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Newly diagnosed & flailing

Martin

Hello. My name is Martin; i am 66yo and was diagnosed as autistic, with social anxiety disorder (such an ugly word, that) and dyspraxia, 3 months ago. So far, i've only had my counsellor to talk to about my diagnosis as neither my friends nor family seem to be interested in helping me to process what i believe to be the biggest discovery of my life. I'm struggling to absorb the news on my own, after a lifetime spent masking & trying to fit in (& failing), and there seems to be no help out in the 'real world' from organisations etc. I'd welcome any advice, pointers etc.

Parents

  • Sorry to hear this Martin - for yourself and for the rest of us. I've been diagnosed over a year (56 here) and I've not even had a counsellor! You're at least one up on me. I've tried and tried to find help so I am following your thread to see if someone has something positive and useful: particularly as I'm currently going through a very rough patch and would benefit from some - any - support. Good luck to you.

Reply

  • Sorry to hear this Martin - for yourself and for the rest of us. I've been diagnosed over a year (56 here) and I've not even had a counsellor! You're at least one up on me. I've tried and tried to find help so I am following your thread to see if someone has something positive and useful: particularly as I'm currently going through a very rough patch and would benefit from some - any - support. Good luck to you.

Children
  • in reply to Clarkie

    Hi Clarkie. Thanks for your kind words. The great thing about this thread, for me, is that we empathise - going through very similar experiences means we know intimately how each other feels. I don't know where you are, but i hope there are counselling services nearby: mine is a godsend (it was my counsellor who first saw the signs, then helped me through the long wait & assessment.) Although i've quickly come to understand how people with (other) disabilities feel - the outside world pretends we don't exist, or worse, expect us to act as though we're 'normal' - i actually feel like i've been given something extra, even if i don't know how to exploit it yet. We're not 'less than', we're augmented. We have other strengths in our arsenal.

    Non illegitimum carborundum.