It’s Official

[rach3rd]

I just got my official autism diagnosis, with GAD thrown in as well. I’m still amazed to be honest. I didn’t know a thing about autism just a month ago.

UPDATE - I told my youngest son who is a senior in HS when he got home. He said, “I already know”. I said, “What??”. He said that he and his older brother had just recently looked up the characteristics of autism. They were like, “Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad”. He said only one they thought I might not have. They were like, “he’s definitely on the spectrum somewhere”. LOL

 

[unperson]

Congratulations Rach3rd, you're a winner.

 

[Magna]

Welcome!

 

[Thinx]

It's good to know. Sounds like your sons already did, too! It may hopefully help your anxiety to know this, too, as you can see reasons now for ways that you are that you didn't know previously, or as you grew up. This can help us build strategies to get around some issues, rather than try to change in ways recommended for neurotypicals.

 

[rach3rd]

It's good to know. Sounds like your sons already did, too! It may hopefully help your anxiety to know this, too, as you can see reasons now for ways that you are that you didn't know previously, or as you grew up. This can help us build strategies to get around some issues, rather than try to change in ways recommended for neurotypicals.

One of the things I can let go of is that I was not “trying hard enough” to “fix” my non NT behaviors.

 

[James45]

One of the things I can let go of is that I was not “trying hard enough” to “fix” my non NT behaviors.

That is the biggest thing I have got so far from my diagnosis (1year ago) not trying to fix things which are part of me...it frees up a lot of energy...good luck

 

[watersprite]

Welcome.

 

[Aspychata]

You are the lucky winner today. Just turn in your lottery ticket to get full credit.

Humor aside, sounds like your sons are very astute.

 

[rach3rd]

You are the lucky winner today. Just turn in your lottery ticket to get full credit.

Humor aside, sounds like your sons are very astute.

They are both really smart...they take after their Mom. Apparently I had done something strange behavior-wise, and my older son decided they should look up autism.

 

[Martha Ferris]

So happy for you. Having a reason for how we are is so important to our self esteem after years and even decades of wondering "What the heck is wrong with me?" and "Why can't I be like others?" and "Why is this so hard?"

 

[Crossbreed]

@rach3rd, if you are in the USA, see
Autlanders, Thriving Outside of the Box: Finding Support Resources in the USA...

 

[rach3rd]

So happy for you. Having a reason for how we are is so important to our self esteem after years and even decades of wondering "What the heck is wrong with me?" and "Why can't I be like others?" and "Why is this so hard?"

Thank you Martha. As someone much older with many years of life to reflect on, it was like getting hit by a lightning bolt. Eureka! That's why I feel so different. I'm just wired differently than most other people.