Hi. For as long as I can remember, I've felt that there's something wrong with me, but have never been sure what. I think I might be dyspraxic, but I'm not sure. I'm a 36 year old male, so some of this is going back a way. Just want to get to the bottom of it.
As a kid I was very bookish, literate and academic but rubbish with numbers and sports, especially football. Terrible handwriting. My two big downfalls are crippling shyness and disorganisation. For the first twenty-one / two years of my life, I did ok by being good in essay based subjects and went to university to study English. From 16 to 21, I had a succession of casual jobs which I always found a struggle, but put that down to them not being very stimulating. Being a student meant I could be messy / scruffy and not care. So I was ok-ish. Although was diagnosed with depression at 18 which never really went away.
Problems really started with work proper. I was in marketing, and - although I liked copywriting - my general admin, organisation skills and social skills were terrible. To make matters worse, I started learning to drive at that point, which was a painful process. I got into debt paying for lessons and getting a car for my then girlfriend to take me out to practice. I did pass eventually, but by that point had to leave my job anyway. So I tried teaching secondary English, which was also a bit of a disaster. Didn't want to do it, really. Personally, too my lack of practical skills, ability to listen and concentrate have caused me real problems. Bought a house with my then partner but we argued endlessly over my inability to do / fix practical stuff like tile properly and broke up.
Since then, over the past eight / nine years, I've made a good life for myself though. Luckily I managed to find a job in a college teaching just A-level literature which suits me as it's more about subject knowledge and enthusiasm, which I can do, and was fairly quickly promoted to a course leader role. My confidence improved and I'm recognised as an outstanding teacher, do staff training and stuff. And I bought a new-build apartment, so there's no diy or garden to stress me. And got a new girlfriend who is more understanding of what I can and can't do. I still can't / wouldnt want to do team sports or anything competitive, but I'm very active now and go running, hiking, climbing, windsurfing, stuff like that, which I find hard but fun. My balance is pretty bad, I just don't seem mentally connected to my feet.
In short, I've found a way to live with my limitations. But at the same time I want to understand them and just, well, know what's up with me. Sometimes I feel a bit trapped, and like a failure. Or maybe there's nothing wrong with. Maybe I'm just a shy, book lover who doesn't like sport and diy. Or am I dyspraxic? Any suggestions?
Am I?
Moderator: Moderator Team
Re: Am I?
Hi, That's a tricky one 
If you've seen my previous posts you'll know I have my own theories on dyspraxia but generally I think it's a much more common problem than anyone would guess but it can hard to pin down because it can affect us in very different ways. I'd say that if you've got this far and think you may be dyspraxic then it's quite likely that you are but in my opinion you'll understand more about it by reading the forums than from any of the medical information that's out there.
If you've seen my previous posts you'll know I have my own theories on dyspraxia but generally I think it's a much more common problem than anyone would guess but it can hard to pin down because it can affect us in very different ways. I'd say that if you've got this far and think you may be dyspraxic then it's quite likely that you are but in my opinion you'll understand more about it by reading the forums than from any of the medical information that's out there.-
fallenonion
- New member - welcome them!
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2016 2:30 pm
Re: Am I?
Hi, thanks for the reply. I've not seen your previous posts as I'm new to the forum, but will go back and have a look.
Onion.
Onion.
Re: Am I?
Hi Onion and welcome to our corner of the web.
I suspect many of us can identify with much of what you've written as many are 'typical dyspraxic traits', That said, many of us are determined (or stubborn) and don't necessarily always conform to being 'typically dyspraxic'. Being different is not necessarily wrong, though many of us sadly feel 'we aren't quite right' because we've always struggled to conform to societal expectations of what is decreed 'normal'. Many of us have other co-occurring conditions, including anxiety and depression, quite possibly because we have to push ourselves harder to keep up and not be targets.
Dyspraxia/Dyspraxic tendencies span a wide spectrum and quite a few have never received a formal diagnosis as obtaining an adult diagnosis from the NHS all too often seems to be a battle/lottery. Most of us who have a formal diagnosis received this whilst in full time education though quite a few have good coping/hiding mechanisms and can pass by without being noticed.
We can't offer you a straight yes/no since we're not formally qualified and it would be unethical. There are questionnaires out there that will give an indication of whether it might be worth pursuing a formal assessment. The Dyspraxia Foundation website has them as do other websites.
Feel free to have a look through previous posts here and feel free to post any specific questions you might have. Don't forget that if you do receive or merely choose to self adopt the label it's your prerogative in respect to who you inform and how.
Hope this is helpful, though do feel free to challenge any misconceptions on my part.
I suspect many of us can identify with much of what you've written as many are 'typical dyspraxic traits', That said, many of us are determined (or stubborn) and don't necessarily always conform to being 'typically dyspraxic'. Being different is not necessarily wrong, though many of us sadly feel 'we aren't quite right' because we've always struggled to conform to societal expectations of what is decreed 'normal'. Many of us have other co-occurring conditions, including anxiety and depression, quite possibly because we have to push ourselves harder to keep up and not be targets.
Dyspraxia/Dyspraxic tendencies span a wide spectrum and quite a few have never received a formal diagnosis as obtaining an adult diagnosis from the NHS all too often seems to be a battle/lottery. Most of us who have a formal diagnosis received this whilst in full time education though quite a few have good coping/hiding mechanisms and can pass by without being noticed.
We can't offer you a straight yes/no since we're not formally qualified and it would be unethical. There are questionnaires out there that will give an indication of whether it might be worth pursuing a formal assessment. The Dyspraxia Foundation website has them as do other websites.
Feel free to have a look through previous posts here and feel free to post any specific questions you might have. Don't forget that if you do receive or merely choose to self adopt the label it's your prerogative in respect to who you inform and how.
Hope this is helpful, though do feel free to challenge any misconceptions on my part.
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)
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)
-
katherine100
- Getting settled in
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2016 10:15 pm
Re: Am I?
Hi Onion, I can relate to a lot of what you described! I am 36 and also a teacher (although I am a primary school teacher and currently home on maternity leave). I too am undiagnosed as dyspraxic but I think I probably am dyspraxic (I have worked with dyspraxic children and even assisted in their diagnosis and they are so like I was as a child!)
I understand feeling like there's something wrong with you. I've always felt that too. I am also horrible at sports and diy and learning to drive was a major challenge for me too. I too do well in essay based subjects. I thrived at university studying philosophy.
The multi tasking and organisation involved in primary school teaching (and more recently as a new mum) are a killer for me. I always have to work insanely long hours to keep up!
Anyway you sound a lot like me so either both of us are dyspraxic or neither of us are! At least you can rest assured there are others like you out there who get it! Well done for making such a good go of life against the odds too. Sounds like you've persevered and done well for yourself!
I understand feeling like there's something wrong with you. I've always felt that too. I am also horrible at sports and diy and learning to drive was a major challenge for me too. I too do well in essay based subjects. I thrived at university studying philosophy.
The multi tasking and organisation involved in primary school teaching (and more recently as a new mum) are a killer for me. I always have to work insanely long hours to keep up!
Anyway you sound a lot like me so either both of us are dyspraxic or neither of us are! At least you can rest assured there are others like you out there who get it! Well done for making such a good go of life against the odds too. Sounds like you've persevered and done well for yourself!