By Hey guys! April is Autism Awareness Month!
I am super excited to be writing this blog to show you guys, and to tell you guys, different weird facts and also the signs of autism!
Like I have said before, I was diagnosed at 14. We were at the beach and we went to dinner at our favorite restaurant Miyabi. We were waiting for the chef when I started having my first panic attack. I was hearing voices telling me to put my hand on the hibachi grill. The only thing that would calm me down is my dad praying with me.
So when it happened again just two nights later, we knew there was a problem. When we got home to West Virginia, my mom took me to the pediatrician to figure out what was going on. I was referred to a psychiatrist and after some testing, we found out that I not only had depression and anxiety but I also have autism!
It was hard for me to believe. For me, autism meant being non-verbal and not being able to do anything for yourself. What I didn’t know is that autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that there are varying degrees of it. Also, girls are a lot harder to diagnose than boys. I was misdiagnosed with ADD when I was in third grade.
I see high functioning autism as an invisible disability… people often misunderstand and therefore mistreat people like me. I have dealt with bullying my whole life.
So be kind. We are different… not less!
God loves you and so do I!
Hannah Benson — known for her big heart, her kindness, and her eagerness to serve — is the author of the Overcoming Autism blog.
Hannah was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 14, and now uses this media platform as a way to reach out to those living with Autism and other handicaps. Hannah shares tips and coping skills for those with Autism and for family and friends of those who have been diagnosed; she also relates her life to stories in the Bible and chronicles the lessons she’s learned along her journey.
Hannah Benson can be found on Instagram @hannah_benson94 or on Facebook on the Overcoming Autism Hannah’s Story.
by leaps and bounds 