prior to it.

[@patmoniz4177]

The change to full time working from home and the long hours I was putting in really caused a big upheaval in my life. I liked working from home and didn't miss the commute or having to be in the office at all, but that loss of routine + the unmasking made me start to realize how many things I struggle with when they're not in place. It's good to know about myself now. Unfortunately, my executive functioning took a huge hit from it and I've yet to find a system that works well for me.

[@grrrooth]

we had full shutdowns, and I adored the /quiet/ at night I didn't have difficulty with the lack of live socialisation until that phase was over and I felt I /ought/ to do more, but did not!

[@funniful]

It triggered my demand avoidance big time. I refused to wear a mask 99% of the time. When I HAD to, I wore a homemade mask made out of netting, because I felt like I could not breathe otherwise. Also, I didn’t even notice there were fewer people out and about because I only leave my house once a month… introvert at heart.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Oooh demand avoidance is a good thing to discuss with this topic too

[@ZhovtoBlakytniy]

PDA is a prickly one! I remember trying masks "before it was cool" and people were saying don't wear one in the first weeks of the pandemic. I found out I couldn't see, hear, breath, or do anything as I normally did. So I quit trying. Then they said "you have to!" and I said no, I can just shop online and pick up curbside. I like that better anyway. And I was washing my hands like a surgeon lol up to the elbow!

[@moonman239]

Technically, you probably would've been exempt from mask mandates; if you were diagnosed with autism prior to COVID, you would've had justification to say "hey, this gives me anxiety - can we work something out where I don't have to wear a mask?

[@funniful]

@@moonman239 I tried. Nobody cared.

[@JohnTheRevelator11]

Demand avoidance, this was a huge thing for me. Although I also did enjoy everything being less focused on me and more focused on “them”

[@kristinbond]

For me, it was the return to “normal” life post shutdown that started my journey of self-diagnosis. After a year working from home, returning to work was extremely hard, and it never got better. My kids also really struggled both during the shutdown and after. They had a hard time with online school because they struggled with the lack of routine, not being able to ask the teacher clarifying questions, etc. Then going back after was still really hard for them. Readjusting was hard on all of us. I got diagnosed this year and I’m now getting all my kids tested this summer.

[@janecme]

I hated having to go back to work after Covid but I cried with relief when supermarkets finally restored home deliveries

[@thactotum]

I resented that others got to stay home, I was 'essential' at my abusive, crap pay, high demand job. I burnt out, and then got it before they could give anyone a test, and came back as soon as they could demand it. I was made for self isolation and I was the one forced to be the target of everyone freaking out and coming in to escape the homes and vent on the workers.

[@keirapendragon5486]

People are surprisingly content that you're making 'eye contact' if you're watching their faces as long as you glance at their eyes once or twice in a 10 minute chat. Hadn't made the connection to my auditory processing issues, but yeah, that too.

[@nozhki-busha]

I didnt have an issue with lockdowns and being able to work from home during COVID. I havent returned to traditional office work since and never will again. For me as an autistic person, I found being away from people in the office was wonderful. Oh and masks hide your lower face and it made it easier to mask for me personallly. No more people asking why I am sad or angry just because im not animating my face.

[@Dashrendar2507]

I'm not gonna comment "Thank you!" under every single one of your videos, but I thought I'd at least say it here. Thank you so much, Taylor! Your resources and your transparency are so appreciated during this transition. You've really helped me understand a lot, so thank you very much!

[@CreativeAutistic]

Perimenopause (and developing MCAS soon after) was the pivotal moment for me as my need for routines kicked into overdrive so I had to finally seek a diagnosis (although I first thought I could be autistic when I completed an AQ50 along with some work colleagues 20 years ago and my score was way higher than anyone else's - but there was just nowhere to go with this information as my GP would have laughed me out of the surgery!)

[@JamesMaynardMoreland]

As someone who has had autism diagnosis for a long time I am ecstatic to find my community growing and awareness and acceptance spreading.

[@theresapizza]

Thank you for discussing this. It's been hard for me to hear how much everyone hated lockdown restrictions when it really helped me. Or even the ambivalence of masks being comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. ❤

[@DamienClarke2438]

Management found they could not manage without being physically in the same location, the office bully made efficient use of teams, end of work life, gulf between dormant autism I had been covering up and unrealistic expectations caught up with me big time. .

