Undiagnosed Autism Can Be Fatal
The tragic reality that undiagnosed Autism can be fatal.
** Content Warning *** The content of this story contains references to Anxiety, Depression, and the grief and loss of a loved one who took there own life.
Undiagnosed Autism
It is a sad, but true reality that undiagnosed Autism can be fatal. I know this all too personally. My own brother was Autistic, but never knew. Without an explanation as to why he never “fit-in,” he inevitably spiraled into deep depression, the pain of isolation and debilitating Anxiety, and then took his own life when it became to painful to endure.
My own diagnosis of ASD came after his death. While coming to terms with accepting that I was Autistic, I strongly suspected that my brother had been Autistic too.
If my suspicions were true, it would explain why he and I could communicate with each other with such ease, why neither of us could communicate in that same way with the others members of our family, and why he and I were best friends.
While going through some of my brother’s paperwork, I came across several intake documents that he had filled out for various psychiatrists, and that is when my suspicions that my brother was Autistic were undoubtedly confirmed.
In page after page he had elaborated in detail that he had a total lack of social skills. Every word he had written was like a boiler plate of all the diagnostic criteria in the DSM for someone with a diagnosis of Autism.
‘Roo and “The Talk Inn"
Back in the old days of the internet before the existence of Blogs, there were what used to be called Forums.
My brother, a Writer too, was a huge contributor to the now defunct Internet Forum, “The Talk Inn.”
Although he posted under several “handles,” his most frequently used handle was “Kangaroo” or ’Roo for short.
Words for ‘Roo
Words spoken true – A Melody for you – My Autistic brother – You and I like each other – My best friend – Then and until the end – Year after year – If only then you knew – I think you’d still be here…
In the Years Since – Lyrics for 'Roo
In the Years Since Then Still have you in mind In the years since then It’s been enough time I know
In the years since then The walls never hide In the years since then Stayed busy most times, you know
We’re walking through zoos To shoot kangaroos In years from then on
You opened the door To street twenty-four The years since then gone In the years since then
In the years since then I found you in drawers In the years since then In words you adored, I know
In the years since then In Miami one time In the years since then Not at the right time, you know
We’re walking through zoos To shoot kangaroos In years from then on
You opened the door To street twenty-four The years since then gone
In the years since then
Its hard to begin when you start at the end So, I’m holding it in while I fall to back then now I feel paper thin, feel the fear from within I just can’t know Never knowing how far, never healing the scar In the years since then
In the years since then Sometimes I think why In the years since then Cross T’s in the sky, I know
In the years since then Remember that time? You’d wink then we’d smile you know
In the years since then
Still walking through zoos To shoot kangaroos The years since seem wrong
In the years since then
In dreams like before On street twenty-four Since you’ve been gone
Never know where you are Never heard the alarm sound But, I’m always aware I always take care
We sailed to a time Where no one leaves live In years since you’ve gone The years just seem wrong Been years since you’ve gone
In the years since then In the years since then In the years since then In the years since then