Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello, I'm new to the forum...I've just got nowhere else to turn. My 9-year-old daughter was diagnosed on Tuesday by CAMHS. To say that I am devastated is an understatement. I feel embarrassed. I have tried over the years to encourage her to go to parties and be social, to take pride in her appearance and play nicely, but she crumbles in social situations, which has been very difficult for us as a family. I do not want her to be an autistic person. I just want my daughter to be like other children...the thought that she is different makes me shudder.
I'm sorry; I was planning to say far more but I just can't.
When you plan a baby this isn't what you expect, is it?
Hi, CantBelieveIAmHere,
I do like your user name by the way.
As for having never met any other autistic girls before, only boys - well aside from knowing your daughter, the diagnosis or recognition of autism in females is actually very difficult in higher functional cases, as girls are more predisposed to social interactions and fitting in collectively.
I must say though that I have met several autistic females who were nothing but shining examples of Femine elegance, and were very fashionable in the designer clothes sense - so be careful; it is a very pricey state of affairs after all is it not?
Anyway, I can really appreciate that your dreams for your daughters success in life socially and so forward has taken a major blow, I mean they do not call a ASD diagnosis a life changing experience for nothing! It will take time to adjust - I was for instance diagnosed two years ago, and I only really got used to it about a year or so through that time.
Let yourself recover, get used to the reality check, and adjust as you go.
And remember, Ferret did warn you about the chracter of his communication, yet he was being informative - he was not actually attacking you. Granted - the type of information he provided is not usually addressed so directly or openly - if in fact at all in most social arenas for reasons such as your experience. It must of been so difficult.
Recall though that this website is used by alot of people on the autistic spectrum - and some of us have difficulty understanding what is considered socially acceptable, just as you did not understand the probable upset your post could cause for some here either. We all make mistakes though, all of us, yet we generally here let our mistakes become retakes and move on together better informed.
I wish you, your daughter and your family all the best.
D