Content warning:
Mentions of stress and masking
When my child got an autism diagnosis I realised I am autistic too
For years I was told I was over reacting, too sensitive, lazy and disorganised. When my daughter started school the teacher kept saying she was fine and just shy. I knew something was not right. She came home melting down every day, lining up toys for hours and crying if plans changed.
After pushing and pushing we finally got an autism assessment. Sitting in that room and listening to the questions I felt like they could have been talking about me as a child. The noise, the bright lights, the social rules that never made sense. I left with a diagnosis for her and a quiet feeling in my chest that maybe I was not broken either.
Getting my own diagnosis later felt like grief and relief at the same time. I wish someone had seen it sooner but I am also proud that my girl will grow up with language for who she is and support that I never had.
After pushing and pushing we finally got an autism assessment. Sitting in that room and listening to the questions I felt like they could have been talking about me as a child. The noise, the bright lights, the social rules that never made sense. I left with a diagnosis for her and a quiet feeling in my chest that maybe I was not broken either.
Getting my own diagnosis later felt like grief and relief at the same time. I wish someone had seen it sooner but I am also proud that my girl will grow up with language for who she is and support that I never had.