How should I attempt to reconnect with my family?

[tfwo]

I am 43 years old and have never been diagnosed, but currently beginning to pursue it. Ever since I was 6 years old, I've known I was different than everyone else around me. There have been remarkably few people in my life that I've really clicked with, including my family. When I moved away from my family in my early twenties, I decided to not maintain any connection with them for two reasons. The first being that I had never really felt any connection to them, and reasoned that if they felt differently that they would contact me. The second reason is that I experienced my interactions with them as being emotionally draining. With that being said, it appears that I'll need people who were around me in my formative years, to provide information to aid in my diagnosis. It does not bother me at all that they know of my diagnosis. I believe that it will explain a lot of things for all of us. I was thinking about sending them some literature on the subject, that will help them to notice the similarities between my childhood and other children on the spectrum. Any thoughts and recommendations are appreciated. You all have been very helpful, and I'm glad to be here.

 

[Butterfly88]

If you want to reconnect, personally I'd wait until you get an official diagnosis and then tell them. I think they'd be more likely to believe it if a professional diagnosed you rather than just yourself. I think letting them know of your diagnosis may help explain things. Maybe it would even create a new understanding between you. Also. be prepared to explain autism and how it effects you, not everyone understands it as well as they should. Good luck!

 

[paloftoon]

When that time does come, it might be easier for you to make contact via e-mail, Instant Messaging, or snail mail rather than calling on the phone. Talking on the phone or meeting in-person first might come as a shock since you would be responding much more instantaneously. When you use one of these modes, you can explain why you chose to contact in this manner first.