Hello everyone!
I signed up a little while ago however I found it too daunting to post. I was diagnosed in June 2024 after years of speculation. I always suspected there was something different from a very young age, however I was told it was simply anxiety.
I struggled at school socially which has led to lifelong issues surrounding my self-esteem. I was bullied throughout school for my mannerisms, my interests and the way I looked. However, because I performed well academically, I was labelled as gifted and quirky despite my declining mental health. I had multiple breakdowns as a teenager and a young adult which were explained away as extreme anxiety and perfectionism.
When I graduated university, I began working as a special needs teaching assistant which is where my journey of diagnosis began. I saw aspects of myself in the students and started to research extensively. I realised my extreme sensitivity to light and noise isn’t typical, that not everyone scripted and practised conversations in the mirror. My entire life I felt like an alien trying to comprehend human behaviour. My diagnosis helped me realise I wasn’t broken or “inhuman” after all.
Something more positive about me. My lifelong special interest is horses. Not necessarily riding but I love horse care and learning about breeds of horse. I was the horse girl of the class growing up and I continue to be known as the horse obsessed relative/friend. Alongside this, ghosts have been a prominent special interest of mine. My favourite film is Ghostbusters and I have been known to watch it up to three times a day if possible. I don’t know if anyone else relates to having a comfort character but mine is Egon Spengler 
Growing up I didn’t have friends so I adopted fictional characters instead. He’s faithfully stuck around for over two decades now and I suspect not going away anytime soon. I have a multitude of interests including art and insects but I thought I’d focus on the main two.
Thank you for letting me ramble and share bits and bobs about myself!
Sparkle x