[@Lisdodde]

I noticed how incredibly blissful it was that the air was cleaner and the world quieter (noice from planes and cars reduced drastically in the first lockdown). Also my kids thrived at home-school with me which they definitely don’t at school, even though they found the online stuff unbearable and mostly refused to join. But I got creative and we had lots of fun and outdoor ways of learning basic math and language, and I managed to establish a rhythm that worked for us (I sometimes suspect PDA characteristics besides the giftedness issues, since rhythms work better then strict routines or other demand based systems like authoritarian structures). Unfortunately it’s illegal to homeschool in the Netherlands in most cases..

[@Ann_Moreno]

I am so thankful for your page and your vulernability/authenticity 🙏 Also, your voice is not overstimulating to me and how you deliver information is also easier to digest in my opinion!

[@Autistic-Older-Adult]

Yes Absolutely. Lockdowns were awesome. We live in Melbourne Australia which became known as the most locked down city in the world. We also had periods of curfews where everyone had to be home between certain hours at night. On the first night at the designated time, the world went silent as all the traffic noise stopped. It was pure bliss. I did not have my diagnosis then but both my wife and I realised that we were responding differently to everyone else in how we thrived during that time compared to everyone else moaning about it.

[@asmrsar8346]

I discovered I had asd during covid and honestly felt the most at peace when society was not as fast paced and I didn't have to socialize. I went through so many changes and learned a lot about myself. Thank you for sharing this video, Taylor.

[@katzenbekloppt_mf]

As I wrote under the anouncement of this video: totally agree. It was the time that I was absolutly sure my "depression" can't be one, as I loved many things I used to do/like before and so many "normal" people got sad/depressed by it. The space/distance🤩! The silence❤! The alone-time without beeing judged for it😊! The one-two-one-meetings with friends or others🥰! And that finally homeoffice/zoomcalls got accepted here in Germany😁 Loved the "concerts", "book readings" or other cultural events via Internet at home, didn't do so much before and after😅 P.S.: still wear a mask after learning how much it protects me from a bunch of infections

[@flyygurl18]

Omg I also really loved social distancing during lockdown and even after .. 😍

[@cheetara32]

Covid plus perimenopause at the same time were a huge shift for me. The more time I had away from having to work in highly social and pressurised office environments, the more i started to realise how much I had been masking and shutting down certain parts of myself. I have always been very good at reading people and their emotions , I am also very good at predicting future behaviours or events without understanding why. After time away from the constant barage of other peoples emotions i realised just how much I felt them and then just how much i had completely SHUT DOWN as a result. I hadbecome numb ro my own emotions and tried instead to follow rules and routines to get myself through. This worked in as much as I got up, went to work and functioned, but it wasnt a life... now I have a much better understanding of myself and how much i have tried to fit in to my own detriment. Ive not figured out how to be the real me in the workplace yet, but I have at least recognised why Im different and that i dont want to hurt myself by trying to hide it anymore! Im 43... its tough trying to work out who you are after so long of being what everyone else needed/expected... its isolating... but I feel strangely better being authentic despite that.

[@annissa8959]

For my mental health the pandemic was a total disaster that in the end almost made me suicidal. Not being able to cope with the many disappointments during this time and never seing and end to them made me take the fact I was going to be in lockdown for the rest of life for truth, hence seing no meaning being alive. Long story short, when I reached out for proffessional help afterwards a psychologist found out I was autistic. I now also know that the trauma of having so many freedoms and joyous things withdrawn by force during these years caused me an autistic burnout, but not knowing that.

[@pikmin4743]

omfg piccolo over zoom made me grimace and tense up lmfao I'm with you on the germs, I felt so validated during that time. same with the mask, although it gave me a lot of problems too with temperature and comprehending conversations for sure

[@NatalieNox600]

People just finally realize they are autistic. They have more time to watch videos and the algorithms figured it out completely accidentally. Just grouping us based on interests and obsessions.

