How do you feel about you autism diagnosis?

[DogzSpirit]

Now you have me thinking visual thoughts and l see myself as a giant shaggy big woolly mammoth that tramples on conversations and says the most idiot thing if l don't filter and my mask is off. But who doesn't like a mammoth?

Everyone's inner Mammoths can come out, and speak their shaggy mindset here ; )

 

[Progster]

Relieved. Relieved that there is an explanation for the various difficulties and experiences I have had throughout life.

 

[Martha Ferris]

I am with Au Naturel on this one. None of the above. I am self diagnosed but the diagnosis fits.
I now have a place where I belong on this planet after 65 years of belonging no where and of struggling to fit in. Now I can just be who I am and who I am is OK because there is a reason why. It's not something I can control or fix which I have been trying to do all my life or at least moderate. It doesn't make any diffference to those I interact with but it makes a big difference to me in accepting myself. I always felt I was having to twist myself into a pretzel to be/interact with others. Now I can stop hopefully.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I always had a suspicion I was autistic when I felt really different from my family in a way I couldn't describe. I'm pretty happy with my diagnosis but my family still doubts that I am autistic because I don't "act like it" or "I use it as a crutch too much".

EXACTLY! The only reason I can think of for the lack of social help when I was isolated was that my academics were exceptional in the courses I enjoyed, so that everybody thought I was normal and that my isolation and lack of relationships were by choice.

 

[DogzSpirit]

EXACTLY! The only reason I can think of for the lack of social help when I was isolated was that my academics were exceptional in the courses I enjoyed, so that everybody thought I was normal and that my isolation and lack of relationships were by choice.

The diagnosis best serves us and our ability to put all our lives puzzle pieces together. It gives us an understanding and acceptance, as well as opening the door to meet others of this wiring.

The diagnosis serves us best. We cannot expect that diagnosis to serve NTs equally well, for we have to understand that society and family cannot quite grasp that this spectrum wiring can be a factor when they look at our outward person. It is often beyond their skillset to see and understand. Many will want to blow this (diagnosis) off as imagined or us "Arguing for your limitations and they are surely yours", when in fact the resistance met, speaks for their limitation in being able to comprehend what Aspergers is and relate to those ins and outs.

 

[Ken]

There was no surprise on my part only a sober look on how girls are ignored even if they very clearly have have autism (or maybe not according to doctors to diagnosed me with 12 things instead of the one thing that covered all of it: autism)

I'm happy to hear you say that. I have seen lots of references that autistic females are different from males; that their traits are less severe. That has not been my observation. I know a few female and male aspies and all are clearly equally autistic. Their traits are different by individual, but not by gender. I believe just as you noted that girls are more often ignored. A really bad reflection on our society.

 

[clg114]

Was not diagnosed until I was 62 years old. I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome using the old DSM-4. For me, this diagnosis was a very good thing because it answered a lot questions that I had about myself. I see being on the spectrum as my superpower. I can do things that others can't because of my AS. I do not mind being seen as "that weird, old, smart guy".

 

[Ken]

I can do things that others can't because of my AS. I do not mind being seen as "that weird, old smart guy".

Weird?? What's wrong with Weird? I've always taken being called weird as a compliment.

 

[Thinx]

EXACTLY! The only reason I can think of for the lack of social help when I was isolated was that my academics were exceptional in the courses I enjoyed, so that everybody thought I was normal and that my isolation and lack of relationships were by choice.

Yes I think that's very likely. I'm just thinking of a man on my first degree course, he was really quiet and hardly spoke unless consulted, but really brilliant, and got a first. I was definitely in awe of him, I assumed he may be shy, but didn't consider at all that he may be distressed. I wouldn't have been brave enough to even talk to him back then. I hope he wasn't suffering.

 

[Hazel_1914]

I was around 18 on diagnosis. It was a revelation, and the more I know the more I can figure out.

Knowing truth about yourself & other people is wonderful even when the truth hurts a little bit.

 

[jleeb05]

It's weird because for part of my childhood it was accepted that I had Aspergers but over time, I convinced myself that I couldn't possibly have Autism. The problem was that I had such superior emotional intelligence that people didn't get me. So in some ways, this feels like picking up a piece of my identity I had forgotten existed.

I really like the term "sensemaking." Being diagnosed helps me better understand myself and my past. I came out as part of the "LGBTQ" community when I was 12. I was excited more than anything because I felt I had a community and I finally understood why I was so...different. But then I still didn't fit in. I remember someone saying, "I've met a lot of gay guys and none of them are weird like you." Well, I guess now I understand why.

