Autism

[TamT]

I've always feel that something about me is not "normal", and I'm not writing about my crossdressing.

As I've read in this forum some posts about being recently diagnosed in the autism spectrum, I started to think about that as an explanation of my feelings and the way I am (and even the CDing).

I've been in therapy some times for differnt reasons (as a child, couples therapy when my SO discovered my hidden clothes, and some family sessions with my teenager son), but no words about autism were said.

Is the autism something that it could be detected by a therapist when the sessions focus is another problem? Should I appoint a specialized session to make me examine? Are there tests I could take to get a first approach on the subject?

Thanks!

[April Rose]

I am told that there is an actual test for autism, but it is expensive and not all insurance will cover it.

[Maid_Marion]

https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient
An online autism test.

My wife thought I had autism but now I'm not so sure as I socialize much more easily from the female gender. I don't have to think about how to interact, I do it and realize what I have done after I've done it.
As I recall perhaps 15 years ago a test would cost $1500.

Marion

[XemmaX]

there's a test but normally when you visit a psychiatrist they will interview you for a good hour and it would probably come up if you fulfill the criteria.

[kimdl93]

I think pretty much every human being, particularly as adolescents and teens, has a feeling that they are different from other people. Of course, humans vary widely in many dimensions. There is a tendency these days to turn real or perceived differences into pathologies. For example, endless speculation about what pathologies might have lead Van Gogh to paint the way he did. But that reduces him to a victim of a disorder, ignoring the possibility that he chose to show us something different about the world.

As my idol, Oliver Sacks, might have suggested, even pathologies can bring with them gifts of perception, or reveal other abilities. From a biological perspective, variability/diversity often conveys in facto the species…mutations(if you will) that improve the likelihood of reproduction (and that is for the population, not any particular individual) are likely to be sustained across generation. So ponder how our uniqueness in its many variant forms has survived for those many generations and wonder what benefit we convey!

[CharlotteCD]

I've always showed autistic signs, and attention deficit disorder. I struggle with really strong fixations, and that's manifested itself positively (work projects) and negatively (cross-dressing, eating disorder, not doing my work) and so on.

It was my late 20's that this was actually first brought up as something that I ought to look at, and my early 30's when this was actually confirmed. Does it make a difference to have been professionally diagnosed? Sometimes. It doesn't excuse me doing none of my work because I want to do other work from a team I work with, and put my efforts in there, but it's helpful to know when I have said something or need my feelings confirmed.

[Bobbi46]

TamT you dont say an awful lot in your profile to go on, age etc but from what i understand autism comes in different levels and the main give away is that those with Autismp initially have difficult ies with interacting with people and fully understanding and comprehending what is being said to them. I think before you go and spend vast sums of money on therapists, you should ask yourself some questions
1) What is making me dress in womens clothes
2) Do i have an irresistable desire to dress all of the time
3) Do I want to go full time en femme
4) Do you feel lost when not dressed
and so ,forth
The thing is i have found out from the medical ,profession that for one to dress whether all of the time ,or some of the time does not mean thet "there is something wrong with me" the fact is that the desire to dress for some and not others happens because something goes wrong before we are born and thus we end up lesbian, gay and everything else in between.
For some especially adolescents and such like it can be a passing phase which grows out as one matures but for the most part the need/desire to dress goes right back to early childhood coupled with (for some) some feminine traits, sitting down and so forth
Have a good think about yourself, think of all ,the things that motivate you to dress. I am a great believer of trying to sort out things first before shouting "help",

[Gillian Gigs]

There are online tests that can be taken to help determine if you are on the spectrum. Is crossdressing the result of being on the spectrum? It can be a symptom, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.
I was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome about a year ago. It is considered to be on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum. I was seeing a Psychiatrist at the time regarding depression and anxiety, I said something to her which clicked with her regarding autism. After a number of tests, it was confirmed. Medical people don't necessarily see something unless they go looking in that particular area. Asking the correct medical people could get you started into getting proper tests.
Sensory issues are common with Aspergers, the tactile feelings of certain fabrics on the skin can be one of them. In my case it is snug nylon panties, pantyhose, camisoles, etc. In childhood there can also be gender based issues too. Again in my case any nylon items that could be found in mens clothes were not satisifying to me in the same way that they are with women's clothes. Adding a skirt and the right shoes only added to the feelings. Only properly trained medical people can really answer your questions. So make an appointment and ask them the right questions.

[TamT]

Thank you for your replies...


TamT you dont say an awful lot in your profile to go on, age etc

I'm in my mid fifties and I've always dressed. I don't know when/why did I start, but for sure it was when I was 6 or less. I lived with my mother and sisters, and I used to try their clothes which I took from the laundry basket at the bathroom.


but from what i understand autism comes in different levels and the main give away is that those with Autismp initially have difficult ies with interacting with people and fully understanding and comprehending what is being said to them. I think before you go and spend vast sums of money on therapists, you should ask yourself some questions
...
Have a good think about yourself, think of all ,the things that motivate you to dress. I am a great believer of trying to sort out things first before shouting "help",

I'm not trying to understand why I dress as I've accepted myself long time ago. My problem is how to deal with other aspects of my life. Charlotte explained exactly how I feel:


I've always showed autistic signs, and attention deficit disorder. I struggle with really strong fixations, and that's manifested itself positively (work projects) and negatively (cross-dressing, eating disorder, not doing my work) and so on.