[@JennyNobody]

I think that the stark change in the wayblife worked opened a lot of people's eyes to how they cope or dont cope with aspects of life. For me the decreased social pressure was so incredibly healing. It was the first time I could truly get back to being me and honouring my needs in adulthood. Now I can navigate my social life a lot more comfortably. Edit: xD i was one of those people that really thrived in the new norms. Im lucky that I had 8hrs a day with the home to myself and honestly even if I didnt, my husband is the only person I share my space with and we have 0 issues spending weeks alone together xD (he has had a few long periods of no work, and ive always been a total shutin, so we've experienced it before xD)

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Love to hear you are honoring your needs!

[@MummyMagicBristlecone]

I very much appreciate having you as a voice in this space. Thanks for this video

[@Jen-CelticWarrior]

I hated masks, but I liked the stay-at-home time away from all the activities. I could create my own routines without as many interruptions.

[@marcusaurelius49]

I was diagnosed with AuDHD during the pandemic. My experience with being locked down was positive at first. My reduced need to mask in public allowed my brain to rest and my energy levels to improve, but slowly I became more and more intolerant of public interactions when I did have to go buy groceries I got more intolerant of people in general and people in my personal space caused me great distress. I also noticed my tolerance for sensory stimulation changed and I could no longer abide loud noises, strong smells, flashing lights, bright room lighting, etc. it made me realize how much work my brain had been doing all these years to make public spaces tolerable and how much masking I had been doing to get through my days.

[@travisnobleart]

If I had really known about autism then, I think I would have considered it. The difference between now and then is the abundance of information available thanks in part to you and others.

[@eagleswing865]

Started working as a physician in 2015, married in 2016, 1st child (autistic) in 2018, pregnant with 2nd child late 2019, COVID and birth of 2nd child 2020. Plus job loss after each pregnancy. So yeah. Checked all the overwhelm boxes and I totally crashed after my job ended after 2nd baby. Finally understanding how much AuDHD played a role.

[@MiljaHahto]

I had another, bigger health crisis in my household at the time, so the pandemic kind of just went there on the side... And we lived on the countryside, where our social life was minor anyway. But working remotely meant no commuting, and damn was it easier. Only my own peace. And then grocery stores started having online stores with pickup or delivery. It was the moving (alone) from countryside back to the city that was the major life change. Ik both good and bad. Here I can at least find people like me in the crowd, on the countryside I was ever the one who felt like an outsider.

[@NerdsOnlyCommunity]

I too figured out that I'm autistic due to the pandemic. While social distancing, I naturally unmasked. I became more me. I didn't realize it until things started opening back up and I had to mask again, while wearing a mask and dealing with everything else that came with that. After struggling for quite a while, I finally started taking assessments online and came to the conclusion that I am definitely autistic.

[@johndayan7126]

For me as an autistic person, the lockdown was a huge relief from having to deal with the neurotypical world every day. Other than the health concerns for everyone, I thrived during that time, got a lot done, and felt much more at peace.

[@bluntforcetanya]

I literally got my diagnosis during the pandemic over a video call and I still see that same therapist who diagnosed me years later every week on a video call. I think the extra mind space and spoons that the pandemic gave me enabled me to be able to put in the effort to actually get this diagnosis. I'm also really thankful that he agreed to continue seeing me through telehealth so that I never had to come into the office even after the pandemic. I also didn't find lockdown and the pandemic in general that hard to deal with personally, because I pretty much grew up in lockdown my entire childhood anyway.

[@estrick4854]

I relate to this so much! Excellent video...thanks!

[@larryk731]

Never bothered with a diagnosis, but probably somewhere on the spectrum, I found the forced limited social interactions actually made me feel better - less masking (autistically - never minded the physical masking) and much less stress. It convinced me to greatly reduce when I actually mask and not care about what others think. There are times it is strategically useful though and i still mask in those situations

[@zarynaryaz]

This actually made me cry. I just felt that ... Thank you for making this video and my deepest respect for your journey until this day. May the exploring never end ❤

[@jackchamberlain8043]

I did very well during the COVID lockdown. Like someone said here, it felt like the playing field was leveled for the first time ever..... While people gained weight during the COVID lockdown, I lost 20 pounds. Reason: I made all of my meals at home, and we're much healthier. More veggies, cut down on a lot of carbs. So it had the opposite effect on me here, too.... Finally, the only time in my life I ever asked a woman out on a date was during the COVID lockdown. I was 36 years old. Reason: Things were slowed down so much, it gave me the time to mentally prepare.... I was very successful in several ways during the COVID lockdown, when previously, I wasn't.

