The autistic traits list I showed my psychiatrist.

This was originally posted on my Twitter account (@BeingCharisBlog) as a thread on November 28, 2022. Slight changes (for readability) have been made.

What "symptoms" did I list when I told my psychiatrist I was seeking clinical confirmation of being autistic?

(after reviewing the DSM V criteria)

Before I share the list: if you isolate one of the following traits it wouldn't necessarily make me autistic. Many of these traits combined make me autistic.

I share this list in hopes that at least one as-yet unidentified autistic person finds it & realizes they may be autistic.

Another quick note.

I find it funny that I wrote in the email to my psychiatrist: "Here is a short list I've pulled together of characteristics/experiences I feel point me in that direction."

Because it's actually quite a long list. Here goes:

1. I experience alexithymia. This means I have difficulty understanding the emotions I’m having. For example, I used to say "I don’t feel anger." It was true. I didn’t feel it because I don’t know what it feels like, even though I do HAVE an anger response.

2. I’ve developed scripts for social scenarios but I can be overwhelmed with social cues & confused by behaviors. I always…