Welcome!

A place to talk about your experience of living with Dyspraxia

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Shadwell
Moderator
Posts: 932
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:24 am
Location: Bridgend, South Wales

Re: Welcome!

Post by Shadwell »

I don't know what it is with with-holding information, but my gp with-held the test results from me and my parents, so left totally in the dark until about 97' or something, but my mother didn't follow it up even though I told her to. but then in December/Jan 07, then I did find out that it was well hidden in my medical file.

it seems like the thought lack of information is good, rather than knowing why we are the way we are, so puts us through hell and misery instead. I am glad I know now, but not happy with the way it was finally found out some 20 years after diagnosis.

but I wish the internet had been around longer to the general public, as it was back in 97 then it was just send pre-written messages copied from my home pc onto my fathers pc on a sunday evening. just to speak to friends online. rather than looking at the pretty limited information it holds like about the condition, and this great forum!! \:D/

but as far as the condition goes then I still think it is better to know, than not know.
Saphyra
Getting settled in
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 7:14 pm

Re: Welcome!

Post by Saphyra »

Hi all!

Shadwell, yes, I don't know what makes people think it is better to withhold the test results. In case of my mother, who informed me when I was 20 that I have had this condition since my early childhood, I think she was convinced that knowing that you have a condition would give you a black mark and you would not be able to develop normally. She was good at downplaying it when talking to me but I heard when she talked with her best friend she was concerned in a way. I don't know, whenever I had a silly small accident, my parents laughed and said that I am not the 'best' at practical things. I sometimes felt quite stupid..
They bought me ice-skaters and let me do it but I was totally unsuccessful. Maybe they thought I would grow out of it and it was the thought back then that the child was only retarded in their motor skills in a way and would finally manage it.. This, however, created much more frustation to them and to the children. It could also be the case that they might have thought it would demotivate us from trying if we could learn things nevertheless, knowing that it would be pointless anyway.
I agree and think it would have been better to know from an age of 12 or earlier and to give children support tailored to their needs..
I think society needs to learn quite a lot about it and to be more tolerant..

Saphyra
pongosam
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Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:54 pm

Re: Welcome!

Post by pongosam »

hi im 16 and have just got my first job yeyy!! well the point is its in a coffee shop i havent told my manager about dyspraxia she is expecting too much of me and is always getting anoyed when i drop things and forget to put my food gloves on or forgetting to serve a customer ect its really getting me down worried and anxious its gotten to the point where i dont want to go in what should i do ???
OCDyspraxic
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Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:27 pm
Location: London

Re: Welcome!

Post by OCDyspraxic »

Just joined!

The unusual username I have chosen is an accurate one. I was born with OCD and only diagnosed when I was 22 but dyspraxia is something I still need to reveal. I tick all the boxes for dyspraxia and convinced that I have it. In fact I would say I am 40% obesessive compulsive and 60% dyspraxic with a hint of ADD thrown in there somewhere. I am particularly interested in the area where dyspraxia crosses over with autism because I originally suspected that the 60% was a type of autism and very interested in the abuse suffered by dispraxics as I have had more than my fair share.

Hope to speak to some interesting people on this forum.
Tom fod
Administrator
Posts: 2947
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 9:05 pm
Location: SW UK

Re: Welcome!

Post by Tom fod »

Welcome OCDyspraxic. I like the username 8-)

I'm sure you'll find people to talk to here. I think our OCD ways often come about as we often tend to find comfort in our little routines and dislike unnecessary change that we're not in control of/have no say in.

I've encountered a bit of abuse but thankfully not too much. It still hurts though. Feel free to start your own threads or contribute to existing ones.

All the best and hope you find some answers/strategies and comfort from the forums (or fora)
Tom
Moderator/Administrator

With a foot full of bullets I tried to run faster but I just hobbled on to the next disaster.
(from Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Foot Full of Bullets)
candiebar65
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Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2013 2:06 pm

Re: Welcome!

Post by candiebar65 »

Hi, Im 47 yrs old and am very sure I have DYSPRAXIA, All my life I have struggled, I was bottom of the class in school, last in the exams, couldn't listen or concentrate for very long and drifted off into my own world.I have no rytham, cant dance or follow zumba, can only clap to very basic beats, cant sing either, and took a yr to pass my driving test, kept being shown over and over again and took weeks for it to sink in.passed on 3rd go. On the dyspraxia list from the internet im so many things, just not the clumsy bit , I havnt worked that much as the thought of being taught how to do something and knowing how long it takes md to click, I don't want to look thick. I don't know weather to go to my dr and and take the list that ive underlined all the bits in red that are me. any advice, or am I to old at 47 for a diagnoses? many thanks x oh and cant spell.lol
nickye
Power poster
Posts: 158
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2012 5:16 pm

Re: Welcome!

Post by nickye »

Hi and welcome to the forum. I'm pleased you've found it and I hope it does you as much good as it's done me. I'm a similar age (44) and I've just been diagnosed a few months ago, so I definitely don't think it's too late. I must admit I didn't find I got any joy out of the NHS, but I don't want to put you off, because all areas are different. I did in the end go privately and I got the diagnosis. I've got a few exercises to try and help myself, but really the main advantage has been finally to get an answer! To know that there are all these other people with similar issues, it has been amazing for me. I've met loads of new people and it's been good to know I'm no the only one.

