Greetings from Hawaii

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Hi everyone! I’m a masked autistic, just diagnosed last month at age 28. I’ve spent my whole life feeling so different and alienated. I was bullied and abused really badly from childhood and throughout high school, by my classmates, teachers and family members. I met my husband during college who has pretty much been my only ally in life. I was able to earn my MS in Mathematics and publish some research, although school has always been really hard for me. I had a really hard time interviewing after leaving my PhD program, experiencing what I recently found out were panic attacks, PTSD and autistic burnout.

Now I’m happily self employed as a mobile app developer and artist, and get to spend a lot of time with my husband, 3 kids and 5 pets. I started going to therapy a few months ago, hoping to deal with some past traumas and get my PTSD under control, only to realize how badly my son struggles in social situations and with sensory overload, which made me remember that I responded to stimuli in similar ways as a kid, and was actually nonverbal. But no one else ever commented on it, so I thought that most kids were the same as me.

I’m really thankful for my diagnosis, and hope that living more authentically can empower me and help me live a fuller life. I’m also happy that I can empathize with my son and his struggles, and get him the support he needs. Still processing how badly I was treated as a kid, wishing that someone had helped me or noticed that I needed help and support instead of just crapping on me. Excited to be a part of this community and meet others like us

Welcome.

I feel like you could learn from the past, and not deny it. And it certainly helps you help your son and understand him.

I am of the opinion that it’s better to seek to move forward from that past, and consider your present and future, which looks really good at this point. You’ve transcended your past!

And live in an excellent climate to boot!

Welcome to WP! It sounds like you'll be a good fit here.

Welcome to Wrong Planet. Many people on this forum have experienced the same feelings. It is as if we were born on the Wrong Planet.

As to the problem that you and your son have experienced. There is a solution. When we experience stress, it accumulates within our bodies. It will eventually reach a breaking point. Even a small little event can cause us to experience a melt down. We experience more stress than the average NT (neurotypicals) but that is only part of the problem. NTs have developed a means of draining built up stress in their bodies. Stress buildup is eliminated by a specific form of high intensity exercise.

One example of this type of exercise is RUNNING THE 50 YARD DASH.



This type of high intensity exercise reduces stress buildup and eliminates meltdowns. If your son feels stress building up, if he runs around 10 fifty yard dashes, he will return back to normal and avoid a melt downs.

Willkomen

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Welcome to WP!

I’m in the midst of mild COVID

You’re not “rambling” at all.

welcome! when I finally recognized my own autism it was such a shock, surprise, and relief! Finally the world began to make sense. My history of painful "whys" had answers. Glad you are with us!