Age and the practicality of seeking an assessment/diagnosis

I had long suspected that I was autistic when I was diagnosed at 62 a year ago.

My doctor had said it was pointless seeking a diagnosis, as I had lived all my life with few problems.  But believe me, I had not had no problems.  It was just that the problems were being masked, that I suffered from anxiety and depression it never occurred to my GP that this may have been partly as a result of being autistic.

In every autistic person, adults as well as children, there is some sort of explosive within, awaiting detonation.  For that is what an autistic meltdown is like.  And that point was reached with me at work which when it did eventually go off led me to five months off work with severe anxiety.

Since diagnosis, I have managed to get some adjustments at work.  Access to work was a great help, as was my local autism charity who provide me with three hours of support per month paid for by Access to Work.  There was also training provided for my work colleagues in the difficulties I face.  Of course, I had to 'come out' as autistic for this.

I would not by any means say my problems are over.  But now they recognise at work that I have a 'disability' covered under the Equality Act, I have rights under the law which I am in the process of asserting, not easy due to the complete intransigence of managers to understand that autism cannot be cured and they think a good stern talking to and I will magically change into a neurotypical.  I am glad to say I won't.  I am not ashamed of being autistic and cannot understand a lot of the ways of neurotypicals.  I do however understand that it takes all sorts to make Bertie Bassett and there is room in this world for many different ideas (even though mine are usually right).

I have never regretted my diagnosis and now, at last, for the first time in my life I feel I can be 'me'.

I’ve been diagnosed in 2021 at age 51 and as an older Irish gay man, but what surprised me the most was that so many people in the LGBT community have autism - the process of “coming out” as being autistic after 21 years living in the U.K. has been much more difficult than “coming out” as gay as a traditional Catholic in Rural Ireland in my teens in the 1980’s - the parallels with the struggle for LGBT rights and equality almost match those struggles for those of us with autism and I’ve also seen a lack of autism support within LGBT groups both here in the U.K. and in my native Ireland 

I'm a white straight Jewish Brooklyn boy who settled here in the early seventies with my English wife. You write about "Coming Out" ??  Illegal imigrants are treated better than me!  I am the town pariah despite my many efforts to integrate and engage. It must be me. I have been freindless for so long, I have developed subconcious  avoidance tactics as a defense mechanism against social engagement owing to the continual social---and occasionally official ---- letdowns I have experienced over the past 52 years here. There is nothing you can tell me about the struggle for respect and rights.  Perhaps three USAF bases in this area may have something to do with my experiences, but I will never understand why I am treated badly --- so it must be me!

I'm a white straight Jewish Brooklyn boy who settled here in the early seventies with my English wife. You write about "Coming Out" ??  Illegal imigrants are treated better than me!  I am the town pariah despite my many efforts to integrate and engage. It must be me. I have been freindless for so long, I have developed subconcious  avoidance tactics as a defense mechanism against social engagement owing to the continual social---and occasionally official ---- letdowns I have experienced over the past 52 years here. There is nothing you can tell me about the struggle for respect and rights.  Perhaps three USAF bases in this area may have something to do with my experiences, but I will never understand why I am treated badly --- so it must be me!