I just told my mother

Post Reply New Topic

I just told my mother about this, at first she didn't believe me but now she is making a GP appointment in order to get a referral and such.


i feel kind of nervous....is that normal? im kind of doubting myself, is that normal to?

in every way its logical, my half brother has it so its logical to assume that my dad (whose the father of my half brother) could be a carrier of the gene. im sure but also really kinda confused and all in a mess haha. i guess i kind of just need reassurance or something

There is no specific "autism" gene. Nobody is truly a "carrier" of autism.

It's not like Sickle Cell Anemia, which has a clearly genetic element, and "carriers."

Yes, there is a genetic COMPONENT to autism--but there are other factors at play which might not be genetic at all.

Additionally, I am of the feeling that there are many "autisms," rather than one "autism."

At least your mother is receptive, and not in denial, and seems to want what's best for you.

Did you tell your mother you might be autistic--or that you are on WrongPlanet?

I'm glad your mother is receptive, and is not being forcefully ignorant about the whole thing.

I know I came on a little too blunt about the "genetic" bit.

But I don't like it when people assume we can't have kids because we carry some "autistic" gene or something.

It is very normal to be nervous. I was so nervous before my diagnosis that I cried for days. And like Kraftie said, it's great that your mom is helping you with this. That is really good.

I was referred by my GP and told it was over a year though I'm in the UK. I'm going private and have an appointment in a week and a half. My mum's first reaction was 'I wouldn't be surprised', then shortly after I think she was in denial, then soon after was convinced and has been very supportive since then. This was about a year ago.

I'm actually seeing her tonight, we're going through a questionnaire she has to fill in and also looking through old pictures and doing a bit of 'investigating'. Think it might be a bit intense and pretty cathartic. She's already remembered some details from my childhood for example when my first school teacher told her I was a 'disturbed child'. Also telling her I injured people when she thought they were accidents i.e. pushing my cousin off a slide when I was 4, because he was on MY slide. He broke his arm, my mum thought it was an accident and I always assumed she knew, but why would I tell her?

Somebody in the UK could probably give you a better idea as to how long it takes to get a diagnosis in the UK.

Alas, both Skibum and I are Yanks. It's very different in America.

Autism is a (partial) genetic disorder--but it's not "genetic" in the sense that Sickle Cell Anemia is genetic. Not even in the sense that Down Syndrome is genetic. It's more random than that, usually. And there seems to be more than one genetic "cause" of autism (as well as epigenetic and non-genetic).

Even though twin studies have discovered that identical twins tend to both have some sort of autism spectrum disorder together--though one, usually, is more "severe" than the other.

It's not cheap, £750 for me. Luckily my partner is paying half, I think he's desperate for me to get a diagnosis!

Where in the UK are you?