One thing about ADHD and not being hyperactive. ADHD is terrible name for ADHD. Cookie Jr. was diagnosed with ADHD, and he never, for one moment in whole life has been hyperactive, and he can focus intensely — just not on what you might want him to focus on, like what teacher is saying in class (or what parents say to him at any time ever.) Me much prefer "neurodivergent," because broad enough term to cover broad swath of people who not always have same symptoms or behaviors.
And as for writing about autism in media, me think that worthwhile project, and me just want to throw out one suggestion — me find most deliberate portrayals of autism are either cloying or get everything wrong, but there are many autistic-coded characters who are done very well (Spock and Sherlock Holmes come to mind). Might be worth including a few!
Recent interpretations of Sherlock Holmes often have him somewhere on the High-Functioning end of the Spectrum, especially Jonny Lee Miller's take, with the suggestion he became a drug addict as a means of self-medication. Now that he's clean (mostly), he relies on Lucy Liu's Watson to help stabilize him as much as being a partner in detective work, something she turns out (rarely for the popular version of Watson!) to be quite capable at herself. Captain Gregson and Det. Bell fulfill the same function, though more reluctantly given half the time they want to punch him...and occasionally do!
i'm glad you were finally able to get some answers, and i look forward to reading your thoughts on Autism in movies. also, this really connected with me: "That feeling of being different persisted into adulthood but I thought it was attributable to having led an unusually traumatic life, the kind that you get to publish multiple memoirs about if you are both very lucky and also very unlucky." how many of us are there with Histories of Trauma and the ability to write about it, but we probably (?) never will? too many, i think. i can't count the number of times friends/family/therapists have suggested i write a memoir, and i dismiss it because who the heck would want to read about some rando's messed-up life? (it's me, i'm the rando.)
Welcome to the club! I hope your diagnosis brings you a measure of peace with yourself. You might be interested in reading about or talking to autistic women, since our experiences differ from men’s (and we’re less likely to be diagnosed). Katherine May’s memoir The Electricity of Every Living Thing and Julie Dachez’s graphic novel Invisible Differences mirror my own experience but there are a lot of others out there.
Several months ago, someone in the Close Personal Friends of Weird Al Facebook group wrote "Al is to neurodivergent folk as Judy Garland was to the gay community." I've never read anything that made more sense.
Knowledge is power. I hope you make the most of it and, as you hinted, also give yourself a pass for some of your feelings and experiences.
Also, and don't laugh, there is a great neurodivergent community on TikTok. I've found it to be a great place to learn about ND life, while also being entertained.
I was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years ago, and while I’ve never been formally diagnosed with autism (as others have noted in this thread, the price for an adult to get assessed is very high, even here in Canada) I’ve often wondered about it. I have a child on the autism spectrum, I’ve long had trouble picking up social cues and difficulty fitting in with people, and perhaps the real clincher: I’m a huge Weird Al Yankovic fan.
In contrast to Rabin, though, I was absolutely *obsessed* with toy cars as a child.
Thanks for sharing this Nathan. I know very little about autism or ADHD and I can’t even imagine the challenges you and your family must face. You are a superb writer and whatever difficulties you must face, your prose is underpinned by humanity and kindness - I hope you have plenty more of the latter in your life and I look forward to continuing to read your stuff for years to come.
While I suspect I’m on the spectrum, I’ve never been officially diagnosed, although I’ve had therapists and psychiatrists tell me, “You’re definitely on the spectrum.” I’ve never bothered with the diagnosis, because I’m 60 and it costs a ridiculous amount of money that my insurance probably won’t cover and I don’t have. Also, at my age, what good would having a definite diagnosis do, anyway? Same with my sleep apnea, I don’t have the time to take a detailed, all day exam. I don’t have a spouse or children to consider, so what would be the point?