[@medigiorgio9637]

I remember the pandemic not being a bad time, actually it was the whole opposite, like I loved wearing the mask so much that when it was over and wearing a mask was not a requirement anymore, it took me some time to process getting rid of it. Also the lockdown and the social isolation was unconsciously a good thing for me since nobody was going out I felt like I didn't have the pressure of going out as much as the rest was doing before

[@agr714]

I never suspected anything. I didn’t even do work from home even though it was an option before the pandemic unless there was some emergency. Then I realized how much less stressed I was. Then there was Return to Office that really pushed me towards examining things. Also, I liked masks because I didn’t have to worry about my facial expressions being misjudged.

[@zinzimashibini2949]

Working from home changed my life. Fluorescent lights have always been my biggest sensory issue and has gotten worse as I get older. I am now working from home permanently and I don't think I could tolerate being back in office.

[@TheRealTMar]

What I also started doing in 2020 and still do, is order my weekly groceries online. Because so many people don't respect your personal space and add loud kids to that, grocery shopping often becomes a very unpleasant experience, especially on Saturdays. So every week I open the AH app on my tablet, tap whatever I need and collect on Saturday morning. I also rarely take public transportation (which is quite good in The Netherlands) because of the crowds and noise. I've got a bike and a car. Sometimes I take the bus into town, but that's when it's not practical to take my bike for some reason and parking is very expensive. Last time I took a train was in 2019 to an event in Rotterdam because parking around Ahoy convention centre and traffic are quite a hassle. I drive a Suzuki, never any issues. :)

[@AnotherBrainArt]

For me it was horrible. I worked customer service for a major company that had to stay open. I had a decade of the 11:30-8pm shift and I deal with delayed sleep. The company took away my shift putting me on mornings with $340 less income a month. People would call in angry, mean and screaming. My health declined from stress. My autoimmune disease went haywire. Even my adhd meds weren’t enough. I gained work at home, but over time they implemented a horrible return to work from med leave program with a terrible and ableist manager. I had accommodations and she mainly would like at my adhd symptoms. ADHD meds can heighten and illuminate asd. I was having panic attacks. Mainly due to that manager. My structure crumbled and that’s all that held me through most of my 18 years of customer service. I went from being an excellent agent to feeling very judged and angry and unable to cope. I realized my masking was limited and without structure, it truly fell apart. I was always the not social kid and stress was killing me. I hit a burn out so deep that I’m still in it. I can’t work. It all destroyed my health and skill regression is a big thing.

[@FringePrincess]

❤

[@cowsonzambonis6]

(Horrible sickness aside of course) I LOVED COVID quarantine!!! I felt the most relaxed I can remember feeling- ever! With no social demands, I was suddenly able to hyper focus on interests for the first time since having kids. I started my KZbin channel and spent hours doing stop motion, and it felt so good!!! When quarantine ended, I felt extra off socially. I told my husband that I felt like “I lost my social coping skills.” I had unmasked! Also, while I didn’t love masks, I loved that I could talk to myself or sing to the songs in the store without anyone noticing 😆 Shortly after returning to “normal life,” I hit a deep burnout. Still working to climb out of that, but it led me to self-diagnose autistic.

[@malcolmkinnon8436]

Yes I realised that overall during Covid/lockdowns etc I was in my 'comfort zone' and when they were talking about going back to how it was before was anxious uncomfortable and unhappy. I had my realisation and confirmed diagnosis during and just after Covid

[@ArtyAntics]

I hated the pandemic, I had no time to myself. Suddenly food shopping became a social gathering…the 2 things I hate the most. People glaring at me like I was going to kill their granny because I wasn’t wearing a mask. All my neighbours were screaming at their kids, so I sat in my bathroom hiding in the bath with headphones most of the time.

