#but also ... if i'm highly social successful happy and capable of regulating myself when i'm under or over stimulated... is there a problem

[gowns]

so like, something that bothered me was: when i was describing my kid and her personality to a group of parents, and how it was similar to my personality, and there was a parent who just kept saying "have you been assessed for autism? it sounds like autism." and i was like, no, ha ha, we don't have autism. and she kept asking me -- gently, not haranguing, with good intentions -- "are you sure? seeking a diagnosis can be very helpful. she could have help in school." and i'm like yeah i know, my mom is an educator who has worked with sped, we don't need it though. and she just kept going like: "but i mean, being sensitive to things, the way you describe it, it sounds like autism." look. i get it. i'm glad there's an expansion of an awareness of autism. i might even be mildly on that spectrum, and my kid might too. but a diagnosis is only helpful as far as its ability to open up connections, accomodations, etc. i have my own little method of doing things that works really swimmingly. and here's the thing: i was really good in school. i crushed tests, worksheets, creative projects, public speaking, group work, independent work, participation, navigating conflicts, school plays. and -- i should note -- it's also not an "overachieving" thing. i was happy being an "As and Bs" student. i firmly regular-achieved.

so sure, i'm an odd duck, i'm sensitive, i'm erratic, but i'm also super social, energized by other people; i have my odd little ways of doing things but they're not set in stone routines. i crave novelty and have issues with impulse moderation. these things + sensory sensitivity and etc etc all fits a pretty firm diagnosis of ADHD. BUT i'm not even married to that diagnosis. like i'm fine just saying, you know what, i am who i am, i operate in this funny little way, but i've figured out how to do things in life, a lot of people love me, i'm very successful and very happy. no further accommodations needed (at the moment). so why hang my hat on my previous diagnoses, or any other diagnosis? literally, like... social services are stretched so thin, please let those services go to someone else. not me, whose biggest "problem" is that i have a special interest that is sometimes a money sink (slow fashion). but that's basically just a hobby. people have hobbies. i'm not in need of therapy for being this way.

i have a blog, ok. other people find my fixations funny and useful!