Dyslexics Have Feelings Too

Let’s start off with a quick understanding of dyslexia and showing that it is not just a reading problem. The child/teenager/young adult will show the following:

• Problems processing and understanding what he or she hears
• Difficulty comprehending rapid instructions
• Trouble following more than one command at a time
• Problems remembering the sequence of things
• Difficulty seeing (and occasionally hearing) similarities and differences in letters and words
• Difficulty spelling
• Trouble learning a foreign language
• Has a difficult time solving math problems and grasping math concepts, this is called Dyscalculia.
• Finds it hard to form letters or write within a defined space—this is called Dysgraphia. It possibly is the only part of dyslexia a dyslexic can grow out of with help.
• Trouble understanding jokes or idioms
• Reading aloud
• Difficulty with time management
• Difficulty memorizing

It is also proven that most children with dyslexia will have ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)

• Have spatial orientation problems (left/right, north/south)
• Talks excessively (Advantages of Being Dyslexic)

Dyslexia is by many standards a recently discovered learning disability. Yes, it was discovered in 1887, but it didn't really get the attention it needed until around the 20th century. Over the years, doctors have found that it does not just affect the child’s way of thinking and learning, but also how the child responds to everyday life and how the child feels while growing up. Dyslexia affects mood, self-esteem/image, and friend making. Anxiety, aggression, and depression are most common in dyslexic children. People say all it is is a learning disability, but even when treated children with dyslexia will find growing up hard and feel like somewhat of an outcast. We hear people talk about what dyslexia is and does to the brain, but they never talk about what it does to the child. Well in this paper it will finally be addressed, for a dyslexic is typing this paper. Even though it is hard growing up with it, dyslexia is a curse and a gift. (Ryan, Social And Emotional Effects Of Dyslexia)

"She/he is so smart, if only they would try harder.” Do parents and teachers when dealing with a dyslexic child say a common line? They have no idea how hard he/she is really trying, trying so hard to the point of tears and hair pulling. This is where the anxiety, aggression, and self-image problems come about in the child. A dyslectic will try so hard to make things perfect around them and if they cannot perfect their reading and writing then they will try to perfect what does not involve reading and writing. Self-Image is one thing they look to perfect, to fit in and be socially accepted by their looks and style. When the dyslexic fails at this, or feels like they have failed at perfecting their self-image they will become anxious. They are always asking, “ Does my hair look good?” “Does this outfit make me look cool?” and “Am I pretty?” They do not want to be a failure at “ life” like they feel they are at school. If things do not go as planned, or if it seems things are falling apart dyslexics are prone to have anxiety attacks, which without help, could turn to a panic attack. The child tries so hard at school and other things in life that when a mistake is made, anger is the only outlet. (Ryan, Social and Emotional Effects Of Dyslexia (Developing Reading Disorder)

Aggression and dyslexia walk hand in hand. Most dyslexic children are bullied, called stupid, retarded, failure, and sometimes a mistake. The child will become aggressive more easily and when someone even calls them stupid in a locative matter, or they make a small mistake that know one really cares it was made they dyslexic is known to get angry fast and have that anger that makes them want to punch something. This is why a dyslexic needs to see a psychologist starting early, so they can begin to learn how to calm themselves down and not overreact too much. Also the child will probably start showing signs of depression when gone unchecked. (Ryan Social And Emotional) (Developing Reading Disorder)

Depression and difficulty making friends is most common in dyslexics. In the beginning a Dyslexic child might be physically and socially immature to their peers. This can lead to less peer acceptance. This social immaturity might make them awkward in social situations. Many have difficulty reading social cues, being oblivious to the amount of personal space necessary in social situations or insensitive to body language. This will be a struggle even in adulthood. A dyslexic strives to accept by peers and have friends. They will try to be everyone’s best friend, please people, and make people happy (forgetting their own happiness). They feel outcast and different when their peers call them annoying. If they feel betrayed, talked about, or backstabbed, they will feel it more deeply and feel that no one likes them. (Ryan Social And Emotional) (Developing Reading Disorder)

Often a dyslexic may have trouble finding the right words, may stammer, or may pause before answering direct questions. This puts them at a disadvantage when language becomes more central to their relationships in life. Because of all this and already having a very hard time in life the dyslexic could/will become severely depressed always viewing themselves negatively, looking at the world and life negatively, and feeling that there is nothing positive waiting for them in the future, and nothing positive will happen to them. They will try to cover it up, mostly around family to not cause more stress. Like most depressed people they will resort to cutting, suicidal thoughts (sometime attempts), and drugs and alcohol to mask the depression more. A dyslexic is more likely to go into deep depression over small things, find it harder to get over small mishaps, find a hard time accepting forgiveness, getting over guilt, and they will have trust issues with people. (Ryan Social And Emotional) (Developing Reading Disorder) (Staff, Mayo Clinic. Definition.) (Willis, Melinda T. Reading Problems Linked to Suicidal Thoughts.)

Paranoia is something also found in dyslexics. They walk around hoping that when someone looks at them they are not talking bad about them or judging them. They also will feel like a burden to anyone who has to help them like family, feeling that life in the family would be better if they were not born or did not have dyslexia. This is another reason why is highly suggested a dyslexic gets a psychologist as soon as possible. They need to learn to deal with the self-esteem and depression. A child with dyslexia is ten times more likely to commit suicide then those without. (Staff, Mayo Clinic. Definition.) (Ryan, Social and Emotional)

Through the depression, anger, and anxiety a dyslexic will find (if helped) that dyslexia is a curse and also a blessing. It’s been found dyslexics have:

• Vivid imagination
• Creativity
• Drive and ambition
• Curiosity
• Thinking in pictures instead of words
• Superior reasoning
• Capable of seeing things differently from others
• Love of complexity
• Thinks visually
• Can see patterns into the future
• Capable of intense short-term focus
• Risk taker
• Sees the big picture
• Experience thoughts as reality
• Highly intuitive
• Artistic
• Always active-constantly thinking
• See things that others do not (Advantages of Being Dyslexic)

Albert Einstein is a famous scientist and dyslexic. He once said, "I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious"—Albert Einstein (Rubin www.psychologytoday.com) which does go with this list saying dyslexics are curious. Dyslexics are also proven to be 90 percent smarter than the average human. Jobs dyslexics that are highly successful at are (here’s a few):

• Science/research
• Psychology
• Teaching
• Business people in general
• Interior/Garden/mode design
• Culinary arts
• Carpentry
• Painter/sculptor
• Actor
• Graphic art
• Architecture
• Designer
• Mechanics
• Engineering
• Photography
• Music
• Athletics
• Computing
• Software design (Advantages of Being Dyslexic)

There are many people with dyslexia, too many to count though. Dyslexics, with help,

Become some of the most successful people. As long as someone keeps motivating

Themselves they will start motivating themselves. The dyslexia is a gift because it makes

Them work harder and longer than most people. It helps build a drive that is unique. They

Want and sometimes need to prove people wrong, and that they can do it. Growing up with

dyslexia is hard but as long as there is a drive installed, help, a good support system and

Constant motivation they will succeed. Dyslexia once was looked at like a death

Sentence but as time goes on it is looked at as a gift, something people should be a bit

Jealous they don’t have. The most interesting people turn out to be dyslexics. Dyslexia

The Cursed Gift. (Advantages of Being Dyslexic)

In conclusion, I hope this helped you get a better understanding of dyslexia and a newfound sensitivity for people with it. It causes many social and emotional problems, and just because the child gets help does not mean they are expunged but get an easier coping skill. Dyslexia might have many disadvantages but it can also have its advantages. And depending on the person the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.