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Positive outlook

NAS38259

Hi. I first joined this a few months ago. Still waiting for diagnosis, waiting time is roughly 2 years on nhs in my area. I am hoping to find some positive conections. Although I relate to a lot of the discussions here I feel a lot make me feel down and are more of what I feel all the time on my own. I would like to feel some positiveness and joy. I am female and nearly 50 and think I am HFA tbc. Would like some contact with other older women with hfa in the hope we can be of some support to one another maybe. Share expereience and help maybe?

Parents

  • Hi I was diagnosed as autistic a few years ago when I was 50 and agree that it is important to feel positive about it.  For me my diagnosis is one of the best things that happened to me - the other being my kids - but it didn't feel like that right away.  One way I found to be more positive about it was to stop thinking about it as HFA because I have struggled with trying to be normal all my life and to form connections with people and dealt with anxiety and depression while holding down a demanding job and bringing up 2 kids.  To me that is being very very good at pretending to be functioning well not high functioning!  

    I don't have intellectual learning disabilities but I don't like the terms low & high functioning.   If I look "high functioning" that's because I have worked hard to make sure people don't think I'm weird and that I understand what to do or say but at a huge cost to my mental health.  Every time I have had a shutdown or panic attack that has left me unable to move or speak I was not functioning at all.  If people say you're high functioning that probably means they think you're not really autistic.

    If there are high functioning autistic people then there is question of where does low functioning start and it ignores strengths that all people have.  I know it's a term used by professionals and if that is the official medical term then professionals should use it.  But my diagnosis report is full of professional talk about deficits and not being able to do things and I want to feel positive about being autistic and recognise the strengths and struggles that brings.  There's nothing wrong with me - I'm different not disabled except by a world that isn't set up for autistic people.     

    Sorry to go on about this but I also feel that lots of discussions make me feel down about being autistic as well and I am happy to talk about the positive bits. If you want to listen to this explained better you could watch these talks.  Hope you enjoy them.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1AUdaH-EPM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSLdzdwlb_I

  • in reply to Komaneko

    Hi

    I watched the talks and feel better already. I need this positive input. Thanks 

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