Charlie Stross5d ago

#WritersCoffeeClub March 17. What's an experience or sensation you've struggled to convey to a reader?

I've been arguing with myself over how to answer this prompt and took a while to realize that I don't even try to convey experiences or sensations: that's not what writing is for, in my books. I'm about ideas, and insights, and emergent emotional reactions to these.

Show threadjonoleth5d ago
@cstross I have the impression this is pretty common for autistic authors. Emotionally influencing others is a normal thing for neurotypicals to do, but autistics treat that as an interface they don't have permission for.
Show threadCharlie Stross5d ago
@jonoleth Yep, and I'm almost certainly autistic (online tests say yes: waiting list for an official diagnosis from NHS Scotland is measured in years and I'm in my 60s, so why bother).
Show threadjonoleth5d ago
@cstross I know many people in Sweden get around similar public health queue times by paying ~€2-3k to get a private diagnosis within a month. I was surprised by how validating it felt to get one, but it's, of course, a very personal thing
Show threadCharlie Stross
@jonoleth It's available here: problem is, any prescribed meds then have to be paid for privately (NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, but the NHS won't prescribe on the basis of private sector diagnoses).
Mar 17 at 11:44amWeb
Show threadjonoleth5d ago
@cstross forgive my ignorance, but what kind of meds would you get with an autism diagnosis?
Show threadCharlie Stross5d ago
@jonoleth None, but I'm probably AuDHD, which is a different kettle of fish!
Show threadjonoleth5d ago

@cstross aah, that explains it. Elvanse did help me a lot

At last here, an autism diagnosis fast-tracks you to an ADHD diagnosis, though no idea how that would interact with the NHS treating private diagnosis as second-class.

I'm surprised in general that there's a public health system that's even more stingy with meds than Sweden tbh >_>

Show threadSarah Brown5d ago

@cstross @jonoleth FWIW, getting medicated for ADHD last year at 51 was an absolute game changer. Elvanse gave me my life back.

(I’m probably AuDHD as well but CBA with an autism diagnosis)

Show threadCharlie Stross5d ago
@goatsarah @jonoleth As I've got metabolic syndrome I suspect ADHD meds would be a hard nope for me.
Show threadSarah Brown5d ago
@cstross @jonoleth my sympathies