Late diagnosed

Hello

I've just been diagnosed with Autism but told my family about a year ago I was going for it, got my adhd diagnosis April 2024. I don't know if it's just me but I feel my family have been so dismissive, to me this is life changing, I've had poor mental health my whole life with quite serious epsiodes that my famly know about and the person that has reacted the absolute worst is my own mother, people who reacted the best, my undiagnosed neurodivergent friends that Ive known since childhood.

I've had alot of comments like 'everyone has problems' 'everyone is a little bit ADHD' to purely just ignoring it, like one perosn I know said 'Ha! interesting" like am I going mad? I don't think, in fact I know if someone opened up to me and told me that I would see the enormatity of it. My Mum also won't acknowledge my comments about my daugher having it either. We just had an argument as I opened up and said she was upsetting me with her lack of interest and she flew off the handle and said everyone has problems and that why am I always so sensitive and I havent even asked how she is lately. Some people I've told and theyve simply not got back to me.

Is this a common occurance?

Parents
  • Unfortunately it can be a common occurrence with family and people in general. Many don’t understand it and rather than try and understand they instantly dismiss and judge, this has been my experience with my own parents. They never did get it and brushed autism off as some sort of excuse for why I’m different. My dad always told me I should try harder to be normal. Suffice to say, I am not close to my parents now (I am 30 now) and have little to do with them.

    I’m sorry your own family have not been understanding and supportive of your own diagnosis. I hope they will come round.
    Whatever happens, just know you are amongst friends here who do get it and will support you every step of the way.

    Welcome to the forum!

Reply
  • Unfortunately it can be a common occurrence with family and people in general. Many don’t understand it and rather than try and understand they instantly dismiss and judge, this has been my experience with my own parents. They never did get it and brushed autism off as some sort of excuse for why I’m different. My dad always told me I should try harder to be normal. Suffice to say, I am not close to my parents now (I am 30 now) and have little to do with them.

    I’m sorry your own family have not been understanding and supportive of your own diagnosis. I hope they will come round.
    Whatever happens, just know you are amongst friends here who do get it and will support you every step of the way.

    Welcome to the forum!

Children
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