10 Years ago today

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I was diagnosed with moderately severe Aspergers under the DSM IV and Autism Spectrum Disorder under the DSM 5. I was not given a level. The DSM 5 was brand new, controversial, and we had no idea how it was all going to play out thus my clinician hedged her bets and diagnosed me under both manuals.

Before I describe my reaction people have a wide variety of reactions to being diagnosed formally or self. All are valid. The last thing I want is that you should feel bad or further an outlier because your reaction was different then mine.

When she formally diagnosed me I did not immediately feel anything. It hit me as soon as I walked out the door and into the streets of New York City. I felt like screaming “I’m an Aspie”, “I’m an Aspie”. Somehow I was able to keep myself from sounding like another lunatic on streets of New York City(LOL). But everything people talk about when first diagnosed, the relief, the looking back at ones life through a different and more forgiving lens and so on I went through. That evening after a couple of weeks of lurking I joined Wrong Planet.

The knowledge of Autism and the people here were never more important to me then 2 years later when I had some serious health issues. First it was a mild stroke, then was tongue cancer that necessitated replacing half of my tongue. Then a few months later the cancer came back and I had to do it all over again. For over a year I was non speaking. It was the worse thing for an autistic person sudden radical change in lifestyle, necessary but unplanned interruptions, sensory hell. But because of the knowledge my diagnosis gave me I figured techniques to make it less bad, whenever I could dive into special interests, Autism and Wrong Planet being prominent. Without the knowledge from the diagnosis and the people here I would not have survived that ordeal mentally and probably physically.

Now there is an issue and a potential issue in my personal life that might necessitate some time off or lessening involvement for a bit of time. I will inform you all about that in due time but today is not about that. Today is about being grateful and thankful.

Privilege is a highly used and controversial word these days but in many ways I am privileged. I am privileged in that unlike previous generations the knowledge of ASD for people in my part of the spectrum and my age exists. Those autistics that came before me and many in my generation will go through their whole lives not knowing an important part of who they are. Many of my autistic peers were institutionalized or had parents who tried to beat the autistic traits out of them. Very grateful not to have had to deal with that. In the wake of the cancers I am privileged to be here at all. That is not just my opinion but the opinion of the oncologist who did the surgeries on me.

Over the last ten years WP have had it’s ups and downs. Right now in the wake of the grooming reckoning this is one of the better periods. We are in Twilightprincess/IsabellaLinton/Cornflake of era WP. I have political and generational differences with them for sure but with the strength of character these people have demonstrated and the changes I do agree with there is plenty of reason for optimism. The return of magz is another reason for optimism. They would have not been able to accomplish these changes without your support so thank you. And thank you to everybody here and long gone.

I see the main challenges for the next 10 years in these areas.

Forums are an antiquated social media tool. Where is WP going to get the youth infusion needed? It is great that WP is old autistic people friendly but we have limited time left here.

The software. There have been so many times where I thought we had squeezed the most out of the software we possibly could, most recently when WP was seized by a malicious actor.

Changing scientific understanding of Autism/Autisms.

Thank you for the 10 years again.

Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 26 Aug 2023, 9:50 am, edited 4 times in total.

*sheds a tear for APOM*


I have a lot to say to this, but I'm a bit busy right now so I'll reply later. I'm so glad that you got diagnosed, that you found support here, and that I met you as an online friend. You've added a lot of insight to WP yourself. I always look forward to your articles about autism awareness and acceptance. I appreciate that you're empathetic to the struggles of autistic women, as well.

Big hugs to you for getting through these last ten years. I hope you'll be sticking around because it's the greats like you who keep this place running.


Happy Anniversary. Here's to many more.

I will be around. No guarantees in life but whatever diminished role I might play I expect to be limited to a month or two, or maybe three. Hugs to you.

I wish you happy outcomes on the issues in your personal life. I look forward to you returning from them.

Happy Anniversary. Here's to many more years.

Happy Anniversary, and thank you for sharing your story! It's been quite a journey. I'm glad that you found support here when you needed it.

I can relate to how you felt when you received your diagnosis. It's been about 9 years for me. I felt validated in a lot of ways when, in the past, I continually heard that I wasn't trying hard enough and that my best wasn't good enough. I finally felt different, not less-than. It's something I was and am proud of.

