Agreed. Excellent article, and sympathies to all of you. I'm nearly 50. I've excellent academic qualifications, but have a precarious employment history. I was bullied from the age of 5 until I was 15 at all my schools, and have experienced workplace bullying. This led to anxiety problems a few years ago, and my realisation that I am Aspie. My Dad said that some of my behaviours and abilities in early childhood had struck him (a psychology student) as unusual, but in those days (late '60s), I don't think professionals even thought about the 'high functioning' end of the spectrum. When I raised the subject of diagnosis, my GP suggested I contact the local NHS Mental Health helpline, but that did not strike me as an appropriate route to follow. I also don't like the idea of having to wait for a "call back" from them: I prefer to speak directly to someone when I call them.
My late maternal uncle was also undiagnosed, although (being male) more overtly symptomatic to modern eyes. We used to get on well, as he could tell the story of pretty well every film he'd seen since the mid-30s. But, quite simply, for his generation (b. 1930, Northern working-class), autism wasn't on anyone's radar, and he was just considered "shy" and socially awkward.
Agreed. Excellent article, and sympathies to all of you. I'm nearly 50. I've excellent academic qualifications, but have a precarious employment history. I was bullied from the age of 5 until I was 15 at all my schools, and have experienced workplace bullying. This led to anxiety problems a few years ago, and my realisation that I am Aspie. My Dad said that some of my behaviours and abilities in early childhood had struck him (a psychology student) as unusual, but in those days (late '60s), I don't think professionals even thought about the 'high functioning' end of the spectrum. When I raised the subject of diagnosis, my GP suggested I contact the local NHS Mental Health helpline, but that did not strike me as an appropriate route to follow. I also don't like the idea of having to wait for a "call back" from them: I prefer to speak directly to someone when I call them.
My late maternal uncle was also undiagnosed, although (being male) more overtly symptomatic to modern eyes. We used to get on well, as he could tell the story of pretty well every film he'd seen since the mid-30s. But, quite simply, for his generation (b. 1930, Northern working-class), autism wasn't on anyone's radar, and he was just considered "shy" and socially awkward.
