Hi, everyone. I'm Amanda. I was officially diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome roughly four or so years ago. I have a little trouble coming to grips with that even now, so hopefully I can meet people here and perhaps make new friends as well.
hi amanda welcome to AC!
i am LFA not aspie but i relate to aspies in various ways so dont be afraid to talk to me.
itll really help you being part of the online/offline autistic community as its all about accepting yourself,acceptance and understanding of ASDs,and lastly how it is part of your identity and not a medical condition as such.
there is a book that might interest you,called neurotribes, its a huge book all about autism and its history as well as portraying neurodiversity as a good thing and how autism isnt necessarily a disability.
i have it,but admittedly havent read through it all as i struggle with reading text on paper [you cant change its size or background/font colour and theres always to much text].
only you can say how you feel about yourself and your autism amanda, but i think it helps people alot to see it as part of their identity and not a seperate angry looking thing that haunts them every day which is what a lot of NTs with autistic children want to see [ie,a tragedy],it isnt a tragedy with the right supports,but us adults were screwed over as kids, those of us given 'treatment' as kids were often left traumatised and regressed, most aspies/HFAs didnt get anything or acceptance which was a bad thing for many who have grown up with the mental baggage of being undiagnosed and not supported.
i think you are a strong person amanda,youve got to adulthood without a diagnosis which means you have gotten through a misunderstood childhood.
for a lot of people,it feels like they didnt have a childhood because of the lack of understanding,or the lack of diagnosis,or the abuse they suffered for being autistic,so i guess if you are one of us you need to learn to let go of your childhood.
its a hard thing accepting a label on yourself,but keep going your doing great by coming here.
sorry if i have waffled on to much,ive had medication.