So, it has only taken me about a month to get up the courage to join WP. I tend to hang out in the shadows and not be much of a joiner.
I recently came to the conclusion that beyond a question of a doubt, I am somewhere on the Spectrum, and joining WP is part of me trying to deal with that. I am 42 years old and working on my master’s degree in speech language pathology. I really should have seen it years ago, but for whatever reason-I didn’t. My oldest child (I have 5 kids) was diagnosed with autism about 10 years ago-he’s now 13. I still remember in the interview process, I was asked if there was anyone in the family who was a little odd or eccentric, and I always answered without hesitation “ya-me”, yet for some odd reason I didn’t stop and put 2 and 2 together, about the genetic side of the disorder and why they might be asking me this. It wasn’t until I was sitting in a chat for a communication disorders class about a year ago, and I was discussing my son, and the heavens opened, and something clicked, and it hit me-“OMG-that’s me”. I have struggled deeply in life, and I suddenly had an explanation for everything that ever happened in my life-but it really wasn’t the explanation that I wanted. I had a nervous breakdown, and spent the next 9 months almost uncontrollably crying, because that meant my problems would never change or magically go away-it was a life sentence.
Now I am moving on-searching for self- acceptance. I have spent my life searching for where I belong, because I have never fit in or had many (if any) friends. As I said in the beginning of this post-I am not a joiner-but I have decided to join WP because I now know where I fit, and take comfort in knowing that I am not alone in the world.
I hope to not only learn and draw strength and insight (and maybe even have a few laughs), from all of your experiences, but I come with a wealth of life experience to share.
29 Apr 2012, 9:48 pm
