Sarah Clark
TEAM AUTISM 2022: 20KM JURASSIC COAST CHALLENGE 2022
Fundraising for National Autistic Society
Story
PLEASE SPONSOR ME IF YOU CAN:
20 KM JURASSIC COAST CHALLENGE FOR TEAM AUTISM 2022
See my recent article in Wellbeing Magazine:
https://wellbeingmagazine.com/health/when-mental-health-teams-cause-more-harm-than-good/
I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder last week, aged 37 after having spent two decades in the healthcare system (including 15 years under a CMHT) and no one ever realised I am autistic. I am a current Masters student studying Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology - when we were learning about ASD it occurred to me that it could explain so many of the "challenges" I've faced all my life as I have always been very misinterpreted and misunderstood as a person, so I went about researching and self-referred for an assessment.
I've signed up to the 20km Jurassic Coast Challenge to fundraise for The National Autistic Society as a way for me to "celebrate" finding out my ASD diagnosis - I hope this will lead to a far greater level of self-acceptance and recognition for the communications struggles I've had all my life. I have never felt more "normal" than I have the past few days, as I now I know that many of my difficulties are due to a neurodevelopmental condition, and so I hope I can now start to feel less defective, worthless and broken that I've been made to feel all my life.
I have a trauma history and I also have Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as well many physical challenges caused by hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), Mast cell activation syndrome and dysautonomia.
Despite EDS being a genetic condition it wasn't diagnosed until I was 35. Last year I was on a liquid only diet and got very poorly with malnutrition (my Gastro team suggested a naso-jejunal feeding tube ) due to Median arcuate ligament syndrome (which is 2 cases in every 100,000 people). Surgery is generally the only recognised treatment in the medical literature for MALS, but I delved so deep into researching how to help myself, I am now thriving and back to eating a normal diet.
I've just been appointed as Patient Expert on the EDS International Consortium Diet and Nutrition Working Group.
For May EDS and HSD Walk 'N' Roll Awareness Challenge - have just walked or ran a total of 143km during the month of May! This is an especially amazing achievement because in 2018 I was housebound for four months as my chronic pain was so severe.
I've done a fair amount of work in an "expert patient" role teaching medical students, been involved in patient advocacy and have achieved a number of publications (as a patient) including the BMJ last May.
I've hope you can see how I've managed to turn many severe (often misunderstood or misdiagnosed) difficulties into my many strengths. I am incredibly resilient and I hope I can use my own experiences to inspire others in their own journey and personal struggles.
I've done a fair amount of work in an "expert patient" role teaching medical students, been involved in patient advocacy and have achieved a number of publications (as a patient) including the BMJ last May.
I've hope you can see how I've managed to turn many severe (often misunderstood or misdiagnosed) difficulties into my many strengths. I am incredibly resilient and I hope I can use my own experiences to inspire others in their own journey and personal struggles.
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