One thing about ADHD and not being hyperactive. ADHD is terrible name for ADHD. Cookie Jr. was diagnosed with ADHD, and he never, for one moment in whole life has been hyperactive, and he can focus intensely — just not on what you might want him to focus on, like what teacher is saying in class (or what parents say to him at any time ever.) Me much prefer "neurodivergent," because broad enough term to cover broad swath of people who not always have same symptoms or behaviors.
And as for writing about autism in media, me think that worthwhile project, and me just want to throw out one suggestion — me find most deliberate portrayals of autism are either cloying or get everything wrong, but there are many autistic-coded characters who are done very well (Spock and Sherlock Holmes come to mind). Might be worth including a few!
Aside from autism, I’ve always assumed that Holmes was bipolar. Certainly makes his lassitude when there’s no case to stimulate him understandable.
Recent interpretations of Sherlock Holmes often have him somewhere on the High-Functioning end of the Spectrum, especially Jonny Lee Miller's take, with the suggestion he became a drug addict as a means of self-medication. Now that he's clean (mostly), he relies on Lucy Liu's Watson to help stabilize him as much as being a partner in detective work, something she turns out (rarely for the popular version of Watson!) to be quite capable at herself. Captain Gregson and Det. Bell fulfill the same function, though more reluctantly given half the time they want to punch him...and occasionally do!
welcome to ADHD club!
i'm glad you were finally able to get some answers, and i look forward to reading your thoughts on Autism in movies. also, this really connected with me: "That feeling of being different persisted into adulthood but I thought it was attributable to having led an unusually traumatic life, the kind that you get to publish multiple memoirs about if you are both very lucky and also very unlucky." how many of us are there with Histories of Trauma and the ability to write about it, but we probably (?) never will? too many, i think. i can't count the number of times friends/family/therapists have suggested i write a memoir, and i dismiss it because who the heck would want to read about some rando's messed-up life? (it's me, i'm the rando.)
Welcome to the club! I hope your diagnosis brings you a measure of peace with yourself. You might be interested in reading about or talking to autistic women, since our experiences differ from men’s (and we’re less likely to be diagnosed). Katherine May’s memoir The Electricity of Every Living Thing and Julie Dachez’s graphic novel Invisible Differences mirror my own experience but there are a lot of others out there.
Several months ago, someone in the Close Personal Friends of Weird Al Facebook group wrote "Al is to neurodivergent folk as Judy Garland was to the gay community." I've never read anything that made more sense.
Welcome to your journey.
Knowledge is power. I hope you make the most of it and, as you hinted, also give yourself a pass for some of your feelings and experiences.
Also, and don't laugh, there is a great neurodivergent community on TikTok. I've found it to be a great place to learn about ND life, while also being entertained.
I recognize a lot of my own journey here. Welcome to the club!
I was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years ago, and while I’ve never been formally diagnosed with autism (as others have noted in this thread, the price for an adult to get assessed is very high, even here in Canada) I’ve often wondered about it. I have a child on the autism spectrum, I’ve long had trouble picking up social cues and difficulty fitting in with people, and perhaps the real clincher: I’m a huge Weird Al Yankovic fan.
In contrast to Rabin, though, I was absolutely *obsessed* with toy cars as a child.
Thanks for sharing this Nathan. I know very little about autism or ADHD and I can’t even imagine the challenges you and your family must face. You are a superb writer and whatever difficulties you must face, your prose is underpinned by humanity and kindness - I hope you have plenty more of the latter in your life and I look forward to continuing to read your stuff for years to come.
While I suspect I’m on the spectrum, I’ve never been officially diagnosed, although I’ve had therapists and psychiatrists tell me, “You’re definitely on the spectrum.” I’ve never bothered with the diagnosis, because I’m 60 and it costs a ridiculous amount of money that my insurance probably won’t cover and I don’t have. Also, at my age, what good would having a definite diagnosis do, anyway? Same with my sleep apnea, I don’t have the time to take a detailed, all day exam. I don’t have a spouse or children to consider, so what would be the point?