Hi,
I'm a sister to my elder brother, in his mid 60's now, and only given a diagnosis of autism in later life.
He was sectioned in his teens, diagnosed ( possibly wrongly) as schizophrenic, drugged and subjected to ECT, then returned home with no further support than ( probably inappororate) anti psychotic drugs. Our parents did what they could with no info or support and we all lived under a cloud of social shame and isolation. This negatively impacted all of us, including myself.
I attempted to advoctate for my brother's abilities but was shouted down and ignorered.
Now, decades later, both our parents have died and I find myself shut out of all attempts to secure suitable support for my brother.
He currently lives alone in a deteriorating state of self neglect. A few months ago he became seriously ill with sepsis, was hospitalised and nearly died. He survived and I tried to find positive in this crisis by attempting to get more suitable support in place. My attempts failed. He has returned to the same circumstances of serious self neglect and I am once again shut out of all attempts to help.
Does anyone else share/ understand this scenario?
It's destroying and exhausting me.
It's really good that, today, there has been some progress in recognising autism as a state of diversity that deserves support rather than pathology.
I feel my brother is part of a generation that did not recieve this and the resulting trauma has long term effects.
It's so hard being told that a person has the right to choose self neglect even if it is a threat to life.
