Dyspraxic Adults

Hi, Im new on here. Im Wendy, 49 years old and do not have a formal diagnosis of Dyspraxia. I was tested a few years ago as part of a course I was doing and it came out that I had Dyspraxia and Discalcula. I would like a formal diagnosis because I am suffering very badly with anxiety and depression but dont know how to get one. I am attributing all this to Dyspraxia as Im pretty sure this is what is wrong with me. To go through all my problems would take forever and bore you all too tears ha ha....suffice to say I have 'suicidal' thoughts although I would never actually 'do it' because it would devastate my children, but it is that bad for me. Im in trouble yet again at work for completely forgetting my duties. Tasks that are given to me verbally just drift out of my head and I try and try to concentrate and get things right...but always get them wrong. I take ages and ages to learn anything new and have had all this since I was a child. Every single relationship has been affected by this and my mother used to call me 'stupid' on a regular basis. I am doing an NVQ at work and will have to do a maths test dont know how I will cope with that one, I cant understand basic maths at all!! Im also in trouble at work because although I drive, I dont have any sense of direction and cant understand the motorway network at all. My boss has now said I am expected to drive anywhere in the country at short notice if he should so demand!! No mention of this at interview so now Im panacking about losing this job due to forgetting my duties regularly and not being able to drive. I live in a permanent state of panic and fear and brain fog.
Nice to meet you all x

Hi Wendy

Welcome to the Dyspraxic adults forum(s) or fora.

Don't feel embarrassed about 'boring us' by trying to list all those things you are struggling with as the act of getting it out onto screen or paper may assist you in getting your head around it and finding coping solutions to help you.

Getting a formal diagnosis seems to be quite hit and miss. Do speak to your GP about all your issues and maybe also your HR Dept if your employer has one.

The Dyspraxia Foundation while primarily geared to helping parents with affected children do have a helpline for adults available Monday to Friday from 9 - 5 on 01462 454986.

They may point you towards this document and hopefully you will find it useful
http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/d ... ia_1.0.pdf

If my link above fails see this page on their website
http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/d ... ia-dynamo/

To me it seems entirely reasonable to say you should supply me with a satnav if you expect me to travel the country on your behalf. (I believe it would be an equally applicable expectation for a non dyspraxic employee.)

My mother was equally derisive about me it is not helpful.

Welcome to the forum, Wendy!

I hope this forum will be a help for you and that you will be able to take away the 'sad' part of you/your username in time.

Hi Wendy,pleasę do not feel bad for going on and getting in touch with us I am just newly on the Dyspraxia forum and I am finding it very helpfull. Everyone seems to look out for each other and try to help each other which is very good indeed I think Wendy. We will all feel for You deeply as we are all in the same boat with Dyspraxia. I think You should make an appointment to,go to see your Doctor, as soon as possibile. You should make a double one that gives You more time talk to,your Doctor, about how You are feeling. Have You a good friend who could go with You so You do not feel nervous and alone?write down what You want to say to your Doctor, cor get your friend to do it if You find writing difficult. Just incase You forgot anything You want to say to him or her. Does your Boss know about your Dyspraxia could You approach him or her and explain way You find things difficult say it is not your fault but duże to,your Dgyspraxia. If,You are not happy in your work perhaps it might. Be good to look around for work that is more easier for You to do. What do You think about this? Remember if You do feel very suiciedle there are organisations called Breathing Space,and also The Samaratins,out there who are willing to talk to You.When everyone else is asleep they have time to,listen to You. I don't know if I have been any help atall to You lass,but I do trust You will manage too get the right help and support You need. If You need to get in touch again I and others are here for You we all care.

Mopps

Hi i got into trouble at work re being told things. I insisted they either emailed or waited while i wrote it down and read it back to them. Yes they got irritated but i reckoned if they wanted a good job done it was their responsibility to pass on the request properly.. have you seen the American series about a deaf woman being a fbi agent. I found it good to spot what is your problem and what is theirs. It is your boss' problem to effectively communicate with you and that means in writing

Ihad to drive a lot. I would write out a route from the map on a wad of postits and pull off each direction after Ii did it. I also drew a rough map showing which way to turn at each section to give me an overview. I always used arrows not left or right to avoid problems.
hope you are okay with me sharing basic stuff but it's only basic when you know it.

HI Wendy,
I'm always getting told off at work. Its a miricle that I get anything right!
Don't worry about travel - a SatNav will be your life saver. Its unfair of your boss to put undue presure on you.
I got diagnosed last year and paid for the test myself. I found my assessor on the internet and emailed a few people but was drawn to the lady who finally assessed me and we still keep in touch. So, trust your instict and try the internet. It worked for me. i had never heard of Dyspraxia until my diagnosis. Work have not been that supportive as they don't know about it (Dyspraxia) or how to treat me now that they know. Its difficult.
Yes, I get depressed and feel really low but somehow I always come out the other end. I love to exercise so a good exercise class that gets you out of yourself might help you and make you feel fab about yourself. The forum is very good and ifyou can get along to a conference organised by Dyspraxia Foundation go. I went to my first one last year and loved it. I didn't feel alone and it was good to hear of other's experiences.
Hope my ramblings help you Wendy.

Hi Wendy. I've just recently joined this site. Like you I've suffered being everyone's fool since childhood. I've never been diagnosed like you,but have been told I have a high likelihood of suffering from dyspraxia. I know how awful you feel at the lowest points but you have so many positives going for you. You drive,you hold down a job. These are two things I would love to do but I just can't hold down information. I would have a driving lesson,totally forgetting what I'd learned previously and be shouted at by my driving instructor . I am so slow at picking things up. My doctor has recommended charity work which I hope to do soon. I am not stupid, I have o levels and an a level,hardly Einstein I know but not stupid! Everyday life exhausts me as I'm sure it does with you. Finding this site gives us hope. As all on this site we could go on about our daily struggles. I know your introduction was written at the end of last year and just hope you are ok. I'm 47. If you ever need to chat on line I'm listening! I'm a mum and if my thoughts get suicidal I think of them like you do. Anyway enough of me jabbering on! Take care Wendy.