✨Jem✨

Elizabeth, 76

“I’m wearing rain boots that I airbrushed green, PJ pants by Joe Fresh that I dyed green, an Uniqlo jacket, a faux fur knitted scarf and Old Navy green gloves. I only wear the color green, because it is such an amazing, positive and loving color. Loving people inspire my style, and happiness that it brings.”

This is a checklist to help one understand Autism Spectrum Disorder. One may use it to self-diagnose or as a worksheet to present to a doctor or therapist and better communicate symptoms they are experiencing. All information is taken from the DSM-5, and I have received help from people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in order to create this checklist.

Section I Must check ALL of the following:

I have trouble communicating with others.

I feel I have odd social habits, such as an inability to participate in normal back-and-forth conversation, reduced sharing of interests and emotions, and/or a failure to initiate or respond to social interactions. 

I’m bad at picking up on nonverbal forms of communication, such as body language, gestures, and facial expressions. 

I have difficulty developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships.

I have experienced these symptoms since I was a minor. 

My symptoms have caused distress for me in social, occupational, and/or other areas of functioning. 

My symptoms are not better explained by another mental disorder, substance use, or a medical condition.

Section II Must check TWO or more of the following:

I use repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech when communicating with others.

I prefer sameness, and I rely on routines. Small changes can cause me a lot of stress.

When I become interested in something, I experience it intensely and can become very attached and focused. 

I am hypersensitive to the world around me.

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Section III Common Symptoms and Behaviors (not required for diagnosis):

I have difficulty picking up on sarcasm.

I often use overly literal language.

I have difficulty opening up to others and sharing my emotions.

I feel anxiety in social situations.

I am uncomfortable with making eye contact with others.

I am clumsy.

I self-harm.

Sometimes I shut down and just don’t want to speak at all.

I have trouble with perspective and understanding others’ viewpoints.

I have difficulty self-analyzing and therefore have difficulty letting people know how I’m feeling and expressing my needs.

I often find myself at a loss for words.

I am easily overwhelmed when there are too many people.

I participate in self-stimulation (or “stimming”), flapping hands/arms, spinning, or needing to apply pressure to certain parts of my body.

I come off as harsh sometimes because I have difficulty understanding others.

If someone upsets my routine, it triggers my anxiety.

I have a sensitivity to light and sound.

I have difficulty with “me” vs “we” thinking. 

My first painting of 2018, after a shitty break up that I didn’t see coming. Everyone kept saying ‘it’ll get better with time’ but I feel like that just meant ‘don’t worry, your brain will forget how it was soon enough’ and they felt like two quite different ways of looking at it…