Authors Al Robinson
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So, as I said in reply to @NortherlyRose's thread below, here's a thread on #autism and #ageing.
This is purely from a personal experience perspective as someone diagnosed in their early 50s. /
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I've written lots already about how I grew up not knowing that I'm #autistic. A good catch-all for that writing is here,
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My adult life from say 18 to 40 had ups and downs like anyone's. There was much to enjoy, and I was enthusiastic about learning and about using my learning in my career as an engineer / analyst.
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But, as is common for undiagnosed autistic people, this was mixed in with episodes of depression and anxiety and a sense of being different.
By the time I was 40, I wanted to retire. My wife remarked that I was starting to behave like "an old man".
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I had (and still have some) "old man hobbies": astronomy, ham radio, motorcycling, advanced driving.
And I *really* felt the pressure of being the "wage earner" with no option but to carry on earning the salary to which I and my family had become accustomed.
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This is purely from a personal experience perspective as someone diagnosed in their early 50s. /
Good idea to do a thread. Autism and ageing needs much more visibility. I share your experience of feeling older than I am. Partly due to early onset of physical conditions associated with ageing (hearing loss, Dupuytren\u2019s Disease) and partly due to burnout. Possibky connected.
— NortherlyRose \U0001f308 (@NortherlyRose) January 3, 2021
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I've written lots already about how I grew up not knowing that I'm #autistic. A good catch-all for that writing is here,
/
My adult life from say 18 to 40 had ups and downs like anyone's. There was much to enjoy, and I was enthusiastic about learning and about using my learning in my career as an engineer / analyst.
/
/
But, as is common for undiagnosed autistic people, this was mixed in with episodes of depression and anxiety and a sense of being different.
By the time I was 40, I wanted to retire. My wife remarked that I was starting to behave like "an old man".
/
/
I had (and still have some) "old man hobbies": astronomy, ham radio, motorcycling, advanced driving.
And I *really* felt the pressure of being the "wage earner" with no option but to carry on earning the salary to which I and my family had become accustomed.
/