Greetings from the Scottish Highlands :-)

[Aviemorticia]

Good evening all! I am a 41 year old woman diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome five and a half years ago. I live in Aviemore in the beautiful Scottish Highlands and am a service user and volunteer at the new Autism Initiatives led service for Highland based in Inverness. I love the night, trains, cats, malt whisky, photography and have an aesthetic fascination for lights especially streetlights and fairy lights. XOXO

[trekster]

Hello and welcome from a 1/2 Scottish ASDer.

 

im in my early 30s and was diagnosed when I was a teenager. My family still haven't come to terms with my diagnosis.

[Aviemorticia]

Hi Trekster,

 

I haven't told my parents and do not intend to because they are very elderly and it would be a major upheaval for them to come to terms with it. They live 300 miles away and are the only family I have; I consider my friends, who do know, to be my extended family. I do get on well with my parents and we see one another three or four times a year.

 

I hope that the process of coming to terms with your diagnosis is ongoing with your family and in time they come to understand it better. It is scary at first but the most important thing to remember (for both sides), as summed up by the very kind, switched on and friendly specialist who interviewed and diagnosed me, is that you are still you; it isn't something which has just happened and changed you, it has always been part of you in all its positive and negative aspects and having that diagnosis is the start of finding answers and hopefully some peace of mind.

 

Good luck to you all. x

[trekster]

Love your post above, when people deny I have xyz disability because 'it wasn't bothering you before' my reply is 'you are still autistic both before and after your diagnosis' peer confirmed and self diagnosed autistics are welcome in the groups I help run provided they follow certain guidance.

[Echo]

Hi Aviemorticia and welcome to the forum