[@selbyhill4905]

Changing everything was TORTURE. But oh my goodness was it nice to not have to socialize in so many situations. However, my ability to mask went down the toilet when I stopped doing it as much. It’s been a STRUGGLE to get back into being with people I never used to have issues around before. I can’t seem to get back my “social skills” that I had before the pandemic (meaning I do not know how I masked so much before). But at the same time it’s led to a lot of self-growth and learning.

[@User-qn1gs1ig4q62]

I was diagnosed just before lockdown in the UK so i couldn't get any support but i thrived during lockdown it was when the rest of the world started getting back to normal i started to struggle more the only issues i had during lockdown was trying to get my shopping delivered cos suddenly everyone was doing it so all the delivery slots were full and they started charging for click and collect i still had to go to work as a food delivery driver but my start and finish times were the same every day but now i finish at different times everyday and i had an excuse to not interact with customers it felt like playing knock and run we placed the orders on cardboard stands knock on the doors and back away and cos we have always delivered and McDonald's and KFC etc were all closed people were always so happy and grateful that we had delivered to them the kids would leave us notes and pictures and put them in the windows so we could see them and some people even left money outside in money bags for tips i also felt safer cos the streets were empty and petrol was so cheap cos no one was using it and the roads were empty i loved it and part of me misses it i kept telling my coworkers when they complained about how they couldn't go out anymore "welcome to my world" then id laugh and walk away i wish everyone would still stay 6ft away from me

[@youna.luna3]

You're the first person I've seen bring up the mask -- hated it! Such a nightmare to have on my face and definitely helped me realize I needed text or lip-reading to understand what people were saying. I also spent most of Summer 2020 on my deck so I wouldn't have to be around everyone else, haha

[@pipwhitefeather5768]

Illness and politics aside - I was overjoyed at being able to stay at home for 3 weeks (that panned out..) The thought that no-one could visit me, and there wouldn't be social obligations? I loved it! I had been thinking about going on a retreat but being pretty broke and having a 13 yr old I couldn't. The retreat came to me. My daughter loved it too. (My other daughter got depressed because she thrives with her friends and work and missed them) Cheers Taylor have a great weekend :) Oh and I absolutely couldn't wear a mask, felt like I was being suffocated.

[@pedrova8058]

For me it was a bad relationship ending, just before the pandemic broke out; that led me to therapy, and to consider the idea that I am HSP. Then lockdown came, and at some point my ex wrote to me, telling that she had discovered that she wasn't a social drinker, that she was smoking a lot (trying to cope with the stress of confinement). And she added that, surely, "it was being much easier for me" : no social life, almost 0 obligations with others. At the same time, my little niece was diagnosed before the pandemic, so I started studying (the whole rabbit hole thing) about the spectrum. So, many “aha” moments since then. It was a tremendous stressor for everyone (the real risk of death, financial problems, etc.), so it makes sense that many people were completely burned out

[@MorePranaGardens]

I'd suspected for a long time and A LOT of people had asked me if I was autistic for years. I started watching you and took the assessments you suggested and they were pretty definitive. The one key moment though was when I walked into the kitchen and grumped at my housemate, "why is the electricity so loud today?!" Hahaha. Yeah, that was it.

[@Lorna_no]

I suddenly had ZERO alone time because my whole family (of four) was at home (in a 2-bedroom apartment) *all the time.* And I needed to get my then undiagnosed autistic kids to engage in online classes. I could not handle it. Finally realized I was having major autistic meltdowns on the daily.

[@lysatarn9905]

Covid has been hard to bounce back from. I got used to not going places, not being around people, and just got used to being isolated. Social situations and out of the house life is a lot harder to deal with now. Or maybe it was always hard and I just didn't notice as much

[@johnhardt5016]

I really appreciate the close caption, because I either read lips or have close caption on.

[@keishaharris5773]

My self diagnosis came 2022/2023 while dealing with a very difficult job. Not completely understanding why I couldn't cope. But definitely last summer, i completely had a mind shift and completely "leaned" into my Autisim. In the sense that because of my neurodivergence, that I'm not going to respond in the neurotypical way to certain situations and stimuli. And that was an absolute life changer. I feel more at ease and at home with feeling and being different! It was a level of self love and self acceptance (Which I've always had for the most part) like I've never experienced before. yeah I loved being home alone during the pandemic. But, obviously not the reason why we were told to stay home. And yeah, I agree the pandemic definitely allowed ppl to have a lot more introspection and that's probably way the medical or self diagnosis of autism had risen since then.

