How I Can Tell Someone Is a High Masking Autistic

Comments · 77

• EM

  @emmabird9745 · 4 days ago

  There's an old saying, "it takes one to know one".  There is usually a bit of truth in old lore.

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• 25

  @25meip · 2 days ago

  Pretty much everyone I'm naturally comfortable talking with, turn out to be autistic/ND or diagnosed with specific mental health problems that express themselves in a way similar to neurodivergence

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• TI

  @tinyshepherdess7710 · 4 days ago (edited)

  I've been able to recognize ADHD in people for years.  Now, at 67 I'm discovering my autism.  I was diagnosed ADHD decades ago, but the autism was so well masked, I fooled even myself.  I have always been seen as too intense, impulsive and obsessed with my interests.  I'd give anything to meet someone who could pick up on these hidden clues and give me some sort of a knowing sign.  Sadly, I've never experienced that kind of recognition.  Women my age are supposed to have outgrown these disorders.  In my case, they've only gotten worse with age!

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• JE

  @jessicaw1839 · 4 days ago

  I’m 63 years old and I’ve looked back through my memories, especially in my childhood, of certain people that displayed behaviors that really stood out to me enough that I remembered them. And I’m thinking that, over the years, I’ve known quite a few people that I now suspect are autistic. And I think it’s interesting that I feel a special fondness towards them now.

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• JA

  @JAYSCHULBERG-b9u · 4 days ago

  I understand exactly what you've shared, Michelle! I was given an autism radar detector too, after the light went on about my own autism. I have even retroactively identified people from my past who had a number of autistic traits. These were people who I was able to relate to and naturally communicate well with. Today when I go out in public, my "radar" is always on to identify other autistic people. Looking at it from another perspective, I'm pretty sure I would be picked up on the radar of other autistic people. After all, over 20 years ago, someone asked me if I had ever been checked out for asperger's syndrome. Like you, I wouldn't  hand out an autism diagnosis to  a complete stranger, but I personally wouldn't be offended if someone asked me if I'm autistic either. I liked the beautiful processing breaks in your video. I hope you, and your family are doing well. 🧡

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• AN

  @andyrobertshaw9120 · 4 days ago

  A bit of a story about that for me. Firstly, I’ll remind you I’m 51 years old, and self-diagnosed autistic a couple of years ago.<br>I was at my school reunion dinner, followed by drinks at the bar. After the dinner, at the bar, a lady sitting on a different table came over to me and said ‘Excuse me. Are you autistic?’ <br>I had never met this lady before. She was there with her boyfriend who overlapped me at school, and I only ever knew very vaguely.<br>To her question, I responded ‘Yes, how do you know that?’ She replied, ‘I saw you masking across the room’. &nbsp;This lady had both autism and ADHD. I think she was glad there was someone else there with autism. <br>She then gave me a hug, and asked ‘are you ok with touch?’. I was ok with it, just very surprised to be hugged by someone I had only just met, so a little subdued for that reason.<br>For what you say, I understand you do not believe it possible to gauge whether or not somebody is autistic from across a large dining room.<br>I am now thinking, this lady was sitting on the same table as my maths teacher from school, he knows me very well (not knowing but maybe suspected I am autistic), so he might have told her he thought I might be autistic.

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• MI

  @MikeyHB · 4 days ago

  What frustrates me is &quot;read the room...&quot; I&apos;m not telepathic, I&apos;m me - tell me what you see please?

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• GE

  @georgecaplan11 · 4 days ago

  This is ironic because I was just saying the other day how since my autism self realization , im really good at walking around and spotting neurotypical patterns and traits. &nbsp;Saying one thing, while meaning another; asking how your day is going; talking to strangers about the weather; responding with the expression “Awesome” to everything; getting over excited about standard things; etc etc. Wearing a neurotypical mask to avoid authentic social interaction must be truly exhausting. I hope they are all doing ok.

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• MA

  @MagneticLife1111 · 4 days ago

  I truly don’t understand the hesitation with inquiring if someone is autistic? I don’t mean strangers on the street but I’m a massage therapist and have mentioned it to a couple of my clients. I’m 51 and just completed my assessment last week. I wish someone had pointed it out to me 20 years ago!

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• HE

  @Helena.E.M · 3 days ago

  I absolutely love listening to people dive into their special interests in great detail. I don&apos;t care what the special interest is (although it&apos;s a bonus if I share the same interest).

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• CA

  @Carmied76 · 4 days ago

  I like the scenic breaks. Sometimes I&apos;m so overwhelmed in my own day to day stuff that when I watch videos I find myself tuning out accidentally, and have to rewind. Having an actual breather in the video is perfect for this!

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• HI

  @High_Alpha · 3 days ago

  NDDAR is definitely a thing! Strangely I find that the people I get along best with either are or I suspect would be ND if they asked the question. I REALLY struggle to connect with NT folks. It&apos;s like we aren&apos;t talking the same language... And sometimes it&apos;s like we aren&apos;t even the same species!

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