“I Was Glad When I Was Diagnosed With Autism”
Originally posted on Same Difference:
From yesterday’s Guardian:
Here’s a secret: I was glad when I was diagnosed with autism.
It’s not about wanting to be autistic. It’s about that moment of sharp relief, feeling vindicated, almost.
The diagnosis is a scrap of paper in the world that tells you: “This is not your fault. You are not lazy, you are not spoiled or incompetent, you are not simply difficult. Dropping out of school: not your fault. Extreme food restrictions: not your fault. Weird movements, easily overloaded, going mute when stressed: not your fault. Over-the-top obsessions, being an outsider, desperately needing structure and predictability: not your fault.”
When you’re 14 years old and depressed, wracked with guilt because you’ve always been the smart one: those three words are powerful. Black and white. Official letterhead. A team of psychologists. Not your fault.
There’s relief. There’s freedom. There’s the sense of things clicking into place, a reason…
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Source: Dawn Willis sharing the News and Views of the Mentally Wealthy - Category: Mental Illness Authors: Quinonostante Tags: Mental Health, The News & Policies. Source Type: blogs