So I was here a few years ago when my now 9 year old son was diagnosed with AS and NLD.. after a drawn out process of tests, interviews, surveys, etc.. With my son being diagnosed I researched and learned as much as I could, and realized throiugh that I may also have some of the AS traits..
I have been going through dealing with a son with AS and the difficulties of school, services, insurance compainies, etc.. and have to acknowledge that my wife has dealt with more of that than I have since I work and she is blessed not to have to and can do the things my son needs.
My son is now doing much better and amazingly at 9 years old has accepted and understnads for the most part what AS is and how it hlpes define him as a person.. There are still up's and downs and the daily challanges that come with raising a child with AS, but compared to a few years ago I can truly say that he is a different person and am confident that he will grow up to be an amazing adult.
I guess I personally have ignored my own issues and put most of my energy into my son, work, and anything else I could to avoid helping myself. So I'm back and trying to find myself, define exactly who I am.. and just connect with others who may have similar situations which they have had to work through.
I have done the self-diagnosis.. website tests, etc.. and 99% of the time I'm in the highly probable for AS as well as ADHD.. So my next step is to find a psych to work with on how I can improve the struggles in my life. Lucklly I am highly funtional, have a great job for many years, and have never had a catastrophic issues arise.. but I know there is something that is different.. I am awkward in social settings, question where to stand, how to break into converstaions, have to have things meticulously organized, don't enjoy last minute changes, etc.. for years I worked in materials planning and it was all about numbers, patterns, spreadsheets, etc.. so I could throw myelf into that and get lost.. and was very successful.. then somehow I shifted into a sales position where the details and numbers I used to lose myself in are gone.. and after a few years of that it is beginning to drag me into a place that is negatively affecting my family and myself.. without being able to constantly lose myself in spreadsheets, algorythms, and numbers, i find that I am turing to other stimuli to keep myslef level and those other stimuli are self induced pressure form purposely procrastionation until deadlines.. drinknig too much.. drugs.. ignoring issues with my wife until they are catastrophic, etc.
Anyhow.. So that's why I'm here/back here.. just lookng for anyone who may have beeen or are going though similar situations..
And if anyone knows of a good DX/Pshcy in Southern Maine. PLEASE let me know!
Peace..
15 Sep 2011, 8:01 pm
