When you were first diagnosed, especially late diagnosed, what were the main consequences for you
When you were first diagnosed, especially late diagnosed, what were the main consequences for you
Nearly 57 and very recent.
I see nothing but positives:
- my whole life suddenly makes perfect sence. Big time!!
- All that I am, after so much struggle and pain, has been validated. I'm not a failed NT. I'm a successful ND.
- I can congratulate myself for all the things I experienced real difficulty with due to autism and yet b*****y well did any way. Go me! Seriously, there are things where I think, blimey I did that anyway!!?
- I can let myself 'off the hook' for the few things I really can't do due to sensory component of autism - like drive.
- RELIEF. Massive blissful relief
- a few backsides have suddenly kicked into gear about the one thing I genuinely just could not cope with: my medical phobias and access to health care. Diagnosis = the right help, finally!
- see last point. It has literally saved my life
- so recognising why my gifts are what they are and lovin' my lovely autistic/dyslexic brain. My hyperfocus and analytical skills are actually my professional selling point (kinda knew that anyway, but now I really know). I wouldn't swap my brain for all the tea in China.
- I can forgive the unwitting harms done to me by NTs, no matter how painful. Neither I nor they knew.
- my stims don't alarm me any more. I know what they are now. I'm not bonkers and I need them, so I stim happily away without caring. And no I don't care who's watching.
- if I have a melt down, ok it's horrible, but I don't need to beat myself up any more about it. And I can just warn people it might happen and just tell them not to worry about it. Just leave me alone to recover. I'll be fine.
- a suddenly improved understanding of NTs...what? They know what people think and feel without intensly studying and analysing that, really? Oh wow! I might call on their special talent and ask my NT friends about stuff when I'm unsure. Bits of their logical processes sometimes aren't as good, though. Ok, I'll be more respectful and patient and try to explain things in their terms. They think you don't care if you haven't called this week. Ok. I love them and I'll do that for them etc
- magically I know what help to ask for and have the courage to ask for it. Never been very good at asking for help.
The list could go on. My diagnosis has given me hope, confidence and a way forward with so much. I could dance naked in the moonlight
Nearly 57 and very recent.
I see nothing but positives:
- my whole life suddenly makes perfect sence. Big time!!
- All that I am, after so much struggle and pain, has been validated. I'm not a failed NT. I'm a successful ND.
- I can congratulate myself for all the things I experienced real difficulty with due to autism and yet b*****y well did any way. Go me! Seriously, there are things where I think, blimey I did that anyway!!?
- I can let myself 'off the hook' for the few things I really can't do due to sensory component of autism - like drive.
- RELIEF. Massive blissful relief
- a few backsides have suddenly kicked into gear about the one thing I genuinely just could not cope with: my medical phobias and access to health care. Diagnosis = the right help, finally!
- see last point. It has literally saved my life
- so recognising why my gifts are what they are and lovin' my lovely autistic/dyslexic brain. My hyperfocus and analytical skills are actually my professional selling point (kinda knew that anyway, but now I really know). I wouldn't swap my brain for all the tea in China.
- I can forgive the unwitting harms done to me by NTs, no matter how painful. Neither I nor they knew.
- my stims don't alarm me any more. I know what they are now. I'm not bonkers and I need them, so I stim happily away without caring. And no I don't care who's watching.
- if I have a melt down, ok it's horrible, but I don't need to beat myself up any more about it. And I can just warn people it might happen and just tell them not to worry about it. Just leave me alone to recover. I'll be fine.
- a suddenly improved understanding of NTs...what? They know what people think and feel without intensly studying and analysing that, really? Oh wow! I might call on their special talent and ask my NT friends about stuff when I'm unsure. Bits of their logical processes sometimes aren't as good, though. Ok, I'll be more respectful and patient and try to explain things in their terms. They think you don't care if you haven't called this week. Ok. I love them and I'll do that for them etc
- magically I know what help to ask for and have the courage to ask for it. Never been very good at asking for help.
The list could go on. My diagnosis has given me hope, confidence and a way forward with so much. I could dance naked in the moonlight
