“You are going to
wind up in jail, an institution or the morgue.” –Neuropsychiatrist at the University of Illinois at Chicago Campus,
January 2006
“You are a
fraud.”
“You are just
spoiled.” –Behavioral health worker @ Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, Hoffman Estates, IL 2005
“It isn’t my job
to understand autism.” –GP, circa 2005
“How much did (X)
cost?” Ongoing suspicion from AID (the association for individual development, headquartered in Aurora, IL)
each time I have worked with them, despite full financial disclosure on my
application form.
“Well, that’s
because they get so much fraud.” My one and only friend (during a conversation
on 1/1/17) who used to work at AID, despite my telling her a person is innocent
until proven guilty in this country.
Add to this
sexual assault (Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL 1999-during a free gyno exam -included in
hospital stay). Would not pull out speculum when I told the doctor and his
assistant (both male). No nurse present. They laughed at me instead.
Also add the
tearful begging and pleading to hospital staff not to expose me to small
children or barking trainee therapy dogs in a small space I could not get away
from being an inpatient-only once getting that accommodation made (at Alexian
Brothers, nonetheless).
Being personally
blamed for the shower in my room overflowing, despite repeatedly reporting it
to staff. (Alexian Bros.)
Having a hospital
worker-a male, stand over me, in my hospital room, tell me my drawing was
“ugly”. (Alexian Bros. 2005)
A doctor forcing
me to remain seated in front of the nurse’s station despite having a migraine,
because I fired him, which a patient has a legal right to do. (Good Shepherd, Barrington IL, 2006)
There is no
excuse to abuse someone, just because they don’t understand them. These acts
would remain unforgiven if it
weren’t for my Christian faith.
I won’t go into
the first responder abuse lasting from 1997-2014. I will say it was just as
devastating and included physical as well as emotional/psychological abuse.
I am left with
the tormenting thought that no matter how much autism awareness there now is, I
will always be mistreated by those I should be able to trust.
I have endured
the nightmare of abuse so long, I don’t expect anything different. I expect
disbelief, judgment and put-downs.
I have no more
trust left. I only go to a psychiatrist to get the meds that physically sustain me.
Having others
push me and, subsequently pushing myself to act “normal” lead to so many
violent meltdowns (which I also was judged for) that hurt both others and
myself.
This ongoing
judgment along with having very little connection to the outside world lead me
to think both myself and my family would be better off without me.
I have attempted
suicide at least 5 times (from 1997-2005).
I have managed to
avoid psychiatric institutionalization since 2006 having 2 emergency visits, in
2009 & 2014. I was abused in 2009, yelled at and almost given Ativan, which
I am allergic to and is in my medical information for screaming due to the
physical pain of a nearby screaming baby. The only thing that stopped the nurse
was calling one of my own while she went to get the poison-my (late) mother.
I have 110%
reason to fear the medical community. I have read countless blog articles
written by autistic adults who tell nightmare tales similar to mine
encountering first responders, GPs and Psychiatrists.
The distrust is
so strong, just walking into a doctor’s office elicits panic. I do not feel
safe. I feel like at any moment my
freedom could be taken from me.
I think my own
truths may incriminate me. They have before.
Add to this that
I am constantly managing my sensory symptoms, so my anxiety is already at a 10.
Any confrontation could send me into a violent meltdown (I don’t get the girly
crying and withdrawing-I’m not that fortunate) and it shouldn’t be a surprise
that I loathe coming.
I only trust God.
The only reason I go into any doctor office is because I have prayed ahead
of time.
God is the only one I can trust. Only He can keep me safe. If I do get mistreated, it is for His glory.
I don’t always have words when anxious and upset. My fingers are more
my voice than my larynx. Blogging is my translator.