Created on: 06 August 2012, 01:41:40.
Hi there,
I'm a friendly and young individual who is actually on the autistic spectrum and have one major goal to achieve throughout my life which I wish to share with you. I have interests in so many areas; but first I want to tell you a bit about myself.
I am aged 18 years, and in the Spring season of 1997, I was diagnosed with Autism (I was aged 3 years). Life in some areas has been difficult, whereas in others it has been positive.
I would like to give you some examples of phases in life I have had difficulties with and how I have managed to overcome them, which leads onto more of the positives:
- Unfortunately, from a very young age – I have been bullied, treated very unfairly amongst others and verbally and physically abused from other people at school. Of course now leading on a successful life at college, this is no longer the case. Life back in the days of primary school and even secondary school I found very emotionally distressing.
- In August 2009, I was assaulted. Innocently riding my bicycle after a young individual gave me an issue. I attempted to cycle off in the opposite direction, but it was too late. As I cycled around the corner in attempt to get back home, I was verbally and physically assaulted, kicked in the head, being sworn at and subsequently, being reduced to tears. I was sadly just about 30 seconds away from making it home. Fortunately, the bike was not stolen but suffered some damage as well as myself, and I was left lying in the middle of the road, lucky not to be killed. I received help, and about a year later the case went to court and the criminal was proved guilty.
- Confidence/anxiety issues. I have always had these forms of issues from a very young age, probably ever since my diagnosis. Such issues have previously affected my appetite and ability to settle and enjoy life by for example, the means of eating out and meeting others etc. There came a point, where I found myself unable to eat out in a restaurant/takeaway or anybody’s house even family/friends due to my issues relating to anxiety. These issues came to a level where I simply could not cope with them and made me feel very sick and worried. This caused a lot of frustration for others around me and made me feel awkward/embarrassed.
- September 2011 – January 2012. I was suffering from a terrible form of depression/anxiety. Whichever the issues were that were causing me to feel like this have always been a mystery, but this was not only difficult for me but also extremely unpleasant for also those who were trying to help around me. It got to the stage at one point where I felt that I found it too hard to even live, therefore feeling suicidal. Since then, one of my relatives has been extremely unwell and I feel that this is perhaps what part of the issue may have been, this relative has unfortunately been diagnosed with a mental health personality disorder. This nearly cost me my college course, but I chose not to let it do so.
As I have grown up, I have begun to see things in a more positive way despite what many of my difficulties may have been in the previous years. Therefore, even though I was diagnosed with autism, I do not feel it has affected the way I can stand up as an individual and live happily. For example, I am a highly qualified and independent individual below University level, grades at Distinction level throughout my A level course I have just recently completed. Furthermore, I am highly enthusiastic and motivated increasing not only my experience in the workplace but also my confidence in general, so I can now hold my head up high and eat out in restaurants and takeaways etc.
Yes, I have perhaps had a tough life experience but so far I HAVE NOT and will NEVER EVER let anything stop me from doing what I want to do in life, whether that is because of my condition or any other individuals/anything else, as I feel it is good to have a mind of your own and to make the most out of life, since you only have one shot at it, meaning one life!
So what do I want out of this message from you?
Of course I want to know that you are aware of me as an individual (i.e. know who I really am). One thing I do not want though is sympathy. Which sounds impolite, but I feel are for all the right reasons. As we all know, there are people out there suffering in countries like Africa, who don’t eat/drink and have half the amount of potential lifespan than us here in England and healthier countries!
Now that I have told you some of my facts, it is now time to discuss what my huge goal is in life which I am sure has significance to those in need, particularly in an organisation like this which I fully support:
“My goal in life is to inform and aid those with difficulties to enjoy life and to also inform how successful you can be with a condition either the same, similar or different to my own.” – You will find out how different conditions can be, by a couple of examples I will be giving you very shortly.
