So apparently I was born normal

[Guest guest]

When I was four nada took me to a psychiatrist because I was " torturing " her by

pretending to be a cat a lot of the time. She uses this as an example of how

she took such good care of me and took me to the doctor to make sure nothing was

wrong. She says with a smirk " he said you were just mad because you had little

brothers. "

A couple weeks ago I called that psychiatrist. He saw my parents for marriage

counseling during that time, so I figured he might tell me something about what

was really going on. He said he remembers me as a delightful, articulate

four-year-old, and that if he had thought I was developing abnormally he would

have tried to get me help. He had to maintain confidentiality of course, but he

dropped several hints about how " stressed " my mother was.

Nada tells me periodically that I have the genes for autism and that's why I

don't tell her all about my private life (she thinks I have this big secret life

that I hide from her). Not that I really believed her, but now I feel

validated.

[Guest guest]

Wow, to think that she held that over you. I work in a preschool and if a 4 year

old acting like any type of animal is weird... The country is in serious trouble

I'm glad you were able to get that personal validation. Anything like that helps

emotionally

> When I was four nada took me to a psychiatrist because I was " torturing " her

by pretending to be a cat a lot of the time. She uses this as an example of how

she took such good care of me and took me to the doctor to make sure nothing was

wrong. She says with a smirk " he said you were just mad because you had little

brothers. "

>

> A couple weeks ago I called that psychiatrist. He saw my parents for marriage

counseling during that time, so I figured he might tell me something about what

was really going on. He said he remembers me as a delightful, articulate

four-year-old, and that if he had thought I was developing abnormally he would

have tried to get me help. He had to maintain confidentiality of course, but he

dropped several hints about how " stressed " my mother was.

>

> Nada tells me periodically that I have the genes for autism and that's why I

don't tell her all about my private life (she thinks I have this big secret life

that I hide from her). Not that I really believed her, but now I feel validated.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Elmtree, I'm glad you contacted that doctor and got as close to the truth as you

can get. Thank you for sharing,

Jaleo (who is obviously on sabbatical from work today)

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jenn and Jaleo. I feel like everyone here gets why I needed that

validation.

>

> Elmtree, I'm glad you contacted that doctor and got as close to the truth as

you can get. Thank you for sharing,

>

> Jaleo (who is obviously on sabbatical from work today)

>

[Guest guest]

This thread is really interesting. Nada took me to a psychiatrist too when I

was young. I think she did it to run up a big bill for my father. Anyways, I

remember trying to tell the Dr how crazy life was with her, and when she was in

the room, she would interrupt me and say things like, " Oh please, no one hurts

you Natalia, you sound like people are tying you up and beating you. "

She also delighted in telling me later on that the Dr said to her that it was

obvious to him that I considered myself a little princess. I honestly don't know

if he ever really said that to her because that was a common insult she liked to

throw at me.

>

> > When I was four nada took me to a psychiatrist because I was " torturing " her

by pretending to be a cat a lot of the time. She uses this as an example of how

she took such good care of me and took me to the doctor to make sure nothing was

wrong. She says with a smirk " he said you were just mad because you had little

brothers. "

> >

> > A couple weeks ago I called that psychiatrist. He saw my parents for

marriage counseling during that time, so I figured he might tell me something

about what was really going on. He said he remembers me as a delightful,

articulate four-year-old, and that if he had thought I was developing abnormally

he would have tried to get me help. He had to maintain confidentiality of

course, but he dropped several hints about how " stressed " my mother was.

> >

> > Nada tells me periodically that I have the genes for autism and that's why I

don't tell her all about my private life (she thinks I have this big secret life

that I hide from her). Not that I really believed her, but now I feel validated.

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would bet good money he didn't, if that's what nada liked to call you anyway.

She just knew you couldn't check, and it gave validity to her view of you.

Take care,

Ashana

[Guest guest]

That's a big part of why I called the shrink. Nada always said " I took you to

make sure you weren't suffering, and he said you were perfectly fine, you were

just mad because you had brothers! " This is accompanied by a big smirk. (I was

four and had a handicapped two year old brother and an infant brother. Yes, I

was mad.)

I suspected that the shrink did not put it in those words, and it was very

satisfying to talk to him. If you can Natalia, maybe you can track down the

doctor. Not that you need someone to tell you that you aren't the crazy one,

but still.

>

> I would bet good money he didn't, if that's what nada liked to call you

anyway. She just knew you couldn't check, and it gave validity to her view of

you.

>

> Take care,

> Ashana

>