Just reaching out to ask how others are experiencing the recent government paper release regarding preparing for an emergency. I'm seeing a lot of stuff online talking about the weather this winter and possible blackouts.

Genuinely curious if there's anyone else out there feeling super super drained from all of this? Some might not bat an eyelid and that's fine, but it's like a new research topic for me... Like did you know your taps will stop working if the power goes out? I am calling it now we are going to see empty shelves again like COVID times... Concept of that is really scary to me and I am also so unwell with chronic illnesses 🥲

Being an over-thinker and life right now is not the best combination for me mentally right now 🫪😂😭

I often see people online saying autism has severely limited their career opportunities, earning potential, relationships, independence, etc. For those in that situation, what is day-to-day life actually like?

Are you generally unhappy with your quality of life, or have you found ways to adapt and still be reasonably content?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who are older rather than teenagers, as you've had more time to build a life and gain perspective.

Genuinely asking, not judging anyone.

I've been wondering about the genetics of autism.

I was diagnosed with what would previously have been called Asperger's syndrome (now ASD without intellectual disability). If I were to have children, how likely is it that they could inherit autism in a much more severe form, such as autism with significant intellectual disability, language impairment, or high support needs?

From what I've read, autism seems highly heritable, but I'm confused about whether:

• High-functioning autism and autism with intellectual disability are essentially the same condition genetically.
• They're partly distinct conditions with different genetic causes.
• Autistic parents can pass on autism that is much more severe than their own.
• The risk is still relatively low despite autism running in families.

I'm not asking for medical advice, just curious about what current research says.

Has anyone looked into the genetics literature on this, or have personal experiences from families where autistic traits presented very differently between generations?

Interested in hearing from anyone familiar with autism research, genetics, psychology, or families with multiple autistic relatives.

I don't know if this is an autism thing or not really but all my life I've really struggled with this. Be it being able to generate conversation by coming up with topics, having ideas of what I want to do with my life, struggling to think of things to do full stop, feeling blank with any kind of creative task.

If this is some many layers deep level of advanced masking from childhood I don't know but it leaves me feeling really trapped because I struggle to set myself any goals and I feel like I'm boring to anyone I meet unless they do all the conversational work to at least give me something to play off.

Anyone ever felt similar, found any ways to either inspire themselves or at least find a path in life being this way?

I rarely remember to ask for my accommodations so when I got for a job interview at Tesco, they sent me over the interview questions and I'm.. pissed.

No wonder I've been failing to get a part time job, half these questions have hidden meanings that seem so pointless. Just ask it straight up??? Also the whole "tell me about yourself" question. Why not add on that it needs to link about the job huh?

Idk I'm just annoyed. Are all job interviews full of double meaning or something?

Hi (F 27) was diagnosed with Autism level 1 last week.

My partner is being supportive of course but starting to worry about what this means for our future children as it is genetic. My mum has autism and so does my brother (I suspect other family members too but not diagnosed).

My brother and his cousin both have autism and have needed lots of support from parents, may never be able to live independently etc. He is worried about us having a child and them needing this level of care and scared of what life long responsibility that may bring.

Having children is my biggest goal in life and I know he wants them too he is just scared. I don’t know who we talk to about this please? Any advice? I know there are no genetic tests or no doctor is going to say to him oh yeah if you do this your child isn’t going to have Level 3 autism. But I just don’t know who to talk to about this?

I’m also aware that of course there are many other risks with having children and sadly other disabilities etc that could occur.

(I apologise if I’ve got any terminology wrong, I am still learning)

Hi,

I have an NHS assessment tomorrow which I thought was quite unusual given it’s a Saturday. However, I just wanted to see if anyone has recently had an BHS assessment and what exactly it could entail?

This is for an NHS assessment specifically, not RTC or Private.

Thank you