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Being a lateling

TheCatWoman

I wonder how different our experiences of ND are to those who were diagnosed young and have grown up knowing they're ND?

I don't just mean the problems we've had and the negative stuff, but how we are in the world, how we look at our pasts through the ND lens we now have, do things make more sense?

How much has a diagnosis made a difference to how you live, has it given you permission to do/be how you want rather than how society expects us to be?

What lessons from your past as an undiagnosed apparently NT person have you brought forward with you that still hold value to you?

For myself, a lot more things make sense now I'm diagnosed and I do feel less pressure to be how others wish me to be, rather than how I want be. I feel there's a lot of stuff in my past that has shaped me and that I've brought with me as a ND person, I'm no way do I feel that a line has been drawn under the past and the now, ND is just another string to my bow,

  • in reply to ShadyP1nes

    Aspire Syndrome?

    It was such a feeling of relief to stop making myself try and fit in.

    I think it would have made a difference at school, I felt like a fish in a tree, totally out of place, but then maybe it wouldn't? I certainly don't miss school and maths was my worst lesson.

  • in reply to Lotus

    Since my diagnosis of Aspire Syndrome, I feel stronger and braver. I am proud because I know what and who I am, now. Even though people still try to confront me, I am learning to fight back more, but in my world I am still quiet and timidScream

  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum

    I completely understand, E_P, I enjoyed my preteen school. The maths teacher understood me and I loved maths immensely. As soon as I hit senior school everything changed and my life went downhill. WFrowning2en I got my diagnosis, I was happy but flooded tears as it explained a lot regarding my past. I wish I could go back to my preteen school and stay there and at that age, forever! I miss them daysFrowning2️

  • I think it would have made a big difference to me at school. An understanding as to why I was different and didn't fit in. It may not have taken away the feelings of rejection but at least I'd have known why. I also would like to think it would have made my teachers more understanding. I spent a lot of my childhood getting into trouble for things I didn't mean to do. I wasn't met with much understanding. Both socially and academically I was told "I just needed to try harder". If only they'd known how hard I tried. I'm not completely convinced it would have made a difference to the teachers but I guess I'm always going to have that what if. 

  • I'm very much like you. Knowing that I'm ND (even though I'm not formally diagnosed) has enabled me to learn that I actually don't like living like an NT, as I tried to do for decades. I can now see how I made mistakes by doing things considered "normal" and if I had the chance to live my life over again I'd certainly do things differently. 

    And Yes, it has given me permission to live my life how I want and not care about what others think.