In with the Old, Out with the new
A secret that most of my classmates never knew is that I am what used to be referred to as a "Functioning Autistic" person.
CLUE: Inside voice versus outside voice is regional. When I get excited, I talk with a New Orleans inside voice which in Mississippi and Alabama is an outside voice. VAN IS LOUD!!!
Now that I am getting closer to publishing my book, I can share what diagnosis I have had officially and those I kept hidden. Autism-Asperger Spectrum is the part I have hid even from my doctors.
They first said I was faking my mental issues and just had "anger issues". If you have an autistic child, you know how difficult the impatience turns to anger.
So when I was first diagnosed, all they had to work with was an adult that seemed simply BIpolar.
Yes, I am Bi. Bisexual, bipolar, buy, bye, b-eye-tch...
Next, I had what used to be called a my first uncontrollable unmedicated Manic episode after 9/11 tragedy which blew me open.
I could no longer handle cameras on stop lights, on phones, eyes watching everywhere and without my parents or sister to help, I began reverting back to my child-like autistic behaviors but the psychiatrists were now set on seeing me bipolar with "anger issues", misdiagnosed instead of the spectrum (which had not been defined at the time).
Then the bombshell. Moving from doctor to doctor, I was misdiagnosed due to the paranoia as having "Schizo-Affective Disorder" which was not even a term when I was a kid and instead of re-evaluating me, I lost my job and forced into "retirement" but meant I was put on disability because I could no longer function as a programmer with all the changes after 9/11.
So, since around 2002, I have been mentally disabled as one of the most dangerous types of mental disorders, "Schizo-Affective Disorder" though it started out as simply Autism-Asperger Spectrum disorder with anger issues.
Bless Your Heart....
A mess....
I am I-Van or Crazy Ivan as I am known by in Birmingham.
And now, you know..."The rest of the story..."
Blessed Be and Amen.
Namaste Bitches!!!
