HFA - High Functioning Autism

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Hi there.

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!

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.

I lived up to that label.

But, NOW - I know that its 'just' HFA.

It means that we live in world of NEURODIVERSITY - means that our brains, though mostly of the same structure, are all wired differently!

Thats all.

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.

HFA and Autism are untreatable, in that, this is how our brain is always gonna be!

I used to see that as a blight but I have fully, as fully as I can, embraced the HFA - which is important.

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.

What most people dont get about HFA is that...

Most people overthink - thats actually kinda normal, BUT with HFA, multiply that times a trillion!

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!

People like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have learned how to channel that 'energy' into worthy causes and goals and objectives etc.

And, I too aspire to do great things with my life. But, its a misconception that all people with HFA are geniuses or have a high IQ, thats just not possible.

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.

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. I'm here to support any person here with Autism, Aspergers or HFA.

Peace