This may turn into a rant and might be a bit long. I apologise in advance.
My brother was diagnosed with Aspergers when he was 14. I was about 12 at the time and during previous year, ended up suffering a seizure and ended up with a lot of issues, including hypersensitivity to light, more frequent headaches and depression.
I was "diagnosed" at 23 with ASD. From this day on, my mum seems to have belittled me. She constantly compares me to my brother. She claims he's much worse than me - AS is his only diagnosis. I also have diagnoses of a few visual impairments, a hearing impairment, (I can hear; but it's too sensitive) a gut disorder and a brain condition.
She's trying to get me to go back to work - claiming there's jobs out there. My disabilities make it difficult to work full time and I can't do most jobs. She once moaned because I've had to change benefits and now claim ESA. She says that I can work; as I go out. She actually has no idea what I do when I go out...
She moaned because I don't pay for my eye tests; but my brother has to. What I receive in a fortnight, he receives in a week in benefits. I did point out that the reason I get free eye tests is due to medical condition and nothing to do with what benefits I do or don't claim.
Mum did once moan because I'd put a claim in for DLA. Her response was "well, it's not as if you need thick glasses is it?" That has just proved she has no understanding of my eye conditions. Glasses do not change the fact that I'm colour blind, have eyes that wobble and have part of my eye missing.
My brother has never worked; which mum is happy with. The way she goes on about him at times, makes it sound as though he have severe learning disabilities - he doesn't. He's lazy.
I am now getting to the stage where I am so fed up of being constantly compared to my brother and belittled. She has pretty much said there's nothing wrong with me. She hasn't been to my ENT appointment or hearing test, she doesn't go to the eye infirmary with me; so has no idea what really is wrong with me or what happens at these appointments. (basically, I've failed a few tests and "passed" the hearing test at a lower range than normal)
