Self-Diagnosed

     Not all autistic people fit into what our stereotypes of them are. In fact, most of them don't. I have no official diagnosis of either ADHD or Autism/Asperger's, but it was suggested in therapy that my mental processes might be different, and many of the videos by people who are diagnosed as ADHD are more relatable than probably just coincidence. The one thing that really convinced me, though, that perhaps my therapist was right, was this checklist. Most specifically section H, #15. "Feels significantly younger on the inside than on the outside (perpetually twelve)" - that is *exactly* how I feel on the inside. Some days I might feel as old as 18-20, but most days it's 12. Makes acting as an authority figure extremely challenging.

    I don't care enough to pursue an official diagnosis of either "disorder" - I'm happy enough to have found an explanation for the alienation I have felt all my life. The labels have brought so much peace for me, though I don't feel like I am handicapped enough to really claim autistic as my own. I have many more thoughts on this issue, but I have to go make dinner and get my also not neurotypical but undiagnosed kids in bed.

    More than anything, though, I want you to think carefully about what you say and share on this subject. Just because someone is a 'professional' or 'expert' doesn't mean everything they say is right, especially when there are inconsistencies in their position regarding certain medical practices.

{Originally posted on FB. No I am not sharing my profile, and we cannot be friends.}