I am very grateful that you are a member of WP. Your voice and insight have been great for this community, and I always respect and value what you have to say. I've also really appreciated your support after the behavior of certain individuals was made known recently. I feel like WP is better than it's ever been. I've made friendships with people I wouldn't have expected and have gained understanding and support that wasn't possible before.

I'm hoping that WP continues for many more years, and that you'll continue to be an integral part of this community because it wouldn't be the same without you.

Last edited by TwilightPrincess on 26 Aug 2023, 7:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Happy Anniversary.

I joined WP nearly 4 years ago so am a relative newb that way. Already two of my three WP buddies are gone (one to COVID likely and the other banned). Sigh. I am grateful for the remaining considerate, thoughtful and/or supportive folks here.

It's neat that you had already figured out you were different and not defective. I held both, with defective unfortunately a bit closer (still). I'm continue on the self-empowerment journey.

I am glad you are past those medical hardships and wish you well in your near and far futures.

It is good to hear your story, ASPartofMe.

I have been diagnosed 6 years versus your 10!

It was a relief to finally be able to feel my authentic self and be able to tell people confidently I am a person with autism.

Hopefully you'll be around for a long time to come!

Again, no shade to people who reacted differently to their diagnosis but what has always amazed me over these last 10 years is that so many people with different personalities and political views react in a similar way.


I have said it before but it needs to be said again. You are a big part of this. The strength and resilience you and Isabella showed in the face of everybody doubting you not only with the groomers but your whole life amazes me. That is something you should be really proud of.

There will be times in the future where bad things will happen and you will doubt yourself. When that happens drawback on how you eventually handled the grooming as a reminder to yourself that you are one very strong person.


Awww

Thanks to everybody for your kind words. They made this anniversary the memorable day it was.

There have been a lot of insightful videos I have viewed over the years made by Autistics about Autism. There are two videos I saw soon after I was diagnosed that were revelations and have been the most influential on how I think of myself and post.

Up until seeing that video I never thought of myself as a person to advise anybody about anything. He made me realize at least in the autism world I do have something to contribute to not only younger autistics but to people who are just finding out they are autistic. With that came a sense of responsibility to set an example by being mindful of how I comport myself.


The clinician who diagnosed me explained to me the concept of what we now call masking. I understood it and how it related to me intellectually. But it was not until I saw this raw video that I truly truly got it deep inside. Not only about the concept but the cost.

I have viewed it a lot and it still gets to me.

I can't thank Professor Attwood and The Autistic Psychologist(AnMish back in the day) enough not only for these specific videos but many others they have made.

Happy Anniversary

I hope you and wrong planet are here in 30 years, i look forward to WP by then having moved over to the VR Metaverse, we`ll be having our discussions as our amazing alien avatars on a virtual Mars colony.

I'm so glad you said all of this to TP. ^
She's come a LONG way from the time we first talked in late Feb.
She's learning what a strong person she is, and to feel valued after so much grief.

Yes, thank you!

^ I think we've both come a long way.

In some ways, the journey has just begun. I've got a lot of plans for the coming months. I'm hoping to find and experience some happiness again. We'll see, I guess.

What I said to her applies to you.

That said I sure wish finding out how strong we are was not so hard and angst ridden .

I hope these plans come true or at least enough of them come true that your upcoming 10th anniversary celebration is rewarding as mine has been.

On a personal note when I first was thinking about what to post for my 10th I wanted it to be more then my usual quick thank you other anniversary threads but I was unsure how to do that but it came to me. Thanks to you all this was beyond wildest expectations.

This and the grooming thread has been a reminder to me that despite all else that WP is at its heart a support site.

We talk about autistics doing and feeling things differently. I did not celebrate by getting drunk running around screaming. We did this in an autistic way. I have seen the term “autistic joy” bandied about. I did not quite get how it was different from joy. Now I have some understanding.

Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 27 Aug 2023, 9:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Here is to 30 more years of disagreeing about the neurodiversity movement. If I make I will be 95 years old and probably not capable of understanding my surroundings.