Adults with NLD are navigating uncharted waters. As an older adult with NLD I have been caught in too many riptides. Yet I have survived, and survived well.
I thought I learned everything I needed to know for a successful life before I was 40. I didn't realize that I was laying the foundation for much more growth
Freezing—or the inability to react in an important situation was common for me. Other times I would blurt out inappropriate statements. I believe this is caused by fear.
Once I was a top ranked blogger. Then came Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and more. As a person with NLD I found myself retreating because the Internet became so noisy. And my lack of technical ability made me come in last. No it's not a race but it sure feels like one.
Because I had to diagnose myself and didn't learn about NLD until adulthood I was cheated of understanding many things that could have led to a happier more satisfying life.
Adoption should be just a way to form a family. But closed adoptions are, by definition, fraught with secrets and lies; no matter how hard the adoptive parents try to stop them. This is one very personal account of a closed adoption.
We moved. When I began school somebody inverted the bus numbers. I followed the directions and learned that the bus driver and school admin wouldn't take responsbility when I turned out to be on the wrong bus. It was my fault and my problem.
There have been times in my life, important times, when I have been suspicious instead of trusting. And more important times when I have been trusting rather than suspicious. Can I trust myself to make important decisions?
Because I'm not organized and have a lack of spatial awareness I'm different. It never used to bother me. It does now. I feel that I should make more of an effort to fit in. But I would kill myself trying. I know it's OK to be me. Or at least I hope it is.
I read many posts that mention trigger alerts. Yet there are none for NLD as so many different disorders and problems are involved. I find myself needing trigger alerts when I read way too many articles and posts on dementia, strokes, heart attacks and death. I also realize that my thinking is black and white and that colors everything.
When I began this blog I was looking for answers about NLD. In looking for answers I joined groups, and talked to as many people as possible.
This would have been great if along the way I didn't forget that I'm a professional. I treated myself as a schiemel
Last year Anna was stuck in a rut despite her education, wonderful personality and will to succeed. This year it came together despite some bumpy roads.
Adults with NLD tend to be ignored by mental health professionals. We're "difficult." "Set in our ways." "Impossible to treat." Really? Have you tried helping full-fledged adults who have flourished but now find themselves burning out?
I am not above begging that 2014 be the year the adult with NLD is recognized and helped. We're so worth it!
People love to write articles on the Internet telling others how they should live. These articles get passed around as fonts of wisdom. Yet they fail to take into account people with problems that aren't easily solved. They look down on people they perceive not to be as strong as they are when the person can be stronger. It just doesn't seem so.
I have had too many problems because of NLD to list in two posts. So here's a third. It goes deeper and darker than the first two. I promise that the next post will be on things I can do well and/or better than most.
It's difficult for people to understand how debilitating NLD can be.It makes me so sad to think of how much easier my life would have been had I known about NLD.
NLD precludes me from doing the simple things in life. Many people who are younger than I am feel no guilt at not being able to do these things. I envy them and am happy for them. Guilt is my middle name.
This year I was tested for many possible lung and heart conditions. My house needed to be painted and I decided to paint my house turquoise to make myself feel happy. My next door neighbor reacted by accusing me of stealing her electricity. I still feel happy each time I look at the turquoise walls.
People with NLD can exhibit strange or harsh facial expressions. We can be very anxious. We must learn that we're not the only people to have these problems.
Being a respiratory therapist requires spatial awareness and other NLD unfriendly skills. Yet Leslie was one for almost 30 years. How could that be possible?
I'm writing a memoir about my life. Until mainstream memoirs and novels include complex characters with NLD it will be an orphan disorder. And it shouldn't be!
Anna is a 30 year old professional with NLD. Several years ago the newspaper she was a reporter for closed and she has been looking for a good job ever since. How much of it is the fallout from the recession and how much is due to NLD?
She wasn't diagnosed with NLD until after she lost her reporter job. The diagnosis left her with many questions and no answers.
Though I cried and feared much as a child I knew my life was destined to be a happy one. Not much is known about NLD so don't believe that kids with NLD are always going to be miserable and when they grow up life will be even worse.
A month after 9/11 my mother suddenly and tragically died. Several years later I was diagnosed with NLD but couldn't find any help for adults. I made some irrevocable decisions that might haunt the rest of my life.
Mysti realized when Leigh was in Kindergarten something was wrong. Though Mysti took her to doctor's and went to school herself NLD wasn't diagnosed until Leigh was nine. Mysti heard about Turners Syndrome from another mother in a Facebook group last spring and Leigh was recently diagnosed with it.
Pia Savage is a writer, journalist, and former social worker diagnosed with Non Verbal Learning Disorder.
About Odd Girl In
I spent most of my life not knowing I had nonverbal learning disorder. I not only survived——I flourished! Odd Girl In mainly talks about an adult life well lived. NLD is different in everyone. I never thought of mine as horrible though I would give a lot to be technically proficient and have better balance.
I'm intelligent, witty, interesting and fun with a great extended family, many friends, and the Atlantic Ocean just four blocks from my house! I'm happy.
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