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Acceptance?

Anotherandy

Since I've finally managed to write a post here I may as well go all in and ask the question that's been the monkey on my back for a long time now; how did you move towards acceptance of your autism? 

Long story short is I know a fair bit about ASD, recognise many traits in myself, accept that I probably am autistic (have told family and friends I'm awaiting formal diagnosis) but honestly don't feel that I am until I get the official badge from said formal diagnosis. (I imagine this to be quite common among autistics - it's quite an autistic thought process in itself?)

So yeah, I'm awaiting a late diagnosis (late 40's) which in reality given it was picked up in relation to a mental health issue (that I now realise was probably a second major burnout episode) 15 or so years ago shouldn't have been quite so late...

I've always known I was different, always felt outside, spent years fearing I was various degrees of plain old crazy while just about managing a job, life, family etc. 

For those of you with similar tales how did you get that doubt out of your mind? Did it actually go with the diagnosis - did that make acceptance easier? And yeah, I guess what do I do towards accepting myself for what's pretty much odds on - that I am autistic. Perhaps posting here is the first (or another) step? Help?!

Parents

  • 3 years diagnosed and still get episodes of "impostor syndrome" in respect of autism.

    Mostly when given some sort of a hard time from someone and I start giving myself a hard time too - when I back of the pressure on myself I can recognise the autistic traits a lot easier tho'...

    It's tricky because the change in expectations that comes is hard to get used to.

    hopefully this joke makes sense:

    baby polar bear asks mummy polar bear "Am I really a polar bear?"  - "Yes dear - now run away and play I'm cleaning the snow house"

    "Dad, am I really a polar bear?" - " yes son, now do you want to come seal hunting with me?"

    "Grandad, am I really a polar bear?" - "yes lad, there's been polar bears in our family for generations...."

    "Grandma, am I really a polar bear?" - "yes dear, now tell me what's troubling you?" -  "If I'm really a polar bear, why am I so flipping cold?"

    Best wishes

Reply

  • 3 years diagnosed and still get episodes of "impostor syndrome" in respect of autism.

    Mostly when given some sort of a hard time from someone and I start giving myself a hard time too - when I back of the pressure on myself I can recognise the autistic traits a lot easier tho'...

    It's tricky because the change in expectations that comes is hard to get used to.

    hopefully this joke makes sense:

    baby polar bear asks mummy polar bear "Am I really a polar bear?"  - "Yes dear - now run away and play I'm cleaning the snow house"

    "Dad, am I really a polar bear?" - " yes son, now do you want to come seal hunting with me?"

    "Grandad, am I really a polar bear?" - "yes lad, there's been polar bears in our family for generations...."

    "Grandma, am I really a polar bear?" - "yes dear, now tell me what's troubling you?" -  "If I'm really a polar bear, why am I so flipping cold?"

    Best wishes

Children
  • in reply to Phased

    Thanks! I hadn't factored in imposter syndrome though and used to a healthy dose of that.

    Joke makes very much makes sense - I was chatting to a mate of mine who can't really understand my stance; his take was if you thought you were allergic to milk you wouldn't wait for the tests before you stopped drinking milk. Obviously I told him I would!