Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi I'm Rob,
About four years ago I self-diagnosed with Asperger's, having seen some programmes on telly and then doing some online diagnostic questionnaires. Meanwhile I am still waiting for a formal assessment but I guess I'm not a priority in my sixties. I've survived this long so I don't need emergency safe-guarding!
But just today I learned that, as part of the whole autistic spectrum, there is a condition called extreme demand avoidance syndrome. At last I have a name for something I've struggled with all my life! And it is such a relief to know that this is just because my autistic brain is wired differently and not due to any weakness of character. As this is only an introduction I won't go into the whole EDA/PDA thing, but for those who have it too I am glad to know I am not alone! I have been so needlessly ashamed, struggling and often failing to be reliable like my father (pillar of his community).
Bye for now
I've recently been assessed as having Aspergers and am 66.
It seems I had childhood PDA - I'd not heard of it before, but it makes sense.