Totally agree…

I’ve been using mint for the last 4 years, and while I have had to use the command line for some obscure installs, it also works as an OS without needing to use it (i jumped in at the deep end and installed it in a pc I got from my brother and used it as my everyday OS)

I don’t understand why Mint isn’t the first suggestion for Linux ‘virgins’ switching over from Windows etc, it has everything you need pre installed plus the download manager for anything else

Linux has a flavour for everyone, and after a while when you’re confidence and skills grow there is the fun of using the command line and a bit of tinkering…or not, if you are happy with the ‘basics’

I met my bf before I even suspected (and eventually diagnosed) as autistic. Now, he is likely to also be on the spectrum and a third party who has some expertise in this also agrees. I was attracted to him because he’s kind and gentle and patient (also physically attractive too) and didn’t fit into a ‘bloke’ stereotype (he’s very emotional and not afraid to show this)

I was attracted to him because he was happy being himself.

I think i have an autistic radar where I’ll make friendships with other neurodiverse people, because I feel more comfortable with ‘my people’

Now personality and spectrum wise we are dissimilar, I’m more logical and spock-like and crap at communicating (I’d probably be happy being semi verbal for the rest of my life), he’s all emotional, and talks and can handle people better.

Sensory wise I don’t like hugs, noises, the sun, fairground rides, I love perfumes and smells…he loves hugs, hates smells, loves sitting out in the sun really loves fairground rides…you get the idea

Our autism presents very differently and I struggle dealing with him at times and he does with me…I didn’t consciously think I want to have an autistic partner in life, we clash often, but we also come together and can stragegise our way through difficult people and situations using both our strengths

He pushes me (not in a bad way) to step outside my comfort zone so I do get to experience more things in life, and I do enjoy the fact that he can be very silly, and do odd things that make me laugh

I don’t think any relationship is easy, and a double autistic or NT/autistic and NT/NT relationships all have their unique issues and difficulties. I just think that having someone who loves and cares for you, not matter how stressed/meltdowned/shutdowned you are, and is patient enough not to be angry or demanding, or controlling, and just cares for you despite your own weird brain acting the way it does…

Apologies for any word salad, and a wordy comment 😀

I like to fold paper receipts into pointy ends and use them to poke, stroke and generally pick at my fingers (usually my index), the good thing is that I can do it discretely in my pocket or under a table etc.

Foot tapping/bouncing too, and I also like to stroke my hair to remove dead strands and twirl the ends. Recently I’ve started to enjoy making a popping sound with my lips, but mainly when I’m alone as it’s audible

I also have resurrected my childhood/teenage/early 20’s blanket that I like to smell (I don’t know if that’s a stim exactly, but I enjoy sniffing it, and it feels comforting when I do this)

Here are mine…

Aloof: 5.67

Pragmatic Language: 4.25

Rigid: 5.17

SUPER AUTISM!!!

The ‘aloof’ description cracks me up- there’s a photo of me possibly 5 or 6 years of age with me looking ‘aloof’ (my mothers description). I look so not interested and ‘over it’…I’d actually post it here for a laugh, but I’d rather remain anonymous

HOW THE FUCK WAS IT NOT PICKED UP ON???

Oh I forget, I’m a woman and I slip under the radar 🤣

edit ‘years of age’

…every art-specific room I came across had a designated space or exit to airdry/safely paint spray…

…plus the ubiquitous, 10 foot tall cheese plant

‘on some level most social interactions feel like performances where any misstep could mean ridicule or rejection’

yep, that one hit hard

‘flying frogs’ and ‘random items I’d been told to bring and make a story with them’ I had these on my test!

Congrats and welcome to the ‘club’

It may take some time to digest it all, and I had a period of being slightly angry wondering how different my life may have been if I’d known earlier (I wasn’t diagnosed until my late 40’s). I think I have a better grasp on my difficulties, like sensory overload/meltdowns and understanding why I have problems socially and with communication. I’m still working things out

Good luck on your journey!

I’ve got some silicone earplugs (reusable up to a point, then binned) I mainly use them for sleeping, but have used them at a gig and they were brilliant. I’ve also got some big over the ears headphones too with ANC, which previously I would have been too self conscious to wear, but all the ‘kids’ these days seem to be plugged in while out and about… they muffled the sound of my washing machine and the guy upstairs when he’s stomping around

Other than that it’s the ‘old fingers in the ears’ when I’m near a motorbike, sirens or children screaming…the world is far too loud!

Watched this poor fly fall into temptation

I was going to ask if it slid in…glad it’s being useful and fertilising away

That’s a gorgeous pitcher btw, I didn’t know they came in such marbling colour schemes

I met an autistic woman (same age, late 40’s) and watched the Chris Packham documentary. I then began to research heavily into my new (special) interest, read how women present differently than men, did a few of those online tests, and then went to my GP to ask for a referral, which led to my official diagnosis

I think that I’ve always felt ‘other’ and never fitted in despite trying (masking) and also the fact that everyone I’ve run into conflict with has always said my communication (verbal) is poor, and that socially I’m either a bit ‘weird’ or introvert/loner etc, but also I don’t really want to fit into the ‘norm’ because it feels fake, and stupid, and I feel like an alien anyway

Since then, I realise that my dad is definitely autistic (loves trains and his interests haven’t changed since he was a child), friends I have/had, as well as the people I gravitate towards are also probably autistic. I’m fairly certain my boyfriend is (he is also convinced), and I look at my mother and also wonder…hmmmm

Every difficulty I’ve ever had including anxiety, problems interacting with others, depression, general stubbornness, weird moodiness that comes on for ‘no reason’ (basically misinterpreted sensory overload causing shutdowns/meltdowns), being bullied at every educational level plus work is me trying to mask my autism and fit in, while failing miserably…

It was a huge relief to read about autism in women, and know that ‘these are my people’ and I’m actually a just an autistic person :)

I also want to add, this is my first interaction with this community, although I’ve really enjoyed all the memes, some had me laughing my head off. I used to lurk and occasionally comment on some of the female autism subs on reddit, so I’m glad this place exists here, it’s got a good vibe!