Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello all
I've been recently diagnosed with autism. It cam as a surprise, but it shouldn't have. I had a miserable educational experience myself, yet I started teaching in my 30s and quickly found myself drawn toward the teaching of autistic young people.
My youngest son was diagnosed with autism a little over a year ago, and watching how he struggles with his school experience is like looking into a mirror onto my own childhood experiences.
It led me to seek a diagnosis for myself. The results aren't surprising really. I'm autistic. It's led me to reassess many of the struggles I've faced in my life, and also the toll that those coping methods have had on my mental health. The methods have been very successful really. I'm very senior in my work, I have money, I have a beautiful partner and wonderful children. However, I know my methods for dealing with it all aren't sustainable, and I'm going to have to change.
Just wanted to say hello, really.
Hey - I hope your journey on this newly begun adventure goes well. It's bringing comfort to me to be here and realise others are experiencing similar things to me, although sad to appreciate the difficulties they will have faced. Well done for achieving all you have acheived so far in life and I hope the changes bring you the peace (or whatever is the right word) that you're after.