https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/hfa-high-functioning-autism/m-p/208266#M22876 <P>Hi there. </P> <P>I would like to share how it is for me - living with an HFA brain, and maybe this will also resonate with any other HFA champions out here!</P> <P>Many of my HFA characteristics are actually non-typical in that, back when I was born, in the late 70s and in NZ, we really had no idea about HFA, so this condition went undiagnosed for many, many, many years - What this means is that, because no one was looking for or looking at the HFA, my behaviours - which would now be seen as TYPICAL HFA behaviours etc, were actually just seen as me being a naughty boy...and so that was the label that I wore. </P> <P>I lived up to that label. </P> <P>But, NOW - I know that its 'just' HFA. </P> <P>It means that we live in world of NEURODIVERSITY - means that our brains, though mostly of the same structure, are all wired differently!</P> <P>Thats all.</P> <P><SPAN style="font-size: inherit;">Most people in the world are classified as NEUROTYPICAL - normal functioning brains, but some have Aspergers, and some a more severely debilitating form of autism, and others, like me, have HFA. </SPAN></P> <P>HFA and Autism are untreatable, in that, this is how our brain is always gonna be!</P> <P>I used to see that as a blight but I have fully, as fully as I can, embraced the HFA - which is important. </P> <P>Making peace with something that is untreatable...is vital to ones holistic health...otherwise the battle becomes a never ending war, and that just gets really exhausting and can lead to other ailments and conditions. </P> <P>What most people dont get about HFA is that...</P> <P>Most people overthink - thats actually kinda normal, BUT with HFA, multiply that times a trillion!</P> <P>I feel that its important to turn what could be a negative into a positive, so I use my super-analytical brain to do wonderful things!</P> <P>People like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have learned how to channel that 'energy' into worthy causes and goals and objectives etc.</P> <P>And, I too aspire to do great things with my life. <SPAN style="font-size: inherit;">But, its a misconception that all people with HFA are geniuses or have a high IQ, thats just not possible. </SPAN></P> <P>Most HFA peeps are able to live a very good, healthy life but its also common for those of us that have developed non-typical responses to have developed anxiety disorders, major depressive episodes etc etc etc...especially if the HFA has gone untreated, as mine did. </P> <P>I am incredibly blessed and live a life full of rich and beautiful experiences but I still, like many here, have my down days and moments too. <SPAN style="font-size: inherit;">I'm here to support any person here with Autism, Aspergers or HFA. </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN style="font-size: inherit;">Peace</SPAN></P> Mon, 14 Nov 2016 01:33:22 GMT SourceShield 2016-11-14T01:33:22Z https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/hfa-high-functioning-autism/m-p/208266#M22876 <P>Hi there. </P> <P>I would like to share how it is for me - living with an HFA brain, and maybe this will also resonate with any other HFA champions out here!</P> <P>Many of my HFA characteristics are actually non-typical in that, back when I was born, in the late 70s and in NZ, we really had no idea about HFA, so this condition went undiagnosed for many, many, many years - What this means is that, because no one was looking for or looking at the HFA, my behaviours - which would now be seen as TYPICAL HFA behaviours etc, were actually just seen as me being a naughty boy...and so that was the label that I wore. </P> <P>I lived up to that label. </P> <P>But, NOW - I know that its 'just' HFA. </P> <P>It means that we live in world of NEURODIVERSITY - means that our brains, though mostly of the same structure, are all wired differently!</P> <P>Thats all.</P> <P><SPAN style="font-size: inherit;">Most people in the world are classified as NEUROTYPICAL - normal functioning brains, but some have Aspergers, and some a more severely debilitating form of autism, and others, like me, have HFA. </SPAN></P> <P>HFA and Autism are untreatable, in that, this is how our brain is always gonna be!</P> <P>I used to see that as a blight but I have fully, as fully as I can, embraced the HFA - which is important. </P> <P>Making peace with something that is untreatable...is vital to ones holistic health...otherwise the battle becomes a never ending war, and that just gets really exhausting and can lead to other ailments and conditions. </P> <P>What most people dont get about HFA is that...</P> <P>Most people overthink - thats actually kinda normal, BUT with HFA, multiply that times a trillion!</P> <P>I feel that its important to turn what could be a negative into a positive, so I use my super-analytical brain to do wonderful things!</P> <P>People like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have learned how to channel that 'energy' into worthy causes and goals and objectives etc.</P> <P>And, I too aspire to do great things with my life. <SPAN style="font-size: inherit;">But, its a misconception that all people with HFA are geniuses or have a high IQ, thats just not possible. </SPAN></P> <P>Most HFA peeps are able to live a very good, healthy life but its also common for those of us that have developed non-typical responses to have developed anxiety disorders, major depressive episodes etc etc etc...especially if the HFA has gone untreated, as mine did. </P> <P>I am incredibly blessed and live a life full of rich and beautiful experiences but I still, like many here, have my down days and moments too. <SPAN style="font-size: inherit;">I'm here to support any person here with Autism, Aspergers or HFA. </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN style="font-size: inherit;">Peace</SPAN></P> Mon, 14 Nov 2016 01:33:22 GMT https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/hfa-high-functioning-autism/m-p/208266#M22876 SourceShield 2016-11-14T01:33:22Z