So it’s been a year to the day since I received my official diagnosis. Coming out and getting a diagnosis has benefitted other people as well as myself. I’ve solved a family mystery. Where are all my other autistic family members? Some have a few traits. A grandfather who was an accomplished engineer. A grandmother well known for being blunt. A father who is sensitive to certain smells and sounds. A mother with specific sensitivities. An uncle who was a blunt engineer. Another uncle with anxiety. A cousin with dyslexia. Traits, but a far cry from anything diagnosable.
Well since my diagnosis and being open about it, I’ve lost count of the amount of relatives, close and distant, who have been inspired and encouraged to come out, be open about their struggles and seek a diagnosis after word of my own diagnosis spread around the family. Especially the younger ones. It seems like every other week I hear from my parents about how they got talking to a distant relative who has a kid that struggles with school and is “just like you” or an older relative who masked their problems their whole life but now feels more comfortable talking about them and the reason why. I’m glad they can now be open, be supported and pointed in the right direction. I’ve solved the mystery of where all my other autistic relatives have been: right there all along, just masked, hidden and needing the right encouragement. It’s good to see that coming out has helped other people more than myself.
As for me, I’ve been going down rabbit holes and deeper into some aspects of autism, like sensory aspects including misophonia and misokinesia. Communication aspects including receptive, expressive and reciprocal. I also find myself being drawn towards the sociology aspects and trying to answer questions like “just exactly why do I make authority figures so angry when I’m honest?” in as much detail as possible.
When talking about my diagnosis, the small acts of validation are the best. The best conversation I’ve had so far about autism was with my dentist. Just a 2 minute chat during a routine checkup, yet I’ve never felt so validated and accepted from a down to earth conversation with someone (outside this forum of course).
But for now, I’m looking forward to winter. We are currently in heatwave number 4 of the hottest summer for 2 years after 2 cold ones, neighbours have all their loud and seemingly random construction projects on the go, I’m looking after my mum who recently had a knee replacement and I desperately need my proper night owl sleep schedule back.
So thanks, much love, respect, solidarity and all that good stuff to you all as always.
Well since my diagnosis and being open about it, I’ve lost count of the amount of relatives, close and distant, who have been inspired and encouraged to come out, be open about their struggles and seek a diagnosis after word of my own diagnosis spread around the family. Especially the younger ones. It seems like every other week I hear from my parents about how they got talking to a distant relative who has a kid that struggles with school and is “just like you” or an older relative who masked their problems their whole life but now feels more comfortable talking about them and the reason why. I’m glad they can now be open, be supported and pointed in the right direction. I’ve solved the mystery of where all my other autistic relatives have been: right there all along, just masked, hidden and needing the right encouragement. It’s good to see that coming out has helped other people more than myself.
As for me, I’ve been going down rabbit holes and deeper into some aspects of autism, like sensory aspects including misophonia and misokinesia. Communication aspects including receptive, expressive and reciprocal. I also find myself being drawn towards the sociology aspects and trying to answer questions like “just exactly why do I make authority figures so angry when I’m honest?” in as much detail as possible.
When talking about my diagnosis, the small acts of validation are the best. The best conversation I’ve had so far about autism was with my dentist. Just a 2 minute chat during a routine checkup, yet I’ve never felt so validated and accepted from a down to earth conversation with someone (outside this forum of course).
But for now, I’m looking forward to winter. We are currently in heatwave number 4 of the hottest summer for 2 years after 2 cold ones, neighbours have all their loud and seemingly random construction projects on the go, I’m looking after my mum who recently had a knee replacement and I desperately need my proper night owl sleep schedule back.
So thanks, much love, respect, solidarity and all that good stuff to you all as always.
