Jayo wrote:
Before you knew of your ASD diagnosis, or even knew what it was, did you think that you were the only one?
While still dependent on my parents, I thought there was no one else who had the same problems as I. This was reinforced by my father, my teachers, and the school counselors . . .
"
Why are you the only one who acts this way?" was the type of question they all asked.
"
You want extra help from the teachers? What do you think you are, SPECIAL?!" was the type of thing I heard from my father.
It was only after living on my own that I began to meet people like me, especially during the Dungeons & Dragons craze -- other gamers would relate stories similar to mine, and I think that is part of why we bonded so well.
I also think that making me feel that I was the only one with the problems I had was their way to "Blame and Shame" me into conforming to what they believed was 'normal' behavior.