[@summermazur3064]

Worst part of being autistic in 2020: Not getting to go on my yearly trip to my favorite amusement park (one of my main special interests). Best part of being autistic in 2020: Got to start working from home full-time.

[@greensleevez]

I lived in Sweden during the pandemic. I have bounced around since then, to Northern Germany (Essen), Southern Germany (Glonn), and now in Bydgoszcz. Anders Tegnell hit on something that AHA did not. It is that if we treat people like adults, we will work out the risks better. There was no lockdown in Sweden. More people died, especially in the homes of the elderly (The home of the brave?), I grant you that, compared to Finland, Norway and Denmark. But life did not stop (except for those poor, unfortunate souls). My life was literally the best when I went unemployed and unsocial in a year when I could choose what to do. Just give people options, and do not force them to labour.

[@WoodshedTheory]

Such an interesting connection that you for highlighting this

[@ShadoeLandman]

I started to find other Autistic people online, and better understand it, and have conversations about it. Then to start recognizing it in others, like my dad and aunt, and even some content creators I'd been watching. Some of them have since been diagnosed themselves, so I know I'm getting it right at least half the time.

[@tobydandelion]

We're also giving kids sensory burnout a lot faster now, with all the screentime and forced divided attention. A lot of folks aren't diagnosed until they're in burnout, due to masking, including children.

[@elvwood]

A related detail: when I had my Long Covid review recently I told them I'd been looking into autism and said that I'm pretty sure I am autistic (it seemed relevant because of the overlap of issues). They said they'd been finding a significant number of Long Covid sufferers reported doing the same, which makes sense to me: part of the fatigue management course involves investigating which activities are draining and/or precipitate a crash. I imagine finding social interaction high up the list might surprise some people and push them into investigating further. Some good thoughts about lockdown there. For me there was a background sense of dread which was unpleasant, and I did get "Zoom fatigue", but on the whole I preferred being stuck in the house with my family. Perhaps it subconsciously prepared me to look at autism a few years later...

[@user-pv3qk7qi1w]

I also got diagnosed autistic after developing long covid. The signs had always been there, but long covid seemed to take away the energy to mask and made my sensory issues much worse.

[@florencecousin5577]

Covid and Long Covid was for me one of the triggers. I managed quite well before my first covid. The fatigue following my first infection (before the vaccine) made things very difficult. But after my second one, my cognition was significantly impaired, and I couldn't cope any more. I bet that was the case for a big number of people : cognitive impairment is common after covid (there are a lot of studies proving this...)

[@KimberlyCox-TheNeuroCircus]

I definitely was more relaxed during the pandemic. It is much harder right now to run my life when sooo much stuff is being asked of me at every turn.

[@jasonthomas208]

The alone time barely changed for me as I was a carer for my Mother who was severely disabled so I was alone at home most of the time for 20 years. What changed for me was my Mother being diagnosed with cancer during Covid, I had to look after her and care for her in her last month of life, this broke my heart and I still feel completely broken. Only a handful of people turned up to her funeral and we were forced to wear masks which I hated!

[@Sunila_DragonladyCH]

Energy! All of those but I never knew I could have that much energy left at the end of a work day! Going back to work in person was very very hard. I can't really get adjusted to it anymore.

[@Shinigami2c2]

I knew I was "different" from those around me since I was a small child, I just didn't know how or why. I realized a little over a year ago that the name for that difference is called autism and a lot of things have since fallen into place for me in understanding myself. The pandemic was a restful situation for me as I wasn't an essential worker and I got to simply be home by myself and work on my projects and make and eat foods that most people wouldn't eat on a consistent basis as I tend to like to do. It took a bit of getting used to the masks, but then I enjoyed them as I didn't have to monitor my facial expressions as much as I have to when I don't wear one. I also started getting health issues at the end of 2021 and have been dealing with them one after the other. I've seen my family doctor more in the last year than I have in the last decade and a half combined. I've had one emergency surgery (incidentally gastrointestinal related) one new type of medical procedure that replaced a high-risk surgery and will be seeing a surgeon for yet another life-impacting problem in two weeks. Hopefully this is the end of it for a while at least. I'm getting tired of being in pain all the time.

