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Telling your family

l318

I am an adult and just got my diagnosis last week.

I always thought I was autistic. I never thought of it as a disability, just the name we give to people who have some differences. I first brought it up with my mother when I was 20. She reacted very badly, started crying and saying it was other people putting thoughts in my head. A few days ago, some family members were discussing a distant cousin who is autistic (he's 8) and they described it as a sickness and they said they could always tell there was something wrong with him.

Has anyone been in this situation before? I don't want to tell my family, but I also feel like I am hiding a part of myself from them and that I shouldn't have to.

Parents

  • When I told my mum she was supportive, but my dad said 'oh no, you're not like THOSE people!'. It really upset me, but apparently they went away and googled autism and the ways it presents itself and they now better understand the condition. As with many people, they were only aware of those with autism who are severely disabled. I don't think most people are malicious with it, they're just unaware.

    I can't say how your family will react and it's absolutely fine to not disclose to them now.  

Reply

  • When I told my mum she was supportive, but my dad said 'oh no, you're not like THOSE people!'. It really upset me, but apparently they went away and googled autism and the ways it presents itself and they now better understand the condition. As with many people, they were only aware of those with autism who are severely disabled. I don't think most people are malicious with it, they're just unaware.

    I can't say how your family will react and it's absolutely fine to not disclose to them now.  

Children
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