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Buenas dias

Iago

Or, good day!

I am a recently diagnosed level 1 autistic British man, 69 years old, retired, and living in southern Spain in a very rural community away from the madding crowds.

Until a few years ago, autism was something other people had.  Me?  I am just slightly weird!  But, but, but.....  I'd served in the military, worked in electronics, and specialised in security systems.  Ran my own business and eventually ended up working in an approvals laboratory before taking early retirement.  During all of that, I managed to get married, divorced, and married again.  At the age of 56, I even managed to acquire a master's degree!!  So, no, I never felt that I had any sort of definable problem, just that I did not fit in.  Perhaps I should have paid more attention, as my life and career path were certainly not 'normal', and I am aware that using the word normal is fraught.

So here we are, diagnosed and getting to grips with what that means.  For the last few weeks, I have been slowly learning more about autism and me, and I know that that journey still has a long way to run.

Parents

  • Hi Lago  

    Thanks for sharing your story.

    Your story is similar to mine, although not the same jobs!!

    I also felt a bit weird, not fitting in.  When I was about 30 years old someone said to me, 'you know, not everyone thinks like you do' - I was shocked by that statement. Made me feel even weirder!  I didn't know I thought differently to others!    I thought I was ok, just a bit odd.

    Anyway a good few decades later, someone announces 'you present as having Autism'. I am embarrassed to say I did not even know what that was.  So, after a discussion about it, my life suddenly made perfect sense, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.  But, need to deal with having Autism and what that actually means for me.

    Under a year later (2026), my Dr says 'I think you have Adhd'.

    Whaaaat!

    So there I was thinking I was one kind of person to finding out I am someone completely different, leaving me with the thought of who on earth am I. Very confusing!   On pathway for both, awaiting official diagnosis. Hopefully I will get to grips with it too.

    I wish you all the best on your journey!

Reply

  • Hi Lago  

    Thanks for sharing your story.

    Your story is similar to mine, although not the same jobs!!

    I also felt a bit weird, not fitting in.  When I was about 30 years old someone said to me, 'you know, not everyone thinks like you do' - I was shocked by that statement. Made me feel even weirder!  I didn't know I thought differently to others!    I thought I was ok, just a bit odd.

    Anyway a good few decades later, someone announces 'you present as having Autism'. I am embarrassed to say I did not even know what that was.  So, after a discussion about it, my life suddenly made perfect sense, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.  But, need to deal with having Autism and what that actually means for me.

    Under a year later (2026), my Dr says 'I think you have Adhd'.

    Whaaaat!

    So there I was thinking I was one kind of person to finding out I am someone completely different, leaving me with the thought of who on earth am I. Very confusing!   On pathway for both, awaiting official diagnosis. Hopefully I will get to grips with it too.

    I wish you all the best on your journey!

Children
  • in reply to Karen1

    Good morning Karen.

    Firstly, I am Iago with a capital i, which is the Spanish version of my name, I'll leave it for you to solve that puzzle.  Joy

    Over the years I accepted that I was the odd bod and just got on with things.  Fortunately, perhaps, no one ever said anything similar to me, which is good because I would have retreated further into myself for days/weeks whilst figuring out what it meant.  My last job was very demanding, although also enjoyable for the challenges it produced, and there were long periods where I thought I was going to be sacked or disciplined for some reason.  I now know that was autism messing with me!

    The last several weeks has been 'interesting' to say the least.  I was not prepared for the emotions that having it confirmed would bring.  It seems, for me at least, suspecting and being told definitively that I am autistic are two entirely different things.  There's still a very long way to go for me I suspect, but already I can feel positives in the diagnosis.