I am an Ancient Aspie who despite a lifetime of symptoms was not diagnosed until recently. In the Dark Ages of the 1950s-60s when I was growing up, children who did not conform were simply "bad" kids. Teachers noted that I did not "work well with others." The family pediatrician declared that I was a selfish child and should be punished when I acted up. End of story. My parents decided that my upsetting behavior was intentional, and worse, inexusable because I was intelligent and a girl. Smart people don't misbehave, and good little girls always do as they are told.
My childhood was a nightmare.
My childhood was a nightmare.
