I believe there is a point where we all feel trapped in a box.
I know growing up I felt different.
I didn’t understand why my brain was wired the way that it was until I became eighteen.
I was shy, I was nervous of everyone around me.
I was scared to make friends, I was scared to express myself.
I thought I was weird, and incredibly lonely.
I had trouble looking at people directly.
I was clumsy at random moments and did not understand why.
My schoolmates would make fun of me behind my back.
Whether you are on the autistic spectrum or you feel misunderstood you are not alone.
It takes time, but there is hope out there for you to cope. It’s easy to feel misunderstood.
It’s harder when you don’t know why you’re not like everyone else.
My mother and father caught on to my diagnosis at an early age.
I wouldn’t talk much, I would just be shy and didn’t want to be social with my friends.
People did not understand why I came off quiet.
Change never came easy for me. My routines were not meant to be changed.
If anything did change, I would become angry and lash out at everyone around me.
Such things would cause myself to seek privacy.
They would be concerned that I looked angry all of the time.
There was research done and before long, it started to make more sense.
I just wanted some answers and to know why I felt awkward.
I just wanted to feel like I belong
I was able to find support in school.
Special education teachers to help me understand my assignments better were helpful.
My family worked their hardest to get me the best help in the city.
My mother sent me to several therapists until we found the cause.
The next step was to apply what I’ve learned.
There was some good news though, I found better friends.
There are good people with good hearts out there. I found friends that had my back.
I learned about myself through the friendships I’ve made and what they have taught me.
The key is to find support in people who understand you.
People who value you enough to embrace you.
Finding yourself with autism comes with one-part support.
It also comes with the work you put in yourself.
Here are some tips I’ve learned along the way.
Take breaks, find a quiet place to think about what you are feeling.
Listen to advice, the people around you want to help you.
Find comfort in hobbies or interests. Playing music for example is good.
Talk to your friends and family about what you are feeling.
Be honest about what you feel, express your emotions so others can understand.
It helps when you embrace the resources around you to find peace.