[ley5894]

Ok so hey.
Forgive me if I sound a bit PO'd, but thats because I am

I got extensive testing in the 2002 (second grade for me). I was never told the results of these tests, although after them I began to recieve learning suppourt.
Yesterday, my t pulled out a discharge summary from Feb 2011 from a psychiatric unit. He's new so he's just getting these documents. (mind you, I'm 18 and in college and now manage a lot of my health care). He looked at what the summary gave as a diagnosis...among were things I knew they said, but when he said that I have a pervasive developmental disorder, the following conversation ensued.
me: what's that? I've never heard of that.
t: Its a form of mild autism.
me:....................what?
Here's the thing. Like I said, I've had testing done, as recent as April 2011. These included an IQ test. I scored a 59 in the logical section, and 141 in verbal. That first one is not good, but the second one is in the stratosphere. 141 is in the 97th percentile. (higher than 97% of scores). I speak three languages. Socially, I'm pretty inept with people my own age. Always have been. Kids younger than me, and older adults? Yeah, we get along great.
Honnestly, I've noticed autistic tendinces in me for a fair amount of years now, but figured that if I had been diagnosed with it that they'd tell me. I knew that I have ADD and other things (see my signature), but something like autism, I thought that my parents would have told me. But no. They've known for 10 years and didn't find it important to tell me that I have autism.
Five stages of acceptance? Yeah, I'm in anger at the moment.
Thoughts on this?

[everything]

I think you have reason to be upset. I'd be pissed and I think that's fine. You don't have to forgive people for everything. Forgiveness is a process, it happens slowly as your emotions give way to acceptance.

After your emotions move past rage, you'll probably want to confront your family. I think they've neglected one of your needs and you have every reason to be upset about that.

You should have been told. Autism is a part of you.

Autism can explain a lot of those diagnoses in your signature. Perhaps, once you sort this all out with your therapist, some of the more stigmatizing diagnoses can be eliminated.

This diagnosis can have a positive affect on psychotherapy, since the therapist can understand and appreciate your cognitive style.

It is the beginning of self discovery and acceptance. Autism is not necessarily a bad thing with a poor prognosis.

I am so sorry you werent told. You as the child certainly had the right to know. Im hoping you werent told because people were trying to protect you.... But i bet it sure doesnt feel that way. As a former special ed teacher, i encouraged parents and children to talk about their diagnoses in a way the child could understand, and gave them resources (there are tons out there!) for helping their kids understand. I think youe got every right to be upset.

[123qwerty1891]

I completely understand what you're going through. My parents did the same to me after I was diagnosed as a kid, and told the rest of the family about about my diagnosis while I was left ignorant. I was 18 when I finally found out; and to find out that you've been living a lie for most of your life was the most shattering experience I ever felt. It's like one day everything is fine and the next everything is upside down.