Over the course of my life I've known I was different,members of my family, teachers, coaches, other people my age and am certain that complete strangers have as well. Of course the reason for that is I have high functioning autism spectrum disorder also known as aspbergers syndrome.
Now growing up I was always overly emotional at times I was slow to pick things up and I was all around different from my peers and my siblings as well, being the youngest of four though that is expected, but it never was caught by anyone that I may of course have this disorder. I had been going therapists for most of my childhood because of my differences to put into laymen's terms, so when at 18 my parents and I are given a diagnosis of aspbergers I was angry. Angry with myself, my parents, therapist's and doctors I'd been seeing for years, teachers, god and the world itself for never knowing . It was relieving as well don't get me wrong, but when you find out so much later in life then you can't learn the ways to cope with the disorder.
For many months and even a year or two of finding out I was reluctant to even tell people that I had it in fears that I would be treated differently and I didn't want that. Through out those years I discovered that its not a completely disabling disease or something that needs to be "cured" it's simply a part of who I am and what makes me and many more people the way I am and the way they are. We aren't statistics or diagnosis we are simply a unique individual who has a different take on the world.
Educating ones self and those around us along with accepting autism is what will help not only those who have it better understanding but their parents, spouses siblings and peers that what they have isn't something to be ashamed of having it is something that makes them a unique piece in this crazy puzzle we call a world.
Chehalis, WA
