My autism diagnosis has unlocked a wonderful new world for me
For World Autism Acceptance Week, we’re sharing stories from some of our autistic colleagues about living with autism, how it affects them day to day and the support they have received from the Trust.
Laurel Clayton is a Medical Secretary in the City South Local Mental Health Team. They were diagnosed as autistic in August 2023. They say they have always asked ‘Why am I different?’ but after their autism diagnosis they say they have never felt so much overwhelming relief in one go, and finally having an answer has unlocked a wonderful new world for them. Read Laurel’s story…
“I was diagnosed as autistic in August 2023 and I’ve never felt so much overwhelming relief in one go before”, explains Laurel. “I spent the whole day cycling wildly between elated giddiness and crying wrapped in a blanket on my couch. I’ve always been a curious person, and nothing brings more satisfaction than getting an answer to a question that’s been on my mind. In one way or another, I think I’d always been asking ‘why am I different?’. Finally having an answer unlocked a wonderful new world for me, one where I accept all my own differences as the parts of me that I hadn’t been able to love before.
“Autism acceptance isn’t just about autism, I think. It has to be about accepting people for who they are, no matter who that is or how ‘different’ they might be. You can’t always know if someone’s autistic, even if you think you’re a good judge of it. My coworkers were surprised to hear I wanted an autism assessment, they hadn’t any inkling of what I was experiencing inside. Being able to squash and hide my struggles, or ‘masking’ as it’s known, meant I went under the radar. Getting diagnosed has given me the confidence I needed to start letting that mask down, and that’s been incredibly freeing. Now no one blinks an eye if I need to put on my headphones, or fidget at my desk, or if I suddenly can’t eat my lunch because the texture is wrong. Those things are just a part of who I am, like how Val will be wearing fabulous shoes, or that June will appreciate anything purple.
“I’m lucky to have a job that works to my strengths. I can hyperfocus my way through a pile of appointment letters and know that my coworker will be grateful that I enjoy doing it, so they don’t have to. I have a process map in my head for every task that I do, so I can pick it up again easily if I get interrupted. I’m one of those strange people who love to do paperwork, admin is the perfect place for me. Knowing that I have a supportive team who will help me out if I’m having a bad day, and that I’ll do the same for them, is the icing on the cake. I don’t have to worry about being judged for any of my ‘quirks’ - none of us do, because we’re all accepting of each other, exactly as we are, not just the autism in the room.”
Visit the Trust’s Neurodevelopmental Special Service web page for more information on this service.
