What was your reaction when you/your loved one were/was diagnosed?

Hi everyone,

I am just over a month shy of the second anniversary of my diagnosis. I'm now nearly 18, and was diagnosed two weeks before I turned 16.

I remember everything; the pizza Mum and Dad insisted on taking me to eat afterwards, the weather - how it was grey yet the ground was dry - and how I was supposed to be at an English revision day at school. I cried when the psychiatrist told me that I had Asperger's Syndrome.

I was just wondering, out of interest, if anybody is comfortable with answering, how did you react when you were diagnosed? Or when your child or loved one was diagnosed?

Hope everyone is well and having a lovely weekend!

LivAgain Innocent

Parents
  • Both my sons were diagnosed by psychiatrists.  The eldest had his diagnosis blurted out, he had never heard of aspergers, so he was somewhat frightened thinking he was going to die.  The youngest who having learnt with his brother what aspergers was did not feel too concerned by the diagnosis as he is very similar to his older brother.

    As they got older they both swing from accepting they have aspergers to questioning it.  I recently tried to get the eldest a railcard and he would have been classed as disabled, but he refused to carry such a card as he hates the connotation and feels others are more worthy than him.

    I think that as we all develop and change over time, everyone (NT's included) question who they are, what they want and what they can achieve.  We are all changing.

    However, I think they are okay with their diagnosis.  They are comfortable telling people they have aspergers and revel in the fact that many people with aspergers go onto great things.

    One thing that always surprises me when people meet them is that they don't expect them to have a sense of humour, which is quite wicked.  They are also extremely focused on their interests, which I always feel is a strength and not a weakness.

    How do you feel now?  Are you feeling more comfortable with your diagnosis?  sometime family members find it harder to cope with and go into denial.  Has your family managed to give you the support you need?

Reply
  • Both my sons were diagnosed by psychiatrists.  The eldest had his diagnosis blurted out, he had never heard of aspergers, so he was somewhat frightened thinking he was going to die.  The youngest who having learnt with his brother what aspergers was did not feel too concerned by the diagnosis as he is very similar to his older brother.

    As they got older they both swing from accepting they have aspergers to questioning it.  I recently tried to get the eldest a railcard and he would have been classed as disabled, but he refused to carry such a card as he hates the connotation and feels others are more worthy than him.

    I think that as we all develop and change over time, everyone (NT's included) question who they are, what they want and what they can achieve.  We are all changing.

    However, I think they are okay with their diagnosis.  They are comfortable telling people they have aspergers and revel in the fact that many people with aspergers go onto great things.

    One thing that always surprises me when people meet them is that they don't expect them to have a sense of humour, which is quite wicked.  They are also extremely focused on their interests, which I always feel is a strength and not a weakness.

    How do you feel now?  Are you feeling more comfortable with your diagnosis?  sometime family members find it harder to cope with and go into denial.  Has your family managed to give you the support you need?

Children
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