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Hello, I just discovered your forum. I'm a senior citizen. I was recently diagnosed with high-functioning autism. I was actually diagnosed with autism way, way back in the early 1950s when I was 3 years old. This is because I wasn't talking, I was stimming in various ways, didn't look people in the eye, and other "classic autism" symptoms. In those days, autism was considered an "emotional disturbance" caused by "refrigerator mothers." My (late) mother was told that I should be institutionalized. Fortunately my non-refrigerator mother ignored this "advice" and put me into a nursery school. I learned to talk when I was 4 and because I could talk, I was considered "cured" of autism. But I had plenty of other problems and was bullied in school. To make a long story short, I was able to become independent and I achieved a career in computer programming. Now I'm retired.

I read Temple Grandin's book and I felt as if I were reading my own story. So it occurred to me that I might still be autistic because now I know that autism is a neurological condition. So I got myself diagnosed. Yep, I'm just as autistic now as I was when I was 3 years old.

I have some very intense interests. I like Japanese history and film and I also like to read and write fiction -- despite what some of the "experts" say that autistics don't like fiction and have no imagination (which is pure BS ). I'm involved in cat rescue. I love MLB baseball and NFL football and I love going to games. I also collect dolls and teddy bears.

Enough of me.

Welcome!!
So happy that you found your way here!
Congratulations on surviving some tough times and having what sounds like a very positive attitude.
I look forward to hearing more!

YAY another one

Hi! Welcome

I'm glad that you were able to find success and happiness in spite of the challenges you have faced.

Hey Wave Tossed welcome.

Hi Wave Tossed, welcome to WP!

Your story reminded me of some of the examples in the book NeuroTribes (Steve Silberman), great that your mother ignored the advice given by "professionals".

Hi Wave Tossed,

Welcome I'm new too and happy for you that you have done well in life, good on you for proving the Professionals wrong. I used to love collecting dolls and bears/other toys too.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Hi @Wave Tossed,

Welcome home! Can you tell us a little bit more how it was for you to live most of your life without diagnosis? I mean, I guess you have tried to fit in and live normal life like everyone else. Any challenges or parts that you never got right?

Welcome to WP!

Welcome

Welcome to the forum! I hope you like it here.

Japan is also an interest of mine. What periods of Japanese history, if any, do you like in particular? What sorts of Japanese films do you like?

NOTE: I wrote a long response, but most of it got wiped out by computer security measures. At any rate, the first paragraph is the part that got saved. I'll try and fill in the rest.

I spent 65 years trying to be "normal." However, I was coddled a bit by my mother because I was "emotionally disturbed." She sent me to a small private school where I felt as though I were in a fish bowl where everyone could see me. I experienced melt downs and anxiousness and I didn't know why. Which contributed to the bullying, which resulted in more melt downs. The school recommended to my parents that I go see a psychiatrist because of my "disturbance." This good doctor tried his best, but no one knew then what they know now about autism; because I was talking, they thought that I had been "cured" of autism. This was when all the "experts" believed all the Bruno Bettelheim stuff about how autism was a form of childhood schizophrenia and was psychological.

After I graduated from high school, I got active in political causes. This was the Sixties and everyone was up in arms over various issues. So I got involved in demonstrations for civil rights. I ended up getting involved in booze and drugs. The drugs and booze seemed to cover up my symptoms and made me more "normal," though there weren't a lot of normal people around during the Sixties.

I spent around 2 decades being drunk and stoned. I had problems holding a job. Finally, I got tired of being drunk/stoned so I sought recovery in AA and NA. This changed my life. I now have 34 years sober/clean time and I feel so much better without booze and drugs. I was treated for PTSD over some childhood issues. I was able to hold a job, establish a career in computer programming.

Later on, I read Temple Grandin's book. I felt as if I were reading about my own life. That's when I wondered if I might still be autistic. By this time, I knew that autism was a neurological condition and not an "emotional disturbance." I read some other books about autism and finally contacted the Autism Society of America. They referred me to a local psychiatrist who specialized in autism. She is a lovely person, made me feel at east. She diagnosed me as high-functioning autistic. Surprise! I'm just as autistic now as I was when I was 3 years old. This doctor is giving me some therapy to help me adjust to the fact that I'm truly, really am autistic. I also, at her suggestion, joined an organized social group of autistic adults.

One of the issues I'd like to discuss is the fact that many autistic people were institutionalized because of what "experts" thought in earlier days. Many of these people are "lost" in the back wards of institutions and they have never gotten the treatment that they deserve. I believe that this is an autistic civil rights issue.

^^^ sounds like you have forged a solid path in life, with a solid middle-class job and all.

Mostly the feudal periods with samurai. I love samurai films. I have a big collection of samurai films. I've also written a novel (shameless plug here: "Snow Tiger" available at Amazon.com). I've traveled to Japan 3 times and I really love it.