[@colleenmarin8907]

In the past few years, people have been more curious about finding out why life is so hard for them, but it somehow isn't for other people. As they see people sharing their life experiences on social media, they become more interested in finding out if this could be the explanation

[@spaceageflop3974]

I also found out that I was lip-reading, when everybody started to wear masks. Wearing them myself took me a short time to adjust to, but then it was fine and I felt quite safe too. I was one of the lucky ones who could work from home, and having online meetings where you can fidget without everybody seeing, adjust the volume, and everybody was on time and only talked when it was their turn, it was sooooo good. But after a while I got bored too, fortunately I always had a chat open with some friends who became my virtual colleagues, to my real colleagues I never had a connection. In the middle of 2020 I got my ADHD Diagnosis, but this appointment was already scheduled long before the pandemic. I already suspected then I might be autistic too, the pandemic fuelled this even more, but the psychiatrist do not wanted to test me. Now since the end of 2023 I have the official autism diagnosis as well, unfortunately because I developed chronic pain and fatigue in the past years my new psychiatrist directly asked me if I considered having autism too, she suspected it is autistic burnout and helped me getting diagnosed. So now I can get help that hopefully actually helps.

[@kristinahartman920]

Many parts of our lives didn't change during covid. We saved a ton of money not eating out. The kids were in high school so that didn't add much extra, really. What did change was husband started working on a new not-yet-open-to-public mountain bike trail near home, so we got a chance to go out in nature on a daily basis, which was excellent. I spent a ton of time sewing masks and sending them to family and friends. I didn't have much trouble with wearing masks myself, though we all discovered we had different preferences about which masks we preferred vs which ones were probably most effective. Both kids took to masks very well, and one kept wearing the masks far longer than strictly necessary because they were comforting (diagnosis came later, but it did come)--and with the sunglasses and headphones they kinda help with the whole 'being perceived' thing. That child preferred school from home because it completely eliminated the peer bullying they'd experienced in middle and high school thus far, and was very annoyed to have to go back. Since then, we haven't gone back to doing some of the stuff we'd done before--visiting the mall used to be an occasional recreation, but now we only go there for occasional movies, really. Eating at restaurants happens less than it did before. And I've discovered a reluctance to leave the house unless it's important. Home is safe and comfortable. And it's harder now to have people over--kid birthday parties and the like are more of an ordeal than they used to be, it seems. I have come to the conclusion I probably am on the spectrum somewhere, I have less capacity and *desire* to handle peopling than I once did. Kids were the first big hammer blow to that capacity and desire, and covid really was a nail for that coffin. When the kids were small I felt the burden of duty to keep contact with family and do the social things, but the closer they get to independence the harder it is for duty to motivate me.

[@mjmooney6530]

I had Covid pneumonia for 21 days in January 2020, and I nearly died from it. It took 1.5 years to regain my stamina. I still have minor brain fog and lack of focus from it that were not issues prior. It’s like the severe headache unleashed the damn holding back ADHD (ADHD runs in my family). I have the auditory processing issues and the masks impacted my ability to hear by watching mouths plus the muffled sounds. Otherwise, I was far more productive when WFH than back in the office. Being interrupted is a major drawback to in-person.

[@ZhovtoBlakytniy]

I'm glad you're still here with us! That sounds terrifying to go through.

[@Ayverie4]

I had just got pregnant at the beginning of COVID and I felt horribly nauseous all the time, and the mask didn't help. :( I also have some auditory processing issues, which shot my anxiety through the roof when having to interact with masked people. And last but not least, I have trauma actually attached to an event in which a mask was forced on my face. But no one gave a **** about any of that at the time. Nothing was accepted as an "excuse". My existence was inconvenient to others. I was expected to shut up and stay home if wearing a mask was a problem. I also had no idea about autism, but I was still investigating and processing my PTSD at the time. The whole event was just... not good for my mental health. I was sure grateful to be an introvert though.

