My gut instinct tells me am autistic but still self doubting, am confused.

I am confused.com

I think I maybe on the autistic spectrum, I have an appointment booked with the GP this Friday to ask for a referral but originally, I had made the appointment as I was struggling with depression and then a friend suggested it might be high functioning autism.

I did my reading on this forum, and other places including watching videos on YouTube by women on the spectrum it sounded just like me like I could have been giving that talk, but now am anxious and confused what if the GP does not believe me and what if they do but I am barking up the wrong tree and don’t get a diagnosis.

I did do the autism quiz online and I got 38 out of 50 and the empathy one and got 24 out of 80

Does this sound like autism?

  • I had speech development issues and was in speech therapy up to the age of 8/9 and recently I have been struggling again like I mispronounce words but in my head  they are okay but on my tongue they come out weird.
  • I have been in and out of employment have taken on temporary employment positions with gaps of months in between but this past year I have worked pretty much the whole time until recently I was just felt like my brain just did not want to function so I quit.
  • During the periods when I was in full-time employment positions, I consistently felt overwhelmed and would come home physically and mentally drained and have to sleep it off on most days it was particular worse last year when I started getting palpitations so went into both the hospital and the GP but physically nothing was found.
  • I been dealing with anxiety all my life except I didn’t quite know that’s what it was, it’s like the most random things make me anxious- like when u get lights that change colour and most situations that involve social interactions i.e. making phone calls
  • I become obsessed in one thing, that I don’t even hear someone talking to me, but if I am distracted from it then I find it really difficult to refocus and then that causes anxiety which leads to procrastination. At same time I can zone out sometimes even during a conversation
  • If I start something I have to finish and cant do anything else until I do, that includes watching a movie, reading a book, colouring or even household chores like cleaning of washing. If I leave it causes me anxiety or is constantly on my mind
  • I cannot multi-task at all
  • I have to have a to do list for like everything or things will not get done if not on their
  • I see everything in black and white and it is said about me I takes things too literally-which has caused problems in my relationships.
  • I basically just don’t have a great handle on life- I don't think I ever had it but really feel like up to now I had coping mechanisms but now they all kind of fell apart because of the depression

would appreciate any feedback does this sound familar

Parents
  • Consider bringing up masking strategies as part of the discussion with the GP. It is a good starting point for discussion. At least it was for me. It is relevant, and it is easier to discuss than to just turn it off. 

Reply
  • Consider bringing up masking strategies as part of the discussion with the GP. It is a good starting point for discussion. At least it was for me. It is relevant, and it is easier to discuss than to just turn it off. 

Children