Hi I'm Mel.
Don’t know quite where to begin. I’m a 54-year-old woman living in the US, Pennsylvania right outside the city of Philadelphia. When I was about six years old I was diagnosed with learning disabilities after a failed attempt at a public school education in first grade. The so-called experts who tested me told my parents that I would never go to college, I would be lucky if I graduated high school and to treat me like I’m blind.
To make a long story short my parents ignored most of that and didn’t lower their expectations despite that very discouraging diagnosis. I’m a bit of this success story not only graduating from high school but I have a bachelors degree from a four-year university. I’ve had three fairly successful careers. I was a theatrical production assistant in my early 20s then a teacher assistant in special education classrooms for the multiply disabled. I still work with the MDS population now but as a massage therapist running my own business. I am happily married to my husband who I met in college. We’ve known each other for over 30 years and have been married for 22. We don’t have any children by choice.
I’ve done pretty well in my life but as you well know even with success when your Nerodivergent life still has its major struggles. Just a little before the pandemic I began to notice that my ability to navigate life’s obstacles was becoming increasingly more difficult. Also my anxiety level was beginning to increase in certain situations. I knew I had learning disabilities but while being out of work temporarily during the pandemic I started to explore what else could be going on. I always had a feeling that there was more than just dyslexia, or ADD. There are even some physical differences that I’ve recognized over the years.
When doing research online I discovered that people who had similar life experiences or symptoms to my own were all identifying themselves as on the spectrum. I kept saying to myself “but I’m not autistic.” Then after watching video after video and listening to some Ted talks it began to occur to me “hey maybe I am autistic after all.” I began to think back on certain events and interactions in my life and when hearing people tell their stories I began to connect the dots with the realization smacking me in the face. This discovery is both joyous and thrilling as well as paralyzing and confusing. The big question, where do I go from here?
I have always had a sensitivity to loud noises and after lots of research I discovered that it was most likely sensory processing disorder. With certain circumstances created by the pandemic my ability to deal with the anxiety that comes with SPD has weakened considerably. Also at 54 years old now like many women I am experiencing menopause and have discovered that other neuro- divergent women also going through menopause have also experienced various cracks in their coping abilities.
I have received counseling in the past, but now I’m really looking to find other people to talk to that have a special understanding of what I am going through. I haven’t been able to find the right resource close to where I live. This is why I’m pursuing your community. Hope this all makes sense.
Thanks, Mel.
Don’t know quite where to begin. I’m a 54-year-old woman living in the US, Pennsylvania right outside the city of Philadelphia. When I was about six years old I was diagnosed with learning disabilities after a failed attempt at a public school education in first grade. The so-called experts who tested me told my parents that I would never go to college, I would be lucky if I graduated high school and to treat me like I’m blind.
To make a long story short my parents ignored most of that and didn’t lower their expectations despite that very discouraging diagnosis. I’m a bit of this success story not only graduating from high school but I have a bachelors degree from a four-year university. I’ve had three fairly successful careers. I was a theatrical production assistant in my early 20s then a teacher assistant in special education classrooms for the multiply disabled. I still work with the MDS population now but as a massage therapist running my own business. I am happily married to my husband who I met in college. We’ve known each other for over 30 years and have been married for 22. We don’t have any children by choice.
I’ve done pretty well in my life but as you well know even with success when your Nerodivergent life still has its major struggles. Just a little before the pandemic I began to notice that my ability to navigate life’s obstacles was becoming increasingly more difficult. Also my anxiety level was beginning to increase in certain situations. I knew I had learning disabilities but while being out of work temporarily during the pandemic I started to explore what else could be going on. I always had a feeling that there was more than just dyslexia, or ADD. There are even some physical differences that I’ve recognized over the years.
When doing research online I discovered that people who had similar life experiences or symptoms to my own were all identifying themselves as on the spectrum. I kept saying to myself “but I’m not autistic.” Then after watching video after video and listening to some Ted talks it began to occur to me “hey maybe I am autistic after all.” I began to think back on certain events and interactions in my life and when hearing people tell their stories I began to connect the dots with the realization smacking me in the face. This discovery is both joyous and thrilling as well as paralyzing and confusing. The big question, where do I go from here?
I have always had a sensitivity to loud noises and after lots of research I discovered that it was most likely sensory processing disorder. With certain circumstances created by the pandemic my ability to deal with the anxiety that comes with SPD has weakened considerably. Also at 54 years old now like many women I am experiencing menopause and have discovered that other neuro- divergent women also going through menopause have also experienced various cracks in their coping abilities.
I have received counseling in the past, but now I’m really looking to find other people to talk to that have a special understanding of what I am going through. I haven’t been able to find the right resource close to where I live. This is why I’m pursuing your community. Hope this all makes sense.
Thanks, Mel.
