Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi, I'm 62 and it's taken me until now to realise that my life has been shaped by the fact that I'm on the spectrum. Dyslexic and dyspraxic, an early lifetime of major social and personal traumas, difficulties and so much more. But I have reached a stage in my life when I am able to cope much better. I have learned, copied, practiced and rehearsed my way through life. I'm so much more aware of my difficulties, my thought processes and my limitations. The problems are still there and still rear up unexpectedly (or expectedly depending on how you view it!), but I can manage them.
Is there any point in perusing a diagnosis? When I was a child none of my difficulties were ever formally recognised, such things didn't happen in the 60s and 70s. Now I just feel happy to have come to understand who I am. Would a formal diagnosis actually make any difference?
maybe it's not worth it for you. for me, i was unaware i had IT, until they told me. then it was a pandora's box........ and not a good one. three years later, and finally with a therapist who goes to bat for me every time, i'm slowly making progress, basically the titanic before it tilted upa nd slid down under the waves. i am 65.
altho, if the cost is not too much to you, testing might reveal strengths and weaknesses that you weren't aware of.
Thanks for getting back to me. I'm starting to think that just me finally accepting who I am is possibly enough. It's also wonderful to read about the experiences of other people and the ways in which they have coped.