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Teenage Diagnosis: Now what?

KaloJaro

Hi,

I was diagnosed a few months ago with Aspergers Syndrome at the age of 17, at first I was glad, because, as my dad so kindly put it, 'theres something wrong with me, I'm not just a freak'.(Mum chewed him out big time for that one).

The problem is, since the diagnosis, I've had my school's attitude towards me do a 180 spin on me from cold and uncaring to almost smothering, and hardly any time or method of coming to terms with this new information.

On one hand, I'm upset it took this long to get diagnosed. It took a small mental breakdown over homework and getting referred to CAHM's for OCD to finally realise why I behave the way I do i.e. not like 'normal' people, as well as years of struggling and suffering at the hands of an ignorant and apparently careless education system that is full of contradictions and expectations. Also, all the help packs and websites I got refferred to are aimed at kids under the age of ten, meaning I'm still virtually on my own.

On the other hand, I've made it this far by myself without any real assistance, so I don't feel very constrained by my diagnosis, because I've managed to overcome some aspects of my condition that I would have otherwise avoided/been sheltered from.

Usually I express myself through drawings and artwork but lately I haven't been able to draw a single thing on my own, which I've learned means I'm struggling with coping with this new information.

Any advice from others that got diagnosed this late on how to cope/deal with it will be much appreciated.

Thank you.

 

 

Parents

  • Hi,

    Thank you both for reply :)

    I checked out The Den, it seems pretty easy to use and has simple wording to explain how to act or behave in everyday situations. I found the video resonses coupled with the written information helpful, but I feel theres no way of contacting others that may be using the same site, which is a bit of a shame.

    I also saw a teacher that specialises in ASD at my school and she's managed to hunt down a book that she'll go through with me to help me come to terms with my condition and how exactley it affects me. Shes also encouraged me to speak to the other kids with ASD at school even though they're all younger than me, because that way we can practise being sociable as well as learn how they've coped since they were diagnosed, which is a bonus but still a little intimidating.

    With any luck I'll be able to work through it in a few weeks :D

Reply

  • Hi,

    Thank you both for reply :)

    I checked out The Den, it seems pretty easy to use and has simple wording to explain how to act or behave in everyday situations. I found the video resonses coupled with the written information helpful, but I feel theres no way of contacting others that may be using the same site, which is a bit of a shame.

    I also saw a teacher that specialises in ASD at my school and she's managed to hunt down a book that she'll go through with me to help me come to terms with my condition and how exactley it affects me. Shes also encouraged me to speak to the other kids with ASD at school even though they're all younger than me, because that way we can practise being sociable as well as learn how they've coped since they were diagnosed, which is a bonus but still a little intimidating.

    With any luck I'll be able to work through it in a few weeks :D

Children
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