It is quite simple really, all I am trying to say to people – which I have already said to many, is that say for argument’s sake similarly to myself, just because you are autistic, it doesn’t make you lesser or at any disadvantage than anyone else. Let me give you a couple of examples:
- Forget about autism all together. Let’s go onto blindness. Look at Stevie Wonder. Yes, he was born blind. He’s a musician. A very successful individual, well known. A phenomenal example of somebody who does not let such a condition impact their way of living in life/their careers! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder
- And Jon Lord. Who I’m sure we all very much so miss after his death, almost a couple of months back. It seemed that Jon was suffering from Pancreatic Cancer in 2011, but he was another great example of an individual who did not let anything stop him from achieving things to his full potential as he was still working up until this year. A well admired individual from my point of view. RIP. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Lord
With all of that said, whether you have Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome (within the entire spectrum – which I am also considered to have, additionally to Dyspraxia) – look no further, than the two legendary Musicians above who have made a huge success out of their life, because they want to – no matter what issues these people had encountered in life.
Cutting a long story short, my goals and intentions do not end here as I want to be one of those individuals – similarly to Stevie Wonder and Jon Lord, to prove to those in particular who are diagnosed with anything, that life does not have to be shallow. Life at the end of the day is what you make it.
With that now said, I have decided that I will be running a marathon/charity run to raise money for the autistic trust. I have been training very hard, and I am not only thinking about myself here, but also those who suffer a similar condition to me, no matter how difficult people may find it to cope with, I therefore respect that – experiencing such a condition. I do hope that anyone who suffers from such a condition can begin to realise, particularly at a similar age to me, that there is so much life ahead of them, in other words to succeed and also enjoy.
Also, I would like to advise you that you should NOT see autism as a disability. See it as a condition as for example it does not physically make you unemployable/unable to work; Stevie Wonder and Jon Lord clearly did not allow their conditions to! Let me give you an example: Please understand that after handing out 40 CVs within 2 days’ time, I managed to be successfully employed by the end of that week, without even being offered an interview. You could also be one of these people, whether you have autism or not, so don’t let it put you down, as I have not allowed it to either, and will not allow it ever to do so!
Going back to my preparation for my run for this charity, I am doing this not only to support those who suffer from a similar condition to me but to also motivate individuals to make the most out of their life, (being something that I am not only doing but demonstrating myself – which I feel is setting a good example to many individuals) whether they have autism or not/or are just generally speaking feeling a little bit low, as I can promise you, I have had plenty of these feelings, and I do not just put it down to my condition. You sometimes cannot help how you feel. I have run distances ranging from 5 miles, to almost half of the London Marathon (about 13 miles I believe – which is from Orpington – Bromley (The Glades) and back, being where I am based). I am also training very hard at my local Gym, to gain everything I need to tolerate such a distance I may run in the future for the Autistic trust; I am hoping to run this marathon next year.
Now that I have stated a fair bit of information about myself, and what my plans are throughout my life – it is now over to you, but I will leave it as this: should anyone have any questions about my life experiences in the past, my condition, and my future, firstly please feel free to subscribe to me here on Facebook and secondly if you are really interested, please do not hesitate to send me a message.
If you are somebody who is in need of a chat, also please feel free to contact me, don’t keep things bottled up, nobody can help you if you don’t tell them anything – I would love to try and help any of you. So whether that is Facebook or on here, it’s not a problem.
My Facebook profile can be found here if any of you would like to get in touch, whether you are interested in me (e.g. have any questions etc. you want to ask me personally), want to make friendship or just want a friendly chat.
--Edited by philippab - mod to remove personal information--
- Feel free!
UPDATE 10/08/2012: I'm sorry to say that having a link to Facebook profiles from here appears to be a breach of this forum's rules. However, if you look out for Tmos Sam posting on the NAS Facebook Page, you are more than welcome to add me that way to avoid me from breaking the rules on this site.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE: This is not my personal Facebook account but I can guarantee that I am the controller of the account - Tmos stands for 'The Man of Steel'. I have made this account purely to discuss autism with individuals and to help them etc.
Many thanks.
Introduction continued:
Finally, a huge word of thanks to those of you who have taken the time to read through my message. It is much appreciated. The reason it is so long is to inform people that life is what you make it and even if you do have a condition similarly to my own – life does not have to be unpleasant. Life is of course full of disappointments for everyone but it can also be full of happiness, and if we can all realise that, then it is a fantastic start.
So, don’t let anything like this put you off, as I can definitely say that I have not and will not let anything such as my condition do so!
Thanks again.