[@sparks3603]

I loved the mask. I felt safe. No one analyzing my face. Before the pandemic things were getting increasingly distressing for me. New females had joined the family and I was lost, uncomfortable and couldn't relate. So being at home alone for almost 2 years was a relief. When family started talking about how we would all go back to normal and get together again etc... it made me paranoid. I did not want to do that. Thank goodness somewhere in this time period I stumbled upon Samantha Craft's list of traits in women/girls. I knew. It was like someone wrote about me. So for me the pandemic was a rebirth.

[@walpolekidscomics879]

Its taken some time but i think about the lockdown often. In western australia we were quite safe and the government paid our bills. So i was free to work on my mental health and creativity/ special interests. I am not diagnosed but now in 2024 i am trying to get to the bottom of my struggles (now exasibated by being a parent)

[@lizstokes9091]

When teachers were no longer allowed to smash children's hands with rulers for being left handed, I'm pretty sure the rate of left handed people went up too

[@katajha831]

As you said, they watch the mouth, I realized I was watching your mouth. Even in video. Thanks for the content.

[@Ghoulbum]

I stare at peoples mouths when we talk, but I dont feel like I have auditory issues. That was something that i noticed i didn't enjoy about masks (otherwise they mostly don't bother me). I did notice people were not happy about being alone and I lived alone for part of it and didn't mind so much but after a while I did want to see people face to face at least once in a while. I like to cook so I usually eat at home, but it is interesting that i couldn't really eat out when i wanted to.

[@fredbenz4406]

Just found out my daughter is stage 2 autism. At first we didn't know. We found out and I didn't receive that result to well. I didn't understand or notice the behaviour of a autism person. To be honest I was upset and a little bit depressed about hearing the truth about her condition. Unfortunately I wasn't a understanding or a true believer of the results of the results of the test that where issued to determine if she was stage 2 autistic. I wasn't to good of a father towards her and I destroyed my relationship and broke up my family. And trust that's the very last thing I wanted to do. 10 years out the window. And on top of that during my relationship my father passed away. And I just realised that I never took the time or opportunity to grieved over his passing. I just went on like nothing has ever happened. Unfortunately I bottled up my emotions and I just emotionally shutdown the last 5 years of my relationship. I do truly appreciate and respect and understand the decision that was made by the mother. She knew that I shut down emotionally since the beginning. She didn't even try to help me with my emotions. But everything else that she has done for me during the relationship I'm truly thankful and blessed for everything she has done. But since the breakup I've realised that I truly do love her and yet I wasn't fully happy being with her. I see things from her pov and understand . I'll love her to death but I'm sure it's time to go separate ways. 😢😢😢😢 wish I could have done things differently but it is what it is we guess

[@yrdjuret]

When you put it like this it's kind of funny I discovered my autism on the 11 December 2019. Which makes it just "moments" before covid became a (known) thing.

[@theresjer]

7:15 - ooooohhhhh. Daaaaannng. You have been THROUGH it.

[@joeydendron]

I think just in terms of autism in culture, contemporary ideas about high masking autism have been catching on in the past 3 years or so. Personally I think there's just been something of a "memetic moment" - a change in the ecology of ideas about autism available to everyday people who are willing to hear them - and I wouldn't be surprised if that's had an effect.

[@pamelamayton3135]

I started wondering what might be wrong with me when I had to go back into the office after working remotely during the pandemic. Why am I so socially awkward?!? It’s not just being shy. Doing research and watching KZbin led me to channels like yours. I have not been officially diagnosed, but I’m pretty certain I’m on the spectrum somewhere. Knowing this helped ease the depression I felt my whole life. ( I’m 55.) But it’s also frustrating not being able to find a doctor or some assistance for adult females. No one could point me in the right direction. All help seems to be for kids. Is there no help for adults with autism who were once kids with autism?? Anyway, I’m hating being back in society. No one seems to remember the pandemic happened. They are back to being sick amongst everyone and not wearing a mask or washing their hands. Ugh. And shaking hands when you meet. I thought that would change to fist or elbow bumps or no contact at. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@4everpee]

Immune problem si something very important. Because when i was younger i was sick all the time and i was sleeping in a room infested by mold. I still have immune dysfonction. My skin is detteriorate by skin inflammation and psoriasis. I need to take pills of chemiotherapy to control my psoriasis because chemio act on the immune system.