Peter's Story

I think that in general people have a very one size fits all view of autism, they don't realise autism is as different as people are. What autism means to me is that I have a brain that works differently from a lot of other people. I experience, react, and process the world differently - not better or worse, just differently. For me, sudden changes to plans can feel overwhelming, even if it’s not obvious to others. A small thing that makes a big difference is having time by myself, where I can take a break, regulate and collect my thoughts, or do something that helps me relax like draw or paint. Before the diagnosis I often felt, broken or a failure as a person, not able to understand why I was the way I was. The diagnosis has helped me understand myself so much better and not be so hard on myself. I know I’m not broken, and that there are people just like me who are simply trying to get through each day. It means so much to have supportive and caring people who accept me for who I am, like Autism NI. They have helped me make changes and develop strategies that have shown me I’m not broken, I’m just me, and that’s enough.

Peter, 49