Yes, that's what i had to endure in my youth. Autism and ADHD were never tested for when I was growing up. "Smack him hard enough, he'll straighten out." Back then, ignorance was plentiful and punishment freely distributed when I "wasn't acting normal". It actually feels quite cathartic to release this. My father use to say, "Stop doing that, people will think there's something wrong with you."...that was his response to me jumping up and down and swaying back and forth when I was happy. When I would...'stim'...I'd stretch my fingers really wide and tend to spring up on my tiptoes. I still stretch my fingers wide and tend to keep my rocking motions to a minimum...stealth purposes...parents say 'no!'.
My mother and step father are still ignorant on the subject of Autism and ADHD and insist that there's "nothing to diagnose, you're wasting your time.", yet, most who have experience with Autism and contact with me, say, "Yes...seek a diagnosis." I think my mother would be more embarrassed for herself to know that her son has Autism, because that would possibly mean that she may have issues as well. That would be taboo!
This isn't a 'feel bad for me' post...this was my experience and it feels good to say something about it.
Anyone else experience this?
