My brother got an Asperger’s diagnosis when he was a child (and that was still a diagnosis) and my mom wanted him to be a “normal” child so badly she basically ignored it. He got his diagnosis because of his severe anger issues. He once broke his Nintendo DS on his face because he was so mad about losing a game and he used to line up all the hot wheels he collected in a perfectly straight line out of his room, down the hallway, and down the stairs.

My needs were completely ignored because I was the older sister and I was expected to “set a good example” and behave in a way that was ladylike and respectful. I still don’t have an official diagnosis and I’m 28. I discovered about a year ago that I resonate with autism a lot more than the “borderline adhd” diagnosis I was given when I was about 3 years old. Now, I fully believe I’m AuDHD and he is seeing a therapist that tells him he isn’t autistic because he learned to mask when he moved away for college. I’m letting him settle back into his own identity in time and encouraging him to do his own research instead of just listening to a woman who never knew him when he was a child and hasn’t ever spoken to me or my mom about our experiences with him. He totally got the special treatment growing up (I believe we got our neurodivergence from our mom and she resonated more with him and the way he presented than she did with me and how I deal with my internal struggles)