Questions About Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

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Is Eleanor an Aspie? Or on the Spectrum at all?

Melody As someone who has a professional diagnosis of autism which I finally received in my 40s I have been most upset by some comments. Every single autisti…moreAs someone who has a professional diagnosis of autism which I finally received in my 40s I have been most upset by some comments. Every single autistic person is as different and individual as neurotypicals. I would never assume that all neurotypicals are good at social skills or enjoy physical contact just because they aren't Autistic. To suggest Eleanor cant be autistic because she likes holding hands is innacurate. I love to hold my husband's hand or my daughter's hand (Yes, shock horror, I am autistic, married and have a non autistic child!!) However, if a stranger were to touch me or even stand slightly close to me it would cause me huge anxiety. If my husband took my hand unexpectedly I would flinch. All behaviours can vary from day to day as with any human being. External factors as well as the autism itself have a bearing on how my traits present themselves. Also, Austism and it's huge range of traits and behaviours are measured on a spectrum and not a linear scale from severe to high functioning.

To suggest its used as an excuse is incredibly insulting. Getting a proffessional diagnosis is an extremely difficult process (especially as an adult) often taking years so to suggest there is some kind of bandwagon is extremely ignorant and ill informed. It took months of interviews with various teams of professionals, my whole family had to be interviewed so they could be sure my issues had been since infancy and I had to get all my old school whixh was almost impossible.
My experience is that autism is not over diagnosed but in fact under diagnosed especially in women The diagnostic criteria they use is based on males who often present as having more classic signs than girls.
Many autistic people have been victims of abuse and suffer ptsd as a result of being bullied, lonely and living their whole lives feeling disconnected and confused by the world. PtSD and autism are far from being mutually exclusive. IF YOU'VE MET ONE PERSON WITH AUTISM YOU ONLY HAVE ONE EXPERIENCE OF AUTISM.
It makes me so sad (Yes, I feel emotions very deeply as many autistic people do) that in an age of so-called autism awareness that there is still so much misinformation and ignorance. I hope my post goes some way to dispell some very damaging myths
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Ashley Tambunga Ratcliff I LOVE THIS ENDING. It leaves you with a sense of discouragement and hope at the same time--discouragement that Eleanor's issues are so much deeper th…moreI LOVE THIS ENDING. It leaves you with a sense of discouragement and hope at the same time--discouragement that Eleanor's issues are so much deeper than she could've imagined, and hope that she now has a friend and a counselor to get her though it. Gave me chills.(less)

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Feeling bereft after finishing this truly amazing book! Recommendations with a similar style of writing (love 'Eleanor's play on words and love of language!) /humour please (other than 'Rosie project', 'sequel' [of which' title I have forgotten!] and 'dog in the night time'!)? Thank you 😀