Hi.
I’m Lydia. I’m currently 23 (and no promises I’ll change this to 24 or even to 25 when my birthday rolls around…). The number one thing to know about me is that I am a Christian… but lest that scare you away somehow, don’t let it. I don’t dare tell anyone else what to say, do, think, or believe, and I have friends and family in the Autism World of ours of all faiths and nonfaiths.
I tend to love what I love to the extreme. Like, I don’t just like Food Network… it’s on just about 24 hours a day at my house. I call the chefs my friends. Alton Brown is my favorite, but his show is only on in the middle of the night, so now I watch Iron Chef America just to get my Alton fix. But since Alton’s not technically a chef, my favorite actual chef is probably Anne Burrell. She’s so cool.
Oh, and cats. I am entirely in love with and obsessed with my cat Elsie Penelope. She’s 13… best friends since I was 10 years old. She’s seen me through so much, not to mention that she kind of ridiculously adorable.
Oh, and I love to write (or more accurately, type). I have my own book (available here and also on Kindle), and I blog, and I Twitter and Facebook and Gmail chat… love it all!
And I’m purposely discussing this last so as not to make it my defining feature, but I have autism. The next question I always get is, Asperger’s, right? Um… well, no one really knows. Or rather, everyone thinks they know, but no one can agree. If I have Asperger’s, I have a lot more severe issues than most people with AS (but my neuropsych does say Asperger’s). The most recent label I got was “the high end of moderate autism.” The person who knows me best, at least I think she does, says HFA. I can be verbal, or I can be not at all. I can sit at my computer, alone in my apartment with my cat and my Food Network (so, totally in my comfort zone) and display incredible insight… but none of that really transfers to real life. I’m quite talented academically, but I have total, hours-long meltdowns over things like the TV screen freezing.
All that said, they’re going to continue to disagree over “how autistic” I am, but I’ve settled on realizing that I have both awesome gifts and surprising deficits, and that those gifts and deficits change from day to day, hour to hour.
So, I’m a lot of things. But mostly, I’m just Lydia, no more or less.
This “About” is so much more accurate than your previous blog resume.
Lydia:
Do you live in the United States or elsewhere? I was just wondering because your post today is dated June 1, 2011 – and it is still May 31, 2011 in the U.S.
Cindy, I’m in PA. I have no idea why it’s doing that or how to fix it. I’ll put it on the back burner and think about it another time… enough else to deal with right now! But thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Pingback: ‘How do I know my child loves me?’ | The YAI Network’s
I also write for a living (and love cats…and the Food Network); and I just have to tell you that you are such a pro. Your writing is so insightful and lovely. Thank you for sharing your light with the Internet!
My wife and I watch Chopped religiously, Iron Chef semi-religiously, and a couple others. Anne is pretty kick-ass.
I love Anne Burrell and Alton Brown the best!
Great blog. Can I use one of your pictures to put on a post on you at my blog. You are on list to be named an Autism Light.
I just got your book Living in Technicolor: An Autistic’s Thoughts on Raising a Child with Autism on Kindle. Thank you for sharing your story and your words of wisdom!
Yes! You are soooo Lydia! Unique and wonderful! I am so happy to have “found” you!! I have a ten year old with HFA/Asperger’s (confuses me too). You are a beautiful writer. Blessings!
you are awesome,Lydia- i used to tell people Lydia was my name- because i loved winona ryder in beetlejuice and thats her name. I am an undiagnosed all sorts of things,married to an informally diagnosed aspergers,2 older ocd,odd,add boys 10,and 13 years old and recently my 2 year old was tentatively given asd diagnosis and a for sure sensory processing issue- he doesnt like to go into stores,which makes life even harder for my already mentally and physically clausterophobic isses. he also doesnt like to eat much at all..not to mention obsessions he cannot understand let alone try to work with. we have st and ot for starters and im educating myself- you are an inspiration…..oh,and i live for cats- i have 6 and they are so amazing!
Hi! My advice is threefold:
1. READ.
2. ENGAGE.
3. SENSORY DIET (cats are great for this!).
Let me know if I can answer any questions- shoot me an email!
I was diagnosed with Asperger’s at 12, I adore cats and have had a few (none at present sadly, my mother is allergic). I was considered “brilliant” in elementary school but it never translated into any real academic success. I graduated from high school at 21, never went to college.
I love your blog! I have a son who has autism and is considered high functioning but, like you, can slip into hour-long meltdowns depending on the situations. (Coincidentally, his birthday is also Dec 9th!! He just turned 7.) I just read a post you wrote about Israel being set apart for holiness and how God uses your autism for good, how He has kept you set apart from the yuck of the world. As a mom who is concerned about what my son will encounter as he gets older, your words were such an encouragement. Thank you so much!
I just found your blog and love your honesty and writing. I’m starting my own blog soon, LovesMoose.com, and am LovesMoose on Twitter and Facebook. I hope you stop by and say hello. Carla
)
Oh, darn those smiley faces. Just imagine one big happy smiley face, okay!
Lydia,so great to have found your blog.I came across a comment on WP that you made about regressing as an adult with autism. this has happened to my son who is going through a very difficult time .I think depression added to the autism has completely deskilled him. he struggles to make a cup of tea, and this was a boy who went to the US on his own for a holiday two years ago. I am desperately trying to find information on regression in adults with aspergers. My son was very mild aspergers growing up.If you have any leads or links to information on this I would be so grateful. It is so encouraging to see you have written a book. I saw that skills like driving have come and gone for you.This is exactly the same for our son and the professional help is not always helpful as you know!