It was my late 20's that this was actually first brought up as something that I ought to look at, and my early 30's when this was actually confirmed. Does it make a difference to have been professionally diagnosed? Sometimes. It doesn't excuse me doing none of my work because I want to do other work from a team I work with, and put my efforts in there, but it's helpful to know when I have said something or need my feelings confirmed.



https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient
An online autism test.


Thanks Marion for the online test link. This is what I got:


Your score was 34 out of a possible 50.
Scores in the 33-50 range indicate significant Autistic traits (Autism).

Just like Bobbi suggested, I had made the "why I crossdress" question many times without an answer, and every time I change the answer for "how far do I want to go with this". I'm not sure how this score would change which will be the next steps in my personal research about myself and the CDing.

[sometimes_miss]

Congratulations, you're now autistic. DSM-V has expanded the definition of it so far, that virtually everyone can now fit under the huge autism umbrella. So all you have to do, is find a sympathetic mental health practitioner, and bingo! You too can be 'on the spectrum!'
Take that online test. In fact, print it out, and pass it around to everyone you know. Don't tell them what it's for. I think you'll be surprised at how many of them are now 'autistic'.

I'm not sure why they did this; perhaps so that they could get insurance coverage for people who couldn't get mental health help in any other way. But from an outside viewpoint, it seems a bit weird.

[Dutchess]

Both the dressing men in my life did .

My exhusband was autistic to where he sometimes has trouble functioning and his daughter has it too .

My late companion Kat was so extremely intelligent that it was scary but his adhd was always just off the hook and some other behaviors very similar to Charlottes that he did really well with while on his mental health meds but one of those yes men "gender therapists" ( I no longer believe in those people , no need to even discuss them with me ) talked him into stopping them and going on hrt instead . Much to my dismay .

Said he was trans and the hormones would make everything right and that he really did not need those mental health meds . Wrong . He was also pressured very hard by his norcal t group and as a result would not admit to any of us that the hormones were in fact not the answer and began self medicating on the side . He died of an accidental overdose .
So yes I think if you would like to find out further about anything you think is not right , then you definitely should . They have other in office ways to diagnose that . Better than an online test .

[Helen_Highwater]

I for one would be wary of any online test for Autism. My SO taught teen aged kids who were predominately dyslexic but she also had a small number with significant autistic traits. For the conversations we've had over the years one of the problems with those who are autistic is they often don't realise the traits that they display so answering any questionnaire unsupported by a trained professional could be exceedingly misleading.

Not socialising well could simply be due to your upbringing or being naturally shy.

Many here have tried to pin a label on why it is we do what we do as CD'ers and failed. Add to the mix that there are a great many medical charlatans who tell you want you want to hear in exchange to some silver and the risk of a false positive could be more damaging than just getting on with your life.

[AnelineM]

I took that online test because I've thought for a long time that I'm on the spectrum. I scored 33 out of 50, so not really autistic. Does my higher score have any connection to my urge to crossdress? I don't know. Most of the people that post on this website seem to be fairly outgoing and social, which I don't really associate with autism.

[Krisi]

Back when I was young, conditions like "autism" didn't exist. Everyone got by just fine.

The question is, if you took a test and found out that you had autism, what would change? Would you live your life differently? Would you take medicine or see a shrink once a week?

We are all different and that is normal. Unless knowing that you have autism will make your life better somehow, I suggest that you just forget about it and move on with your life.

[kimdl93]

Follow up thought. If you are presently in therapy for any reason, then feel free to ask your therapist about what therapy does and does not do. With the exception of a few actual clinicians, the opinions expressed here on behavioral health matters, with all do respect, have a value equal to the price of the pixels and the cost of subscription to the forum

[April Rose]

I took that online test. It looked easy to manipulate. I'm definitely NOT autistic. Scored an 11.

[ronny0]

I'm too old for this concept! IMO we now live in a society that no one is 'normal' everyone has a special need / phobia / triggers.....
What ever happened to the concept that no one is a clone of another person, we are all different and we all need to just get along and accept one another.
Now-a-days I feel more and more people think / feel they need or have to make society .......... Sorry, going off the track.....
IMO now-a-days no one is normal, we are all 'special' and in need of society to modify everything to accommodate my need to.......
Let's say I hate everyone with 6 toes on each foot? Or Everyone with green hair......... Or with 3 eyes.........
Some one will come along and try to pass a law to enforce my point of view, or some one else will be offended by it.
Why not take a attitude that we all are in this world for 5 to 90 years (if we are lucky? / Unlucky??) lets try to make it easier for everyone to get through each day w/o a problem.
Sorry, that being said, I am not overly happy having to finance your problems over my desire to fund my problems, if that makes any sense.

[Helen_Highwater]

Ronny,

I understand where you're coming from but it's a truth that some are born with conditions that need special treatment. As I say in my post above, my SO taught kids with dyslexia. Generally bright kids but had difficulty reading and understanding language.

My SO has the skillset to be able to explain what most understand without difficulty in a different way. Kids that in the past were written of as "Thick", often overlooked by the educational system, with the right tutoring went on to achieve good exam grades and were able to enjoy a better life. Those kids not fortunate enough to be identified as dyslexic could easily end up on the wrong side of the law.

The sign of a good society is that it looks after those less fortunate, recognises they're different, not less than others.

All that said, there are able people who think the universe should revolve around them and I must admit I find it difficult to even give them the time of day as they're the ones least likely to see the needs of others.