Dyspraxic Adults

Can I start off by apologising for how I phrase things. I think a combination of my dyspraxia and the fact I know three languages gets me to phrase things awkwardly/badly sometimes. Please get back to me if I need to clarify things - I'll not be offended

I wanted to talk about general lacks of realisation of how to do things. Things that would seem simple or obvious to most people - or people who are neuro-typical/'normal'. Normally I would just call myself stupid for not understanding or only realising recently how to do certain things, but I've been seeing a counsellor recently and she says to not be negative about such things.

I do still find it a bit stupid though. But at the same time, I think 'normal' people take so much for granted as obvious that they just don't explain things ever and don't realise that you've never learned.

Anyway, on to my point. I recently learned how to walk properly. Yes, how to WALK. I'm in my 20s.

I was never good at sports in school, or walking fast, or running/jogging. I always assumed I just was held back by my dyspraxia in general. But this is a thing I realised recently. I feel embarrassed admitting it but I'm hoping if I start, other people will share similar experiences. Maybe other people have even had a similar experience!

Basically, you know how people say "one foot in front of the other" to walk. I never realised you're meant to push off the ground with your feet. I'm still getting used to incorporating it into how I walk because I'm so used to just walking using only my thighs. If you can imagine, just walking by moving your legs, I guess by momentum (?), not pushing off the ground to move into the next swing. It just never occurred to me to do so.

I also didnt realise how to hold hands until I was about 10 (my mum only decided to actually tell me how to then, after years of her complaining that I didnt do it right - she would hold on to my hand but I wouldnt realise I was meant to hold hers back)

I want to add as well that I had physiotherapy for a year or so, to correct my posture as a child. At the time I really struggled with that because the therapist didnt explain well what she wanted me to do. Has anyone else had a similar experience with someone explaining an action but explaining it wrong?/misleadingly?/illogically?/inaccurately?

And have you had any similar experiences in general with learning something really late that most/many would consider obvious? It would be comforting to hear if so, or even if not, so at least I'll know if there's anything else wrong with me (haha).

Cheers.

Hi

First of all, can I say, the way you've phrased your post reads perfectly clearly to me and I can't really find any major fault with it.

I suspect I walk awkwardly myself as I do have a tendency to fall over my feet at times. I doubt I'm a textbook walker and I do tend to walk a bit too fast at times. I must admit my swimming strokes are unsynchronised and would quite likely be considered inefficient, same too, the odd way I hold a pen.

However my way works for me and while I have and can worry about not doing things in the prescribed way, I'm probably more relaxed and a bit less bothered now. I'm willing to try things in the way that is dictated by experts/textbooks but accept that being a bit different myself, I may fall into doing it my way, if their way doesn't quite work for me.

I would widely echo Tom's sentiments.

But the first thing to remember is that we're all different, whether Dyspraxic or not. I believe that 'normal' is a widely misused word as absolutely everyone has a different normal.

Now then, for many Dyspraxics the way the brain struggles to communicate with the rest of the body (slightly out of sync) can hinder the motor skills and mobility. But this is more of a handicap than a 'duhh, you're doing it wrong' thing.

It doesn't change that everyone is slightly different whoever they are and no two people move in exactly the same way. The way I see it, the way which works for you is the correct way.

If someone else takes issue to the way you move, or handle things, i.e. thinks it's wrong or finds it amusing in some way then it reveals more about their lack of maturity and tolerance than it does about you.