How I Was Diagnosed

A different view on autism - How I Was Diagnosed

Since jr. high school I met autistic people on the lower-functioning
end, and they were so amazing. I liked autism.
In high school I would ask the staff, "Is he/she autistic?" I had a
little interest in autism.
...until I was 18 in 1999. It must have been late october when the
autism specialist came to my one-on-one vision class. Only I didn't
know she was an autism specialist. I thought, "I get to meet and talk
with someone!" I was excited.
Laura watched to see about my eye contact and of how I wouldn't change
the subject about weird dreams.
Mom said I have Asperger's Syndrome, but at that time I didn't know it
was high-functioning autism. Mom said of how it said people who have
it love textures and colors like I do.
One day at school I was in the little room. In the room outside of it
I heard my vision teacher, Lane, say to my mom, "All you have to do is
check the box that says autism." I thought, "I'm autistic?" I was so
excited/glad.
Walking through the school mom said, "If you have to be autistic this
is the one to have." I didn't like that. I'm actually autistic, and
she didn't want me to be?
I got diagnosed two times after that. One with Asperger's Disorder
when I was on Geodon. Geodon is a bad anti-psychotic with bad
side-effect including ruining my stimming, making me not be able to
sweat or cry, making me not excited or talk about fur. That's how I
got diagnosed with just Asperger's Disorder and the bipolar those days
after my hypomanic episode at the hospital for 3 weeks.
When I moved to Seroquel and then Abilify I got tested for placement
in the adult foster home.
This was the best diagnosis of all. I went into the doctor's office.
He said not autistic, but there's something where you're in your own
world...
I cried when I was at a restaurant with a girl on the spectrum with
high-functioning autism. How could I not be autistic? How could that
be?
Then in the store my mom works in she told me the results came back.
It said autism: not Asperger's! I smiled.
Since my first diagnosis they have sepparated Asperger's from
high-functioning autism.
Now I stand up for my people: my second family... people on the autism
spectrum of all functionings. I'm proud to say I'm autistic! I am an
autism advocate/activist, and I am glad.