Teenage Diagnosis: Now what?

Hiya Urspecial,

Thanks for the tips :D

I know what you mean about having a new name for your 'difficulties', but luckily most of my family just put it down to me being myself and never questioned it too much, putting my 'anti-social behaviour' (spending 15 mins in a room packed full of adult relatives then running out claiming I need the bathroom and only returning 2 hours later) due to being a teenager.

I was wondering, how did your parents react to the news?

My mum's still silently beating herself up over my diagnosis :( First thing she said when we came out from the diagnosis appointment was 'I'm so sorry baby, I just thought I'd messed you up with the divorce'. I've tried to comfort her in the only way I know how, explaining how neither of us knew anything about aspergers or ASD until CAHM's told us about it, but like most of the 'other' people she still seems to be suffering from guilt.

To be honest this is what probably earned me the nickname 'Spock' from my younger sibling, my lack of understanding of how (in my opinion) overly emotional people act.

And as for the 'downside' that comes with the diagnosis in terms of difficulties....

I've spent 17 years making my way through life, struggling admittedly but I've never felt I had limits. The psycho's (my name for psychologists) were impressed at how well I'd adapted all by myself over the years, so getting told I'll always have these issues may be daunting, but it won't stop me trying to overcome my anxiety and do new things.

I mean, I went to South Africa (once in a lifetime trip, no way can I ever afford it again) to visit my step-mums relatives during the summer holiday, nearly broke my sisters hand on the plane and spent all holiday faking being sociable but I still went and now I'm home I'm proud I did go, because even though at the time I was really struggling to cope with the massive immense change in place and routine, now I can look back and reflect on the better things I did and felt while I was there.

Also, before the diagnosis, I'd managed to make a few friends (people I hang out with at school) who are anything but 'normal', and they struggle to understand the in-crowds behaviour too.

I guess what I'm saying is that I realise how important it is to reflect on what I've achieved already and to use this diagnosis as a way of getting the help I need as and when I need it, rather than as an excuse to hide away from the world (I don't like people, thats the only excuse I need XD).

Right now though main topic at hand is university. But like I said, school is now on my side (for once) and actually making efforts to prepare me for the change.

Thanks again for your reply, will definately be looking into those links :)

Hiya Urspecial,

Thanks for the tips :D

I know what you mean about having a new name for your 'difficulties', but luckily most of my family just put it down to me being myself and never questioned it too much, putting my 'anti-social behaviour' (spending 15 mins in a room packed full of adult relatives then running out claiming I need the bathroom and only returning 2 hours later) due to being a teenager.

I was wondering, how did your parents react to the news?

My mum's still silently beating herself up over my diagnosis :( First thing she said when we came out from the diagnosis appointment was 'I'm so sorry baby, I just thought I'd messed you up with the divorce'. I've tried to comfort her in the only way I know how, explaining how neither of us knew anything about aspergers or ASD until CAHM's told us about it, but like most of the 'other' people she still seems to be suffering from guilt.

To be honest this is what probably earned me the nickname 'Spock' from my younger sibling, my lack of understanding of how (in my opinion) overly emotional people act.

And as for the 'downside' that comes with the diagnosis in terms of difficulties....

I've spent 17 years making my way through life, struggling admittedly but I've never felt I had limits. The psycho's (my name for psychologists) were impressed at how well I'd adapted all by myself over the years, so getting told I'll always have these issues may be daunting, but it won't stop me trying to overcome my anxiety and do new things.

I mean, I went to South Africa (once in a lifetime trip, no way can I ever afford it again) to visit my step-mums relatives during the summer holiday, nearly broke my sisters hand on the plane and spent all holiday faking being sociable but I still went and now I'm home I'm proud I did go, because even though at the time I was really struggling to cope with the massive immense change in place and routine, now I can look back and reflect on the better things I did and felt while I was there.

Also, before the diagnosis, I'd managed to make a few friends (people I hang out with at school) who are anything but 'normal', and they struggle to understand the in-crowds behaviour too.

I guess what I'm saying is that I realise how important it is to reflect on what I've achieved already and to use this diagnosis as a way of getting the help I need as and when I need it, rather than as an excuse to hide away from the world (I don't like people, thats the only excuse I need XD).

Right now though main topic at hand is university. But like I said, school is now on my side (for once) and actually making efforts to prepare me for the change.

Thanks again for your reply, will definately be looking into those links :)