I’m 38. I was diagnosed with ADD when I was a kid. This was before Asperger’s was a thing. All my life I’ve struggled in one way or another. Executive disorder. Social awkwardness. Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. A ridiculously strong sense of justice. I’ve lost, and been unable to find, work. The only job I’ve held for longer than a year was working for my father, who was the only person that… understood me in his own way. Ever since he passed away I’ve struggled more than ever.
I’ve come to understand my mind better than most, but I haven’t been officially diagnosed with anything because I’ve been ‘high functioning’ all of my life. Not bad off enough to get lumped in with the special kids in school (in fact taking AP courses) and masking well enough most of the time to pass as ‘normal’.
I can’t get any assistance, but I can’t hold down a job for long. I’m scared I’ll be homeless before long, and I feel awful for my wife who also understands me better than most.
All I want, and have ever wanted, is to be treated as human. Not lesser, not different. To be as deserving of a good life as everyone else.