No Such Thing AS Autism

I have been writing about my mood swings of late. Actually, they are nothing new, I have just noticed them more in the past few weeks.

Often awareness gives us the power to change, by whatever means. However, looking back at my posts, I decided to delete them.

While it is a severe situation, the posts were not a report of the facts, they were a complaint.

Just because I have the technology to type, even when I don’t want to get out of bed, doesn’t mean I should.

I justified my posts by telling myself, “if I am authentic about my experiences, it might help someone else”.

But what if, a problem shared is a problem doubled?

I am not saying people shouldn’t seek help, I am saying help should be sought from an appropriate person.

I think the analogy is “only complain to someone who can do something about it”.

Except this is where it falls off. When there is nobody prepared to do anything about it, who do you turn to?

FACT 1: In the UK there is no treatment available for autistic adults (unless they have some other condition).

FACT 2: Autistic adults with mental health disorders are generally treated using the same basic criteria that would be applied to a neurologically typical adult.

I don’t need to spell out the pitfalls of that one!

FACT 3: Many doctors still believe “there is no such thing as Asperger Syndrome”.

Because they have a different style of communication, autistic adults need a different route into the system.

At least one doctor at any practice could be trained to understand autism. Doctors with a partner with an interest could display a sign.

After forty odd years of appearing to be OK, I pretend to fit in.

It takes a person with considerable skill and understanding to get that I don’t.

So who do I complain to?

I don’t want to set up a campaign to deal with the issue. However, if you do, I want to speak at your events!

See you on the other side of the looking glass,

mark ty-wharton