Master's Grad with a PDD-NOS diagnosis from Colorado State U

Post Reply New Topic

Hey everyone!

This is a long introductory post, but I thought I would include enough information in case others found it useful!

I always knew I was different. For starters, I was adopted from the Philippines at age 18 months. Due to living in a large orphanage with not much contact with adults, I was developmentally behind. Even after receiving Occupational, Speech, and Physical Therapy, I knew I was different. My first fixation was around the word "Computer." My mom couldn't figure out why I was doing what I was doing.

During grade school, I could have probably been classified as having Asperger's Syndrome had it not been for the delay in speech that I had early on (due to my stay in the orphanage and/or other factors). I fixated on something almost every academic year for probably the whole year. Fortunately, I had some friends that stood by me during all that. I learned how to be empathetic through the help of several aunts that did some social-skills training with me and through listening to sermons at church that stressed the importance of imitating God's compassion. During 5th grade, I had the opportunity to visit the special-needs classroom and work with a girl who needed help with some grasping and fine-motor work. I felt like I was giving back after having received so much intervention in my early years.

My teenage years were rough. I was the nerd the others teased, but I still tried to be nice to everyone. I had body-image issues that got better once I joined the cross-country team. I loved my honors classes because they were finally mentally stimulating. When everyone else was gossiping and goofing off, I didn't mind studying. I still had fixations, but not as bad and I was able to have more typical conversations.

Throughout college and grad school I continued to improve, but I still wasn't having conversations like 'normal' people and people noticed when I struggled. I still would (and still do) tend to have outbursts where I might get upset and leave the room (usually slamming a door behind me) and some sounds still bother me. Two good friends in my field (Human Development and Family Studies) pointed out that I might have Asperger's syndrome. I thought that was odd since I studied attachment, but I could see where I had more trouble observing how people felt rather than just how they acted.

I'm fresh out of my evaluation and the fact that I had a speech delay and the fact that I am able to empathize with people (though I might have difficulty expressing it) disqualifies me from having Asperger's Syndrome. Hence I have PPD-NOS. I'm glad that some of my struggles can be explained, but it is also weird to know that this will be something I struggle with for the rest of my life.

What are my plans/hopes/dreams for the future then? As a Christian, I know that God has a purpose for me to live with PPD-NOS and that He will use this to help others & to show them Himself. As someone in my field, I know that social-skills training and general support will be needed, and I will seek that out. I hope to get my PhD in my field and possibly do research on attachment and the autism spectrum. I also would like to get married, but from observing my engaged roommate it seems COMPLICATED!! ! Though it will probably seem more manageable after some intervention

Well, this is a rather long introduction, but I hope it helps in some way! If anyone has additional questions, let me know and I'll post on a specific topic!

Take care!

Katie

To WrongPlanet!! !

Gosh, you are in the area where Temple Grandin lives...Fort Collins, CO! Have you ever met Temple where she is a professor at Colorado State University?

I love Colorado...it is a great place to live.

Nice meeting you!

You're a stones' throw from where I went to college - UNC, Greeley. Cool.

Glad to meet you, Katie - and welcome greetings to the WP community.

Welcome to WrongPlanet, Katie, and congratulations! I just got my Master's in Applied Criminology.

Thanks for the welcome, guys! In answer to people's comments:

-No, I haven't met Temple Grandin, but I sometimes think it would be really awesome to have her on a thesis committee if I developed an intervention that utilized people learning about and interacting with animals

-Do you in Greeley know what there is for people on the spectrum in Northern Colorado? I'll look into it too, but do you know of anything offhand?

-To the person that got the master's in criminology, will you go on to get your PhD? Thoughts?

Thanks again

Welcome to WrongPlanet.

Maybe in about 10 years when I've recouped the money I paid out. Or if someone else offers to pay for the whole thing.

My committee members all suggested that I do. It would have to be at another school because the Criminology Department does not offer a Ph.D. program here.

In the meantime, I'll be looking into teaching jobs for next Spring pretty soon.

Welcome to WP... wait, what did you say your name was?

I was just curious because your username happens to match my first initial + the first six letters of my last name.

At first I though someone had stolen my identity. LOL. Welcome though, seriously, I hope you like it here.

Kevin S.

Ksuther-

Glad to know you. My daughter had been diagnosed with PDD-NOS last year (the same psychologist had determined I have Aspergers' just months ago). But from what the doctor had said, PDD-NOS was only a temporary diagnosis, and he was under the opinion that she would probably be diagnosed with Aspergers' once she's older. I personally believe autistic disorders can't be boxed into tight little categories determined by just specific symptoms. That is, many people classified with PDD-NOS probably are Aspies.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

Welcome to WP from a fellow Christian Aspie!

Welcome!

Hey, you're from Ft. Collins? Holy s**t you are about two hours south of me, I live in Laramie WY. I'll be down that way in early September, me and my crew are headed to Denver for Nan Desu Kan. See you there?