Feeling angry, very upset and confused

Lately I have been compulsively re-playing the past in my mind over and over again. I need closure. I want to know why the educational system were so negligent that they missed my Asperger's; that they did not give me the help that I needed; that I spent my teen years feeling like a horrible person, with no social life, just constant anxiety and rejection. I cry and feel so hurt when I think about it. As I get older the injustice is like a seeping sore, the battle wounds of my past that most people do not see because I put on a mask and I am a good actor. I can easily hide the hurt and look merry and calm; I have learnt how to repress my feelings. But I am starting to feel the strain, and I wonder how much longer I can go on until the hard outer carapace crumbles and my soft inner core is exposed for all to see.

I had real difficulties as a child, and came very close to being statemented with SEN. An educational psychologist recommended this, but school did not follow through, and I received minimal support that just focused on my academic difficulties, and failed to help me with friendships and the social world.

I only got diagnosed when I was 21, and if I had not fought for this, I don't think I would received any diagnosis. That's the problem - I can act a part too well. I appear social and friendly, I know how to mimic because I have an excellent rote memory, but there is no emotional understanding. I often feel anger and resentment towards people, that is, Neurotypicals, who cast me off with platitudes that I am 'mild' or 'high functioning'. Well here is the truth: I am not mild, I am not high functioning, I have struggled with life and I still struggle. I am not a people person; another truth, I sometimes hate people or the things they say. It is people that wreck my self esteem, that invade my ego with their false 'opinions', and constantly make assumptions based on my outward appearance.

I don't know who I am, and this makes me feel so confused and wretched. I doubt myself. I even doubt my diagnosis, although I know it is the only thing that really describes who I am.

I don't know how much longer I can maintain the act. Maybe there will be a time when I revert back to type, become that silly child again and throw caution to the wind. Maybe then, people will see my true nature and I won't have to feel angry anymore.

Why was it not picked up?

God, what I have written looks awful, like I am some narcissist. Maybe that is what I am?

Parents
  • Hope, I am sorry to hear you feel so angry :(

    I am new here today as feeling a little lost awaiting some sort of diagnosis for my son.

    Anyway - during the course of trying to get him a diagnosis I realised that the string of terrible school reports I received when I was younger is probably not down to the fact I was a "lethargic daydreamer". I hated school too - I suffered constant teasing and it felt like EVERYONE was on a sports team and not me. 

    I too have felt resent toward the system for dismissing me as an underachiever (I am very intelligent but can't concentrate for toffee and lack any sort of basic organisation skills - rendering me pretty hopeless). I have also felt resent at the near impossibility of receiving any sort of adult diagnosis in my area should I want to go down that route. 

    You have not said how old you are. I am 39 - far less was known/done about ADHD, ASD etc back then - so I imagine there are A LOT of people like me - especially females (which I am).

    Anyway....I figured there was no point in feeling resent - I have love and friends and a beautiful (although extremely challenging) son ( all of whome accept my ways). At 39 I feel I cannot waste time on feeling bitter towards all I may have lost from not receiving the right support when I needed it. I have also vowed to do everything I can to help my son with his life - so that he does not go through the same. 

    I have days I don't know who I am too - but for all the people who probably think I'm weird, I have gone past caring.

    My point being is that life can feel pretty lonely at times and I have found out that acting hostile towards ignorant people doesn't make me feel any better - it just makes me feel worse. 

    As hard as it is, don't try and make sense of what is making you angry because there probably is no sense in it. 

Reply
  • Hope, I am sorry to hear you feel so angry :(

    I am new here today as feeling a little lost awaiting some sort of diagnosis for my son.

    Anyway - during the course of trying to get him a diagnosis I realised that the string of terrible school reports I received when I was younger is probably not down to the fact I was a "lethargic daydreamer". I hated school too - I suffered constant teasing and it felt like EVERYONE was on a sports team and not me. 

    I too have felt resent toward the system for dismissing me as an underachiever (I am very intelligent but can't concentrate for toffee and lack any sort of basic organisation skills - rendering me pretty hopeless). I have also felt resent at the near impossibility of receiving any sort of adult diagnosis in my area should I want to go down that route. 

    You have not said how old you are. I am 39 - far less was known/done about ADHD, ASD etc back then - so I imagine there are A LOT of people like me - especially females (which I am).

    Anyway....I figured there was no point in feeling resent - I have love and friends and a beautiful (although extremely challenging) son ( all of whome accept my ways). At 39 I feel I cannot waste time on feeling bitter towards all I may have lost from not receiving the right support when I needed it. I have also vowed to do everything I can to help my son with his life - so that he does not go through the same. 

    I have days I don't know who I am too - but for all the people who probably think I'm weird, I have gone past caring.

    My point being is that life can feel pretty lonely at times and I have found out that acting hostile towards ignorant people doesn't make me feel any better - it just makes me feel worse. 

    As hard as it is, don't try and make sense of what is making you angry because there probably is no sense in it. 

Children
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