Skip to main content
Close Button
Donate
  • Replies 4 replies
  • Subscribers 98 subscribers
  • Views 3412 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Diagnosis?

NAS36415
over 6 years ago

Hi,

I'm a 21 year old girl, currently studying at university. For some time, I've thought that I may have autism, and my mum agrees that I've shown autistic tendencies since early childhood. Some of my friends also agree that I display behaviours associated with autism - and my best friend, who was diagnosed with Aspergers as a child, told me that I am exactly like him. However, I've never had a diagnosis, because as a child my mum apparently decided I was fine as I was and did not need any support. I was wondering if anyone here was in a similar situation and if people had found a diagnosis to be useful to them, or if it is simply a label which is a pain to acquire and not much use afterwards.

Thanks :)

Parents
  • over 6 years ago

    Hi there,

    I got my diagnosis nearly 3 years ago now, at the age of 56.  It was one of the best things I ever did.  Suddenly, my whole life made sense to me at last.  I wasn't 'wrong', just different.  I could understand why I failed at school, yet went on - at 28 - to study for a degree.  I could understand why, in spite of many problems that got me labelled as 'thick' at school, I had an IQ that got me into Mensa. 

    I, too, didn't really need support as a child - even though I was far from a 'normal' child, preferring lone activities to going out with friends (and not really having friends, anyway), and being obsessive about things like tidiness, lights, water taps, etc.  I've never needed support as an adult, either - except, pre-diagnosis, when I had mental health problems that required the help of therapists.  My mental health has also improved since diagnosis.  I live alone and manage alone.  I'm self-reliant.  I don't need anyone else in my life to guide me, support me, advocate for me - or even, come to that, love me.  I can manage.

    To anyone in your position asking your question, I'd say - every time - take the test and go for diagnosis.  And if you're afraid of a label, well...

    All the best,

    Tom

Reply
  • over 6 years ago

    Hi there,

    I got my diagnosis nearly 3 years ago now, at the age of 56.  It was one of the best things I ever did.  Suddenly, my whole life made sense to me at last.  I wasn't 'wrong', just different.  I could understand why I failed at school, yet went on - at 28 - to study for a degree.  I could understand why, in spite of many problems that got me labelled as 'thick' at school, I had an IQ that got me into Mensa. 

    I, too, didn't really need support as a child - even though I was far from a 'normal' child, preferring lone activities to going out with friends (and not really having friends, anyway), and being obsessive about things like tidiness, lights, water taps, etc.  I've never needed support as an adult, either - except, pre-diagnosis, when I had mental health problems that required the help of therapists.  My mental health has also improved since diagnosis.  I live alone and manage alone.  I'm self-reliant.  I don't need anyone else in my life to guide me, support me, advocate for me - or even, come to that, love me.  I can manage.

    To anyone in your position asking your question, I'd say - every time - take the test and go for diagnosis.  And if you're afraid of a label, well...

    All the best,

    Tom

Children
No Data