 

[LadyS]

One of the big changes since is that I realized I was overcompensating in my attempt to "fit in" and be accepted. Trying too hard, and a lot of it because I was raised in that environment where my parents tried so hard to make sure I did. As I'm unraveling all my layers, I'm now trying to be more reflective in my past interactions and realize that I don't need to try to do anything period. It's actually brought me more peace of mind post-interaction whereas before I would kick and scold myself for saying the wrong things and trying too hard.

And I've begun to realize I'm getting more positive reactions in return from others.

 

[Thinx]

It's weird because for part of my childhood it was accepted that I had Aspergers but over time, I convinced myself that I couldn't possibly have Autism. The problem was that I had such superior emotional intelligence that people didn't get me. So in some ways, this feels like picking up a piece of my identity I had forgotten existed.

I really like the term "sensemaking." Being diagnosed helps me better understand myself and my past. I came out as part of the "LGBTQ" community when I was 12. I was excited more than anything because I felt I had a community and I finally understood why I was so...different. But then I still didn't fit in. I remember someone saying, "I've met a lot of gay guys and none of them are weird like you." Well, I guess now I understand why.

Yes me too, except I came out way later than you. I thought it was The Reason I'd not really fitted in so far... along with gender nonconformity; well, that and having had a weird family... but turned out to also be autism, I realised when I came across it.

 

[Au Naturel]

I always had a suspicion I was autistic when I felt really different from my family in a way I couldn't describe. I'm pretty happy with my diagnosis but my family still doubts that I am autistic because I don't "act like it" or "I use it as a crutch too much".

That sounds like most NTs who don't understand and won't learn.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

when your the majority, there is no obligation to learn just ask any other minority community.

 

[Aspea]

“Kenneth … When are you ever going to wake up and act like a normal human being?”

I have spent over 90% of my life longing to not exist because I hated being “defective”.

The absoluteness of my “defectiveness” was diminished. It was a major relief to know I was not totally alone or totally “defective”. I finally understood how I was different. Not that I can “fix” it, but at least I understand what is going on. I felt like a lifelong lead blanket that had been smothering my life had been lifted. I felt that for the first time, I could breath. As an autistic; I’m supposed to be like this.

Like you, I had feelings of defectiveness. Finding out about being on the spectrum allows you to re-frame your entire life's story and make sense of events that previously had no explanation. It gives you closure, finally. A life of feeling defective in various ways is a life also of unresolved traumas, and there is healing to do.

Books that were transformational and healing for me were:
"The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome" by Tony Attwood
"Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker
"The Tao of Fully Feeling" by the same author
"The Emotionally Absent Mother" by Jasmin Lee Cori
"Running on Empty" by Jonice Webb

 

[Au Naturel]

Now you have me thinking visual thoughts and l see myself as a giant shaggy big woolly mammoth that tramples on conversations and says the most idiot thing if l don't filter and my mask is off. But who doesn't like a mammoth?

Yeah! Just think about the movie, "Ice Age."

 

[Au Naturel]

I'm happy I got mine, after 14 to 15 years of trying (lots of Red Tape and an incompetent Psychiatrist who basically dismissed anything of the sort, which was 7 years ago) before finally getting a properly certified guy to do it after 2 assessments (last year and this past March). My parents were relieved as well.

Especially since I suspected I had it or some form of it, which is why I had my Diagnosis on here as PDD-NOS for the longest time, but now set it to Awaiting Diagnosis, as I'm unsure of the full diagnosis, just that it's Autism, though I may just change it to Autism (Classic).

I'm finally eligible for Supports from CLBC, a Canadian organization devoted to helping Neurodivergent folks, and those with other Disabilities. However, funding won't be available until April of next year, but I'm sure it'll be worth it.

There are still some psychs who refuse to accept that females can be autistic. It is what they were taught in school and they lack the flexibility to consider they might have been taught wrong. That lack of flexibility is a very common human trait. The theories of the day turn into dogma and the open mind closes.

 

[Isadoorian]

There are still some psychs who refuse to accept that females can be autistic. It is what they were taught in school and they lack the flexibility to consider they might have been taught wrong. That lack of flexibility is a very common human trait. The theories of the day turn into dogma and the open mind closes.

I'm actually not a girl/woman (I'm a Cis Man), and I'm aware that there are people out there who refuse to acknowledge that girls/women can be autistic.

The reason that individual dismissed anything was, and I'm paraphrasing the report: "Due to my parents great skills in parenting".

That assessment, thankfully, was seen as false/invalid and basically worthless. I do wish I had a copy so I could chuckle at it once in a while though.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Interesting, I had to look up CIS gender, learning stuff every day having a chemisty background I am familiar with cis, trans and para.