Five years ago my Family Physician sent me to be tested for Autism.Altho I had been a lil strange growing up she thought there was more to it and after 2 days of different testing it turns out I have something called Aspergers.Made my whole life make so much sense.As an adopted child who knows where it began.So yup,we did have Autism back then.
It's tough to diagnose these things because the circumstances so many of us were stuck in as children would naturally manifest themselves in how we interact with the world at the time, and the sense of self we carry forward into our adult lives. But the medical community says Aspergers is not a "nurture" thing. So have you been receiving treatment, Julia? I believe that Aspergers is not treated with medication.
I'm not sure what you mean by a "Nurture"thing but no medication for Aspergers.I have a Social Worker that checks in.I had an awesome set of parents even tho I was adopted and they taught me thing I would need to know when or if I ever lived on my own.I went from my parents place tomy husbands home so I was never on my own until I became single 5 years ago.I like the solitude and being able to just be me.I really do very well because of the parents I had.
What I meant by "nurture" is the unsettled circumstances lots of us were raised in, and how that may have caused us to react to them. The medical folks say that upbringing is not a factor. Speaking from personal experience, I'm not sure I agree. And I'm the same as you in that I have always preferred solitude.
I also thrive on a very rigid routine and when anything changes that's when I have issues but I do have ways to deal with all that.My life runs like a well oiled machine except when I have to take heart valve repair pitstops.
@Julia Curtis - Have one GD who is 17, She has Asperger's, and hers was a very hard and rough growing up. Her and her mom lived with us for good while and the child behavior was over the limit. Depending on how bad it is they can and do give drugs for it. Trust me if you live without them- do so! She has been off the drugs for few years now and am so proud of how she is blossoming out socially for sure. She still has a melt down on occasion and still has problems knowing what one DOES not say in public otherwise she is good. And do know of others with this. Yes routine is best for you and you must be doing really well to identify and discuss this on a forum. Good for you
Thanks for your message Hedi.I do have the odd day that I have a meltdown but I have ways of directing that that my parents instilled and even better ways that the Social Worker has helped me discover.None of it is pretty but allways at home.I really struggle with that when I'm out sometimes but like I said my parents were really good with me and I am the youngest.They had 4 of their own and wanted more so they took a Foster child they ended up adopting.I often wonder what my life would have been like had I gotten different parents....(ok,enough about me).lol
@Julia Curtis at first none of us knew what was wrong, so we made many mistakes. She has other issues but some she grew out of echo... she would not talk except to repeat what you would say. Anytime you need to talk just message me we can go from there. Are you familiar with Tapping ? This is a good tool when in melt down crisis.
Yes,tapping is one of the methods the Social Worker taught me.I didn't speak till I was 6 and that was because they wanted to put me in school.What an unusual place that was.I kept leaving and walking home,just couldn't understand why I was left there.But it is where I learned to talk.It's a weird world out there and I have a small apartment and I just love it!Now I feel strange because lots of people will see this on here.But they should know that I really am not "weird"and can have good conversations.
No your not weird. You can teach others on here about this and it can help you as well as them. I think it is wonderful tht you posted this on here, shows you still be making progress