The Autistic Spectrum...

[Shaun]

I don't really know all that much about it. The closest I've come to autism is when I used to spend time with a kid with, well, severe autism. It's really sad to think about how someone who can't communicate or look after themself is going to end up. He's eight now, and pretty much the closest you can get to having a conversation with him is getting him to say hello, and possibly your name.

Anyway, as I don't have any advice or anything, I wish you luck.

Thank you, that's nice of you. I guess I hardly talked to anyone when I was a kid (I don't much now) but I don't think I had it that bad. Severe autism can be quite... well, I don't know the word for it. I've lately been wondering about the connection of autistic people and space/the stars.

I had a friend who has asperger's. I just remember that his social skills were worse than mine. I don't think I'm autistic but I'm not very good with people. I'm never sure where to look when talking to people because I don't want people to think I'm staring. I also had a speech therapy when I was younger. My parents tell me that I'm just weird and unlikely ot be autistic.

Yeah, it's probably nothing, though it could be something. You should probably asked to be assessed to be sure. It may be nothing, and the assessment wait may be a year, but it's better to find out early on than find out when you're thirty or something.

The best thing i ever noticed about autism is the name itself - autism, which comes from greek autos - self. Its something i've noticed, we are perfectly capable of thought, etc, it just gets messed up on the way out. We do feel, we simply have difficulty expressing it. I've had a couple of people call me heartless when i didnt show emotion before. Aspergers has quite a famous history in Ireland, some of the greatest heroes were said to have it, like Padraig Pearse.

Yeah, I often get hurt by things people say every day, but I just don't do anything about it and continue my day. But then at the end of the day, I can get quite emotional about it, and I can't stop thinking often.

Question: Do you have problems falling asleep?

Yes. Dyspraxics have an inability to simply stop thinking and let the brain 'shut down'. Therefore, I usually get to sleep at at least 1:00, but sometimes up to 4:00.