自闭症,
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/i-was-35-when-i-discovered-i-m-on-the-autism-spectrum
"Do you hate crowds, especially at supermarkets and restaurants?"
I avoided eye contact, which I knew I wasn't supposed to do. "Yes."
If Dr. P. noticed, she was too busy looking at the questionnaire to let on. "Do you tend to repeat heard words, parts of words, or TV commercials?"
I immediately flashed back to middle school, randomly repeating such phrases from TV as, "I don't think so, Tim," from Home Improvement. I was tempted to respond that way this time. Instead, I just replied with another, "Yes."
"Do you have trouble sustaining conversations?"
"Yes."
"Is your voice often louder than the situation requires?"
"Yes."
"Do you find yourself resistant to change?"
"Yes."
"Do you have restricted interests, like watching the same video over and over?"
"Yes."
"Did you start reading and/or memorizing books at an early age?"
Eye contact suddenly became much, much easier. "Wait — isn't that a good thing?"
"It is. But did you do that?"
I went back to boring a hole in the carpet with my eyes. "Yes."
"Have you ever picked up and smelled random objects, like toys when you were younger?"
"That's a sign?"
"Sometimes. Did you do that?"
"...yes." I wanted to puke.
After a few more questions, she did some totaling. "Well," she finally said, "it's likely you have ADHD and social anxiety disorder, and you're on the autism spectrum."
I slumped back into the overstuffed chair. "Great," I said. "Triple threat."
I was 35 years old.
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/i-was-35-when-i-discovered-i-m-on-the-autism-spectrum
"Do you hate crowds, especially at supermarkets and restaurants?"
I avoided eye contact, which I knew I wasn't supposed to do. "Yes."
If Dr. P. noticed, she was too busy looking at the questionnaire to let on. "Do you tend to repeat heard words, parts of words, or TV commercials?"
I immediately flashed back to middle school, randomly repeating such phrases from TV as, "I don't think so, Tim," from Home Improvement. I was tempted to respond that way this time. Instead, I just replied with another, "Yes."
"Do you have trouble sustaining conversations?"
"Yes."
"Is your voice often louder than the situation requires?"
"Yes."
"Do you find yourself resistant to change?"
"Yes."
"Do you have restricted interests, like watching the same video over and over?"
"Yes."
"Did you start reading and/or memorizing books at an early age?"
Eye contact suddenly became much, much easier. "Wait — isn't that a good thing?"
"It is. But did you do that?"
I went back to boring a hole in the carpet with my eyes. "Yes."
"Have you ever picked up and smelled random objects, like toys when you were younger?"
"That's a sign?"
"Sometimes. Did you do that?"
"...yes." I wanted to puke.
After a few more questions, she did some totaling. "Well," she finally said, "it's likely you have ADHD and social anxiety disorder, and you're on the autism spectrum."
I slumped back into the overstuffed chair. "Great," I said. "Triple threat."
I was 35 years old.