Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi all, my first post so bear with me! :)
I was diagnosed in April this year at 38. It didn’t really come as a shock to me or my family. I was pleased in a way because I know the reason I am the way I am, and now I try to embrace my true self because I feel I’ve masked enough during my life.
I’ve struggled today though. I told a “trusted” colleague at work and was met with an attitude that has made me wish I hadn’t. They questioned whether I was actually medically diagnosed (I am but it shouldn’t matter?) they then said that the differences I have and struggle with are “things everyone deals with lumped under the name of autism”. I was gobsmacked by this comment.
I feel completely foolish that I trusted this person when usually I’m extremely private. Although I am aware that it’s their problem and not mine. I just wished I’d kept quiet. I thought this person would be supportive - how wrong I was.
No one else is aware of my autism at work and I’ve been reluctant to tell others because it doesn’t affect my work and I believe peoples attitudes will change around me. I’ve occasionally heard people use the terms “spectrum” and “autistic” as a means to insult others. This offends me and scares me into not saying anything.
I realise I’m lucky that I have my immediate family’s support, not everyone has that and I appreciate it. I just wonder if anyone else has struggled with telling friends, colleagues etc? How did you deal with ignorant comments?
Do You think it might have been a good idea to inform Your Management at work ?That way they can acknowledge and monitor Your well-being in the workplace.Equal opportunities and duty of care etc..
It’s something I often think about, though as it’s only been a few months I’m still coming to terms with it all myself. I will probably end up telling them though it will be when it feels right to me. It’s just the first time I’ve dealt with a comment that was rude. Because the only other people that know about my diagnosis have been supportive I naïvely thought this person would be similar but they weren’t. I felt like an idiot
Try to go easy on Yourself.Maybe You confided in Someone too soon.ASD ( especially with Myself ) tends to make me talk before i think, then i analyze after and thinkto Myself " Why did i say that ! )Don't feel like an idiot, You are not.I think ASD is a bit of a learning curve.It is not You, but simply how we are.Keep smiling
Hang on in there and keep smiling Iris.