My Husband’s Story: I didn’t even feel I was normal

My name is Nigel and I was diagnosed with autism at 59.

I always felt I was different right from my teenage years. It’s hard to describe but I didn’t even feel I was normal.

I hated school. It was a real struggle and so hard. I didn’t go to anything at school, clubs and such. I had no true friends. I was just different and invisible. I felt like I was always passed over. The only subjects I was remotely good at where physics and chemistry. Maths was a mystery but then I had a PE (physical education) teacher teaching me who had no idea about maths herself. I never did understand that one.

I was horrendously bullied at school. Every single day. Kids beat me up, kicked me and pushed me. All I remember about school was being black and blue from the other kids.

I think my difficulties and struggles were overlooked as I had a physically disabled sister who was number one priority in the house at all times.

I collected stamps for years and liked photography but it was frustrating as with just 50p a week what can you really collect?

After school I worked in a supermarket for years. It was just a job; somewhere to go really. I had work colleagues but no friends there either. I only left that job when I moved from Wales to Scotland to do a course. I had no idea that would be the last job I would get for many years. I can’t do forms, I detest them with a passion. I have a speech impediment which means I’m rubbish at interviews. I can do the job but few ever saw that bit.

I hate change of routine. If I do the grocery shop any day but Thursday I get so confused. I struggle to shop anywhere but Tesco as other shops are laid out differently, smell different, look different and don’t sell Tesco products. I would be wondering ‘will I like that?’ , ‘Will it be as good as the Tesco brand I know?’, ‘where is the the sell by date?’ I know where that is on the Tesco product.

If something doesn’t work in my routine I am so thrown out not just for that day but days later.

If I am geared in my mind to park in one place and there is no spaces there I can’t think of anywhere else to park so I go home. That may sound strange but it’s just how I am.

It wasn’t until my son was diagnosed with autism when he was three and I reluctantly went with my wife to a course that I started to think the course was talking about me and not my son. It was like an awakening to think maybe I actually had something that was making me different after all.

People always had the attitude ‘oh that’s just Nigel’ and would ignore me, ‘he doesn’t know anything’; people never give me any credit.

I have been depressed since my teens but no-one really thought about it. They would say ‘what do you have to be depressed about?’ I’m been on medication for 5 years now. I’m still depressed it’s just some days I have good days and others bad days.

I have two autistic children but that doesn’t mean I can help or understand them any more than my wife who is not autistic. In fact caring for them exhausts me due to my own depression and autism and the fact I have a hearing impairment.

I hate being interrupted and the children interrupt with demands, screaming and needing attention so much. It gets too much. If I cook dinner and you interrupt me by phoning I can’t concentrate to cook dinner. I just can’t.

I’m allowed to struggle. After all if I didn’t struggle with certain things in certain areas I would never have been diagnosed would I? Isn’t that the whole point of autism?

But I have a strong faith, I love my wife, I adore my kids, and I get by.

Maybe if I had been diagnosed sooner things could have been different?

I don’t know.

I just hope my children don’t struggle like I have.

I hope the world is kinder to them.

Nigel.