JP Laxamana on being diagnosed with adult autism: 'I'm just wired differently'

Award-winning film and TV director JP Laxamana opened up about being diagnosed with adult autism, specifically Asperger's Syndrome.

In the latest "Share Ko Lang" episode, Laxamana said before he was diagnosed with autism, he had already noticed that there was something off about his mental health.

"Kapag tinitingnan ko 'yung buhay ko, OK naman ako sa trabaho, OK naman ako in terms of self-actualization, OK naman ako financially and materially, yet mentally, I feel very, alam mo 'yun, 'yung parang hopeless," the "Expensive Candy" director said.

"And accidentally, I came across the concept of autistic adults," he added. "Parang nagkaroon ako ng idea na, 'Teka, parang ganu'n ako.'"

Laxamana then decided to consult a doctor for an official diagnosis.

"[My doctor] confirmed it with an official diagnosis na mukhang nasa spectrum nga ako," he said.

"And nu'ng nabalitaan ko 'yun, parang buong 36 years ng buhay ko, parang nag-make sense," he added. "Nag-make sense lahat."

According to Laxamana, being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome didn't come off negatively for him.

"Isa sa mga tumatak sa isipan ko, parang dati kasi feeling ko, parang there's something wrong with me," he said.

"So nu'ng nagkaroon ako ng diagnosis, parang nagkaroon ako ng thought na, 'Ah, OK, there's nothing wrong with me. I'm just wired differently,'" he added.

If anything, the director said being diagnosed with autism paved the way to love himself more.

"So parang first step po 'yun towards loving myself more, accepting myself more," he said.

"So I started loving myself more. I started being kind to myself more," he added. "'Yun po 'yung magandang epekto ng having a label or understanding what you have."

According to Mayo Clinic, Asperger's Syndrome is a developmental disorder that is part of the autism spectrum disorder.

—Hermes Joy Tunac/MGP, GMA Integrated News