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Hello. Are there any people here who were born in the 70s and 80s, always different, now diagnosed with high-functioning autism? Like me?

AnnMarilena

I'm almost 50 years old, and I've always felt I was different. Even in preschool, at the age of three, I felt it clearly. But it wasn't a problem for me. I functioned very well. I asked my mother why the children at preschool were different from me. She didn't understand my questions. So I decided she was different too. As if it were natural that most people are different from me, although I don't know why. But I never wanted to be like those others, even at three or four years old. In a sense, I felt they were a separate species, even though they looked the same. To simplify a bit – like a dog and a cat. Both species, in a simplified description, have the same physical characteristics: fur, four legs, a tail, ears... But they're different species. And that's normal. That's how I felt in preschool. After that, it was different.

Parents

  • Hi. I was born in 1970 and was diagnosed with autism and adhd about a month ago. 

    reading your post and the responses to it have been quite profound. So many similarities in struggles with life and education. 

    I have managed to forge a path that has been successful but at some cost and impact. 

    my diagnosis has been seismic as although I felt different I had no idea until recently that I could be autistic and have adhd

  • in reply to andycc

    I've just been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD and autism.,born 1974. School for me was awkward: I was constantly late, struggled with hygiene, and hung around with kids I didn't even like—I just turned up. Because I was so quiet and polite, the teachers didn't really pick up on the fact that I was struggling. It wasn't until secondary school that my problems became obvious, and I eventually stopped going.

    ​With no real support from my parents, I started a job in a warehouse at 16. I looked up to my first manager, but he took advantage of me and abused me. For four years after that, I sat in my room, only leaving the house to buy weed to stop the thoughts. Out of shame, I promised my mum not to tell anyone. 

     I kept these secrets for a very long time. My wife and kids only found out when I was around 40, when I had my first major breakdown. Since then, I’ve struggled with getting employment; building confidence and learning new skills have become extremely hard. On top of my ADHD and ASD diagnoses, I’m really confused about what to do next.

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  • in reply to andycc

    I've just been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD and autism.,born 1974. School for me was awkward: I was constantly late, struggled with hygiene, and hung around with kids I didn't even like—I just turned up. Because I was so quiet and polite, the teachers didn't really pick up on the fact that I was struggling. It wasn't until secondary school that my problems became obvious, and I eventually stopped going.

    ​With no real support from my parents, I started a job in a warehouse at 16. I looked up to my first manager, but he took advantage of me and abused me. For four years after that, I sat in my room, only leaving the house to buy weed to stop the thoughts. Out of shame, I promised my mum not to tell anyone. 

     I kept these secrets for a very long time. My wife and kids only found out when I was around 40, when I had my first major breakdown. Since then, I’ve struggled with getting employment; building confidence and learning new skills have become extremely hard. On top of my ADHD and ASD diagnoses, I’m really confused about what to do next.

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