Hello! I'm an ASD Christian!

[weepingwillow422]

My name is Shannon. I'm a single (never married) 36-year-old Christian woman on the spectrum. I have been a follower of Christ all my life (was raised in the church by my mother) but gave my life individually to Christ when I was 9. I was diagnosed later in life at 29, although the Holy Spirit confirmed I had autism 10 months earlier. I don't share the belief that autism is some sort of curse or defect. It comes with unique challenges, definitely, and has its negatives. But I also believe there can be blessings and gifts in it and that it's part of who I am. I hope to meet others here who feel the same way.

 

[NBB]

Hello i'm autistic also, the hope God gives is the best for autism issues.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

My name is Shannon. I'm a single (never married) 36-year-old Christian woman on the spectrum. I have been a follower of Christ all my life (was raised in the church by my mother) but gave my life individually to Christ when I was 9. I was diagnosed later in life at 29, although the Holy Spirit confirmed I had autism 10 months earlier. I don't share the belief that autism is some sort of curse or defect. It comes with unique challenges, definitely, and has its negatives. But I also believe there can be blessings and gifts in it and that it's part of who I am. I hope to meet others here who feel the same way.

Welcome!

 

[rachelrising]

Welcome weepingwillow42. I am interested in reading about how the Holy Spirit confirmed your autism. Did they speak to you or do this in another way?

 

[weepingwillow422]

Welcome weepingwillow42. I am interested in reading about how the Holy Spirit confirmed your autism. Did they speak to you or do this in another way?

If you mean did He speak to me audibly, no. It's hard to describe how it happens. It's a "voice within" sort of thing. I felt a warm hug and all of a sudden He brought me back to different times in my life where something I couldn't explain about myself or my experiences fit with the traits of autism. He also brought Psalm 139:13-16 to mind, reassuring me that I was fearfully and wonderfully made, autism and all. Basically telling my spirit, "This is why you have always felt different from the people around you. I created you this way for a purpose."

 

[rachelrising]

If you mean did He speak to me audibly, no. It's hard to describe how it happens. It's a "voice within" sort of thing. I felt a warm hug and all of a sudden He brought me back to different times in my life where something I couldn't explain about myself or my experiences fit with the traits of autism. He also brought Psalm 139:13-16 to mind, reassuring me that I was fearfully and wonderfully made, autism and all. Basically telling my spirit, "This is why you have always felt different from the people around you. I created you this way for a purpose."

Thank you for explaining weepingwillow422 and I totally understand. I was wondering as well as when I have been very overwhlemed and caused by others God has intervented with the Holy Spirit prescence itself which is soothing has stood by me and supported me to calm down. I think this may happen to others who are in distress to, but it seemed to be a seal to me as well that I do have this condition when this happened to me. I was tested as well.

 

[timf]

I prefer to use the term Aspergers. Autism used to refer to people with brain damage or malformation who seldom lived past their teen years. I do not see what Hans Asperger observed with the four boys he studied to be a similar disability to autism.

I see it as an uncommon neurological variant. Often this results in developmental delays as a child is faced with an abundance of sensory and cognitive processing that is handled manually rather than the more common reflexive way childhood experiences are integrated for those with a more typical neurology.

There is a free pdf booklet available called Aspregers and intentional life that my be of interest.

http://christianpioneer.com/blogarchieve/an_intentional_life_2017.pdf

The christianpioneer.com website might be of interest as well.

 

[Earthbear]

My name is Shannon. I'm a single (never married) 36-year-old Christian woman on the spectrum. I have been a follower of Christ all my life (was raised in the church by my mother) but gave my life individually to Christ when I was 9. I was diagnosed later in life at 29, although the Holy Spirit confirmed I had autism 10 months earlier. I don't share the belief that autism is some sort of curse or defect. It comes with unique challenges, definitely, and has its negatives. But I also believe there can be blessings and gifts in it and that it's part of who I am. I hope to meet others here who feel the same way.

Hi Shannon, did you choose not to marry? Was it difficult to not know you were autistic for such a long time?

 

[Godcrazy]

I don`t have this issue, but I was in a long term relationship for a long time when away from God which then pulled over in coming back to God thing, he was diagnosed aspd sorta highly functional but,with other mental health problems that did not show to begin with.

He was very sensitive like me, in the beginning and caring, but that changed, as his conditions developed -in that aspd- can`t say what did what, but it must have played a role.
What I saw was withdrawal, depression, delusions, mixing relgion and different paths up, believing he was Jesus, I do not have to say it all just that everything just aided it.
He had physical issues as well caused by the mental as the doctors did not find a physical cause.
I noticed how he had anger issues, anger issues from his past, but also because of his aspd.
I noticed how he did not understood what I was saying, and often misunderstood me and heard something else. I noticed how he did NOT understand non verbal clues that generally is used to make a point, things like just a nod or the way you hold your head. He did NOT understand nuances, or that you take turns in speaking not holding monologues. When I explained that to him he said no, despite I explained this is what the rest do. You take turns!

He could not understand complex thinking or making associations to what you are saying or build on that.
He did not understand that I just wanted to share some videos that I found helpful and did not want to listen to me and understand it was JUST sharing. That made him angry, and in his mind see it as force. And that is how it ended.
After enduring years of no support alone in a new country no friends no job. No support. If I had known from the beginning i would not have, despite I was in a terrible situation and he was helpful at that point.
So according to me, aspd etc can be very sensitive and nice, but can also be very angry and not understand or relate or even trying to.

 

[Godcrazy]

Many that know about aspd also say they have trouble with showing empathy or feeling empathy.