AUT1E

You need to take up your arguments with the publishers of the dictionaries or the arbiters of common usage, not me please as there is nothing I can do about it. I am only highlighting common usage for you sausage. Can any of the other members help Mumble?

o·ver·a·chieve    [oh-ver-uh-cheev] –verb (used without object), -chieved, -chiev·ing. 1. to perform, esp. academically, above the potential indicated by tests of one's mental ability or aptitude. 2. to perform better or achieve more than expected (or deemed necessary), esp. by others. Origin: 1950–55; over- + achieve, or by back formation from overachiever —Related forms o·ver·a·chieve·ment, noun o·ver·a·chiev·er, noun Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010. World English Dictionary overachieve (ˌəʊvərəˈtʃiːv) — vb ( intr ) to perform (for example, in examinations) better than would be expected (or necessary) on the basis of one's age or talents (or {dis}abilities) overa'chiever — n Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition 2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins over-achiever - definition someone who tries extremely hard to be successful and puts pressure on themselves to achieve (too) many things Thesaurus entry for this meaning of over-achiever DERIVED WORD over-achieve VERB [iNTRANSITIVE]

Over achieving is commonly understood to mean achieving levels or goals but in a way that is damaging to one's well being. E.g ripping a muscle by lifting a weight that is actually too heavy for you, or pursuing perfection when the persistent effort outweighs the incremental benefit. If you find yourself confused over what somebody meant, why not ask first for a clarification instead?

These items give feedback to the senses, reducing the requirement for self stimming. I have had good results from heavy blankets, tight tucking in, vibrating cushions and knobbly dog toys. This feedback and weight effect can also fun for those lucky enough to be able to have it. Piling sofa cushions on top of autie kids and sitting on top of them (responsibly, obviously) gives them fun or calmness and enjoyment in many cases. The same benefit can sometimes be had with other senses too. For example a racing brain at bedtime can be calmed by using a radio turned down low so you can barely hear it. White noise is good (the sssshhhhhhh sound in-between FM stations) or classical music stations. I have used this method to help me sleep when thoughts are too noisy and perhaps more importantly to reduce night terrors. Some people sell white noise generators, some psychiatrists use them constantly in their consulting room, subliminally. Sometimes smell sense is helped overnight too with the plug in fresheners, especially with calming scents such as lavender etc. I developed the idea after buying a calming plug in thing for my former cat. By providing the autistic wideband unfiltered brain with some focal point, it can stop it panic-processing everything.

I have very high standards for myself and for years had very real worries about being lazy, but they were not bourne out in reality. In fact I was over reaching and over achieving for many, many years of my life. In fact it is most unusual for us to be lazy because our motivations are quite different to 'Typs'. There are three aspects to be aware of if you feel lazy; Autistic inertia is one significant aspect of such worries and it is very, very real for us. I personally experience it multiple times every day. It is literally like being paralysed and affects even basic needs like using the bathroom, dealing with thirst or hunger and even health and medication. I mention here something called 'borrowed will'. One autistic child was unable to even start doing his practice exams at home but was very fast at school. He would sit sometimes for hours but could not make a start. He noticed that if he used an egg timer, he could do the exams in super quick time - the 'will' came from the running sand. For another man, he could not get up from his sofa do do anything, until the tv was turned on. The will came from the stuff happening on screen. Some people find it easier to do chores whilst listening to upbeat, loud music. Overload is another factor. See my other post for an explanation of the extra processing we have to perform in order to function (sometimes leading to shut downs). It uses up resources, preventing them being used for 'extra' activities over and above trying to be normal. This occasional shortage of resources can also act sub-conciously as a disincentive to an undertaking, and can be confused with laziness. Finally depression can also be interpreted as laziness especially because it's comorbitity with autism is high and is often undiagnosed. Other conditions can also lead to a lack of interest or motivation, such as low-T. Overall there is a cost to benefit ratio for every undertaking. Where the undertaking is for example a typical social one, there is a double hit for us. This is because the cost (in emotional resources) is higher and as well as that, the benefit (socio-emotional reward) is lower, leading to a lower impetus to begin.

We will never have anything resembling a typical life. Being true to yourself is all you can do.

The government publish a big book to help benefit decision makers. It is heavy going but is the best way to prepare for a claim as you will end up knowing the system as well as 'they' do. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/decision-makers-guide/

I think we completely agree, it's just that my position is perhaps more belligerent. Autistic presentation attracts prejudice and victimisation whether diagnosed or not and I believe we have to 'own' the label and face these issues head on, in a similar way to other groups in the past such as black or homosexual pride movements. It is not a recipe for a quiet, comfortable life but neither is being autistic. I modify many of my clothes to be branded 'autistic', my bike is covered in autism awareness decals, has registration plate AUT1E, and I wear a badge that says 'autistic'. I really feel very strongly that actually it is not the job of a GP to protect people from diagnoses, but to identify needs and offer services and support (even though effectively there aren't any yet). One of the cornerstones of my position is this: Autism doesn't generally hurt. It doesn't usually cause significant pain or discomfort (obviously there are exceptions such as information overload, but these are not constant). The cause of suffering for autistic people is actually being autistic in a non-autistic world with it's expectations, prejudices and rule-breaking. So I am saying that the treatment of autism is to a great extent is exposing and dealing with these prejudices, not avoiding them. I hope I haven't made you annoyed or upset.

Hello. It seems i was not clear enough, sorry. A medical diagnosis is one thing and a label is another, even though a medical diagnosis may be USED as a label. Further to the examples given, you have rightly stated that some diagnoses are used as labels, leading to the prejudices mentioned. And there is mention of labels that are not medical diagnoses such as 'opinionated' or whatever. Here is an out of date illustration... A medical diagnosis of 'leper' used to be both label (resulting in prejudiced responses) and diagnosis (having medical meaning). Now in modern times that diagnosis is no longer considered to be a label. HIV Positive is another diagnosis that was used as a label. Medical accuracy must not be compromised just because it may be abused. The answer is education and awareness, not avoiding diagnoses or frightening patients. This GP may be somewhat autism aware but his post-diagnosis expectations need to be adjusted.

Hello I am always saddened when medical professionals refer to a diagnosis as a label. It Is my position that such use of the word label is a clear indication of ignorance. If a person is diagnosed for example, 'diabetic' or 'schizophrenic' it is never considered to be a label. Instead it is viewed as an accurate, succinct description of an accepted, measurable physical condition and is loaded with meaning - a shorthand if you like that contains information about treatment, symptoms, quality of life etc. The only reason for demoting a diagnosis to a label is that for some reason, the user does not accept that the condition diagnosed is a real, accepted, measurable physical condition that has genuine symptoms or affects. Similar views were seen in things like 'yuppy flu', 'gulf war syndrome' and PTSD until bigoted, judgemental, prejudiced views were eliminated. I hope it won't cause undue distress if I suggest that you seek, as best you can, to change your GP to one with more depth of character, or at the very least request the practice manager provide you with detail of when this one will be educated about autism under the new Act of Parliament, introduced precisely top combat this kind of behaviour. Best wishes, Autie x

This stance concerns me, to the highest degree. Most GP's have no meaningful knowledge of ASD, and I have first hand experience of GP's dismissing autistic traits, even when they cause significant problems. Despite the new autism specific legislation, there is still a void. My point is that at the moment 'professional advice' on autism is of no use, or worse, and even the act of attempting to seek it can cause it's own problems. As an example, look at the definition of autism on the NHS Direct website. Unfortunately, this kind of forum can be the only point of information or validation for those seeking help. This stance may be of benefit to the providers of the forum service, legally speaking, but it is important to users.