(no subject)

[randomling]

Wow. There's lots going on with me at the moment. I'm going to make this into a list post, but the list items themselves might be rather long. Be warned!

• Last week, I discovered that Ben Goldacre (a Guardian science columnist) was, with a couple of others, giving a talk on science in the media. I decided I would try it out, because I'm big fan of Goldacre (I recently read his book and am a bit of a devotee of his blog), and because the topic interested me. So I rushed out of work to make it to Holborn for the advertised start time. However I was all on my own, the venue was the cellar function room of a large Wetherspoons in Holborn, and it was packed. The combination of all of these things meant that the talk was too intimidating for me. I got out of there before the presentation started, and bought myself dinner on the ground floor of the pub instead (much quieter). I read my book and came home. It was nice.
  
  
• Learned from this: I could use some coping strategies to deal with events of this type in future. Also that quiet alone time is really, really refreshing and rejuvenating for me.
  
  
• On a similar note to the above, I had a very productive appointment with my doctor on Friday. Among other things, we discussed the possibility of me getting private therapy, and I came away with a recommendation for a therapy centre. We also discussed the various issues and comments from others that have led me to believe I may have Asperger's Syndrome. She doesn't agree (she thinks that the majority of my problems can be explained by social phobia and food phobia) but she has agreed to refer me for an assessment. This is great news. Either way, I will learn something about myself.
  
  
• Learned from this: There may be more than one explanation for some of the issues that are troubling me and they may or may not interact. And no matter what the explanation or diagnosis in the final event, there may well be coping strategies I don't yet know about. This is definitely good news.
  
  
• I also had a long conversation with ephemera about my personal hygiene habits, or lack of them, and as is often the case, I learned loads about myself as I was trying to explain. ephemera also had some really useful suggestions about trying to deal with the habits I don't like by attempting to deal with one small, manageable area.
  
  
• Learned from this: I'm not alone in having anxieties and weird reactions and issues and stuff. (I realize this periodically, but it's rather hard sometimes to hold onto the knowledge.)
  

I'm sure there was loads more that I wanted to write, but it's gone now.

Comments

[pensnest]

I just read that book too, and have recommended it to Beast and brats.

Good news on the progress with the doctor - it all sounds very useful. You're absolutely right, whatever the actual explanation, there are almost certainly coping strategies that will help.

At a complete tangent, are you going to see Backstreet at the O2?

[randomling]

I am thinking about it but have not booked tickets. I would sort of like to have someone to go with, because while I had fun last time, it would be much cooler to be standing/sitting with someone who I know rather than a bunch of total strangers. But of course I have not done anything about this!

[pensnest]

Me? I'm going to the Birmingham show, but I kinda fancy going to the O2 as well...

[randomling]

Ooh, that sounds good! Shall I look on Ticketmaster for tickets, will they be up yet?

[pensnest]

I have no idea how to get tickets, as I've always been totally helpless before and relied on other people to get them for me. Hmm. Have a look, is what I say.

[pensnest]

Actually, let's look at the O2 direct, there seems to be a way to book on that site. But I have a rehearsal in fifteen minutes, woe!

[randomling]

And I am at work! Double woe. Are you around tomorrow evening? We could converse by email or IM to figure out where we might want to sit and so on?

[pensnest]

Yes, indeed. We can get it sorted before Torchwood!

I'll email you my MSN ID.

[theserubyshoes]

My mother's side of the family is full of neurological "stuff" that sometimes manifests itself into full-blown bipolar disorder and/or autism spectrum disorder, and other times shows up just as a mixed bag of autism-ish stuff that needs to be coped with, mainly through sensory, social, and cognitive strategies that have proven useful to people diagnosed with classic autism. Sorry for that long, winding sentence.

I'm glad you've found a professional who listens to you, and who you trust. And you are most definitely NOT alone in having anxieties and weird reactions and issues, etc. I won't bore you with the lead-in, but by day three of our too-many-people family vacation my son came up to where I've been hiding, video camera in hand, and said he wanted to make a documentary of my descent into madness =_____= That would be funnier if it didn't feel so freaking true. Right this minute I'm rejuvenating with some quiet, alone time =D

[randomling]

Yeah, my doctor is an absolute godsend. I don't know how I would have got through the last year without her!

And you're right, alone time is really really important. It is really rejuvenating to be able to have some time alone. Introverts for the win! ♥