When I say I didn't get any joy from the NHS, I have to admit that my GP was really nice, but they didn't know a lot about it, and the neurologist I saw, although friendly enough, seemed to think most of my problems came down to anxiety and depression, although he said I did display a lot of the symptoms of dyspraxia and could get help from the Dyspraxia Foundation. I could have left it there, but it was very important for me to get a diagnosis, and I am so pleased that I did. It has been the best thing I've done. I would say go in confidently and research and take notes with you. It's so easy for us to be put down. All my life it's been "well you just need to try a bit harder" or "there's nothing wrong with you, you just need to concentrate". Even when people are understanding, they don't really understand it like someone else who has dyspraxia.

I'd really recommend getting in the touch with the Dyspraxia Foundation at www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk They will be getting a help line soon, but they have a lot of local groups. My local people in Berkshire have been really helpful.

Try not to be too down on yourself - although I don't always take my own advice! I've had depression on and off for years, and although I have been working most of the time up until having my daughter, I have had certain difficulties, especially with practical tasks. It's a case of finding things you can do and trying not to worry (easier said than done of course!) It took me three years to pass my driving test, and at the time I had no idea why I couldn't get to grips with everything, because I have a good memory for words and facts etc, but anything hands-on is really hard. As a child I had difficulty riding a bike and tying shoeslaces.

Good luck, and no don't think it's too late. My Dad, who we're fairly sure is dyslexic, is 70 and has been doing literacy classes. It has been brilliant and he now writes me letters which he never used to, and he's got a lot more confidence, so I think it's always worth it. A lot more is known about these conditions now, compared to when we were young, and even now there's not enough knowledge, but it's miles better. I would say that just getting together with other people who understand is a great help.
EmRose9
New member - welcome them!
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2013 7:56 pm
Location: North Wales

Re: Welcome!

Post by EmRose9 »

Hello all,

My name is Emma and I am 21 years old. I have recently been referred for a dyspraxia screening via my university and it will take place this coming week. I feel almost as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders reading about peoples' experiences on this forum of dyspraxia at different stages of their lives and so much of it rings true! I have always been afraid to attach labels to myself due to the stigma that is often attached to them, but there are also many positives to attaching the labels such as gaining support. Therefore, when I found this forum I was extremely encouraged to get involved and talk to people about their experiences :)

Thanks
Em.
She lifts her skirt up to her knees, walks through the garden rows with her bare feet laughing.
Tom fod
Administrator
Posts: 2947
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 9:05 pm
Location: SW UK

Re: Welcome!

Post by Tom fod »

Hi

Welcome to the forums (or fora)

Try not to worry about being misinterpreted here. We really are a very unjudgemental bunch.

Please feel free to read and contribute to any topic threads or start new threads.

kind regards
Tom
Moderator/Administrator

With a foot full of bullets I tried to run faster but I just hobbled on to the next disaster.
(from Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Foot Full of Bullets)
Slinky Siren
Getting settled in
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2013 11:50 am

Re: Welcome!

Post by Slinky Siren »

:D Hi,
I got diagnosed with Dyspraxia last year on my 50th. It was kind of good to know that I had "something" as I always knew something wasn't right but never knew what. But your kind of left in limbo. I have a name but now what. Doe's that make sense and sound familiar?
I'm too very clumsy and it gets worse when I get tired so I'm thinking having a young child, feeling tired may bring on more clumsyness. But good luck at the GP's. Don't get fobbed off!
I'm rubbish at hand eye tasks but somehow managed to learn to ride and even entered a few dressage competitions. The last one I completly muffed as I forgot the test and ended up doing my own thing but somehow I still managed to come 2nd! I also dance and even thought I don't have a clue as to left and right have found this has never stopped me from learning. I find you don't need to know, you can say things like to the wall to the door and you get away with it.
Music I've tried but was pretty grim. I still would like to learn to play an instrument...one day.
I've always said to myself if you want to learn something then do it and I'm not put off. I'm not academic and find the whole school situation of learning to be very stressfull. I have had to attened courses for work and dread going on them. I've failed each academic course I've been asked to go one which does not do wonders for one's confidence. I have little of that! Love craft and practical things so will always give those 100% and so what if my things look like a 5 year old has done them...well, okay,I do care as I want them to look "grown up" but I've kind of over the years have learnt to realise that you can see how something should turn out and then there is my version...which is totally different, gives people a good laugh and looks like a 5 year old has done it. I guess we are all different, and when I'm feeling good thikthat this is what makes us unique!
screengreen
Power poster
Posts: 212
Joined: Fri Aug 16, 2013 8:39 pm

Re: Welcome!

Post by screengreen »

Quite agree better to know, the education specialists who are not neurodiverse tell us that labelling leads to poor performance due to lowered expectations, while this may be true of an intellectual disability (not sure though) it certainly does not hold for neurodiverse conditions. I labelled my self as thick and lazy before I had a diagnosis ... much more limitting than dyslexia/dyspraxia
Shadwell
Moderator
Posts: 932
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:24 am
Location: Bridgend, South Wales

Re: Welcome!

Post by Shadwell »

I agree, it is far better knowing, than left in limbo, and teachers and stuff teaching you like your thick. or lazy. when it cannot be helped one bit. it just leads to stress, and depression. taken me years to recover from the teaching in school. only just started to recover months after I got the diagnosis.
Gekon
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Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:22 am

Re: Welcome!

Post by Gekon »

Hello im josh im 26 years old from UK. :)
lukasmit
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Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 12:54 pm

Re: Welcome!

Post by lukasmit »

Hello new here also :)
George H
Getting settled in
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Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:13 pm

Re: Welcome!

Post by George H »

I am George. I am 37 years old and I am from the Nottingham area.
Last edited by George H on Fri Sep 11, 2015 9:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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