A few months back I met with a psychologist to help me cope with social anxiety in hopes of overcoming my social issues so I could lead a normal life.
After 45 minutes of what seemed to be small talk and getting to know one another - something I generally can't do and very rarely participate in - but for some reason this time, with this psychologist, it was different; and then she explained why.
I will never forget her words: "You don't have social anxiety (referring to the disorder but not saying social issues weren't causing extreme anxiety). You have Asperger's. You don't need to be fixed because there is nothing wrong with you. You just need to understand and learn about yourself. You don't need to change anything. You are fine just the way you are."
She quickly found words that were always lost on me when it came to explaining the intricacies of my mind and how it works. She spoke my language in a way no one I have ever met has and when I pointed that out she informed me she also was diagnosed with Aspergers.
Those words changed my understanding of myself and even months later I am still in the process of coming to terms with it, awaiting a more formal and thorough diagnosis, and looking back on my entire life (I'm 30 years old) with a new and deeper understanding of all the things I could never grasp.
Given challenges of several misdiagnoses, medications that caused me to need to be admitted to hospital more than once, unanswered questions, history of abuse, a failed marriage, and absolutely no sense self or where I belong, this has not been an easy process. I experience severe delays in identifying and processing emotions, inability to communicate what I'm feeling and experiencing which has brought me here.
I am very isolated and a mother to an 8 year old who is also on the spectrum.
I'm hoping that by reaching out for support from people that understand, it will help me get through this.
Nice to meet all of you.
After 45 minutes of what seemed to be small talk and getting to know one another - something I generally can't do and very rarely participate in - but for some reason this time, with this psychologist, it was different; and then she explained why.
I will never forget her words: "You don't have social anxiety (referring to the disorder but not saying social issues weren't causing extreme anxiety). You have Asperger's. You don't need to be fixed because there is nothing wrong with you. You just need to understand and learn about yourself. You don't need to change anything. You are fine just the way you are."
She quickly found words that were always lost on me when it came to explaining the intricacies of my mind and how it works. She spoke my language in a way no one I have ever met has and when I pointed that out she informed me she also was diagnosed with Aspergers.
Those words changed my understanding of myself and even months later I am still in the process of coming to terms with it, awaiting a more formal and thorough diagnosis, and looking back on my entire life (I'm 30 years old) with a new and deeper understanding of all the things I could never grasp.
Given challenges of several misdiagnoses, medications that caused me to need to be admitted to hospital more than once, unanswered questions, history of abuse, a failed marriage, and absolutely no sense self or where I belong, this has not been an easy process. I experience severe delays in identifying and processing emotions, inability to communicate what I'm feeling and experiencing which has brought me here.
I am very isolated and a mother to an 8 year old who is also on the spectrum.
I'm hoping that by reaching out for support from people that understand, it will help me get through this.
Nice to meet all of you.
