Stereotypical Syndrome?
A quote from Sophist on Gestalt:
Okay, I’ve had this hypothesis for awhile now. It’s called Stereotypical Syndrome. This is what happens when someone gets newly diagnosed (either a self-dx or professionally, moreso the latter) and for a period of time, their symptoms actually seem to increase; they seem to become even more the stereotypical picture of whatever they’ve been diagnosed with.
It happens more, it seems, with people who aren’t in denial and have a more positive outlook on the diagnosis. But there’s a period where there’s accommodation; a pull and tug of past and present. The old self learning how to accommodate the new self and vice versa. Until finally, hopefully, the two come to a consensus and a hybrid has developed.
It’s a matter of redefining who we are. Stereotypical Syndrome.
http://www.asdgestalt.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1067
I don’t think I did the Stereotypical Syndrome thing. I never really understood what autism was until I visited forums about it and that was quite a while after being assessed. Sometimes things will get through and I will think “wow, I really am autistic”.
An example: I was seeing a friend from my old workplace, the mushroom farm. He and I had always had a good friendship between us. He was strictly off limits though, he had (and still has) a girlfriend. Anyway, we saw each other to catch up and say goodbye. We haven’t made contact with each other since.
I said to him, “I know I wasn’t the best with social rules and interaction.” I had barely gotten my sentence out when he blurted, “No shit! All of us at work knew!”
So yes, that was one of my “geez, I am autistic” moments.
Filed by renaeden at February 22nd, 2008 under Autism and me...