Do I do it?

Hi there,

As a 25 YO (fairly) recent graduate (now postgraduate student)  I can relate to what you wrote, especially the part about 'how good I've gotten at acting 'normal' for the small amounts of time that I have to'.

I think the others have elaborated on the diagnosis process as well as pros and cons well, though I can add a bit about life at uni.

While it's true you could get more concessions, like extra time in exams, etc. if you have a formal diagnosis, but of course the uni will support you with or without one. Any problems you have, be it trouble settling in, work, social or mental health issues, reach out and they will help you. If you did choose to go down the diagnosis route, you would not have a formal diagnosis in time for your September start. That said, you can still discuss with your GP, who will refer you to an adult mental health team. At this point you can ask they write a letter explaining that you have difficulties with certain things, without having the formal diagnosis, if you feel / find that this helps you get more support. Though as I said usually this will not be required for basic help.

Myself, I have started the diagnosis. I got the introductory assessments from the mental-health team fairly quickly and didn't find it strenuous. It's the psychiatric assessment I have been waiting for about a year for now, waiting lists are long, but I can still talk to the doctors if I have problems, which is good as they are helpful.

It's sensible that you're thinking ahead to issues you can prepare for now, but you shouldn't fear going to uni. I personally got on a lot better there than previous institutions as everyone was just more grown up and welcoming. There's no reason why our condition should stop us having a good social-life at uni, my only advice would be to spend time with people that you feel you can be more yourself with, so you don't have to put on a show all the time for. Avoid people who seem to expect too much... I spent too much time with people who always expected me to 'hang' with them for hours after I had run out of steam for their meaningless chit-chat and would be offended if I went quiet or made excuses to not be there. Either that or people I felt weren't interested in me as a person and I had to constantly put on a show to be acknowledged. We have limited capacity for socialising so spend it with those that deserve it, that way you'll get the best experiences and make good friends :) 

Thanks for the advice :) a lot of what I'm debating over is what will I actually gain from getting the diagnosis, since, as you and others have said, the uni will likely do their best to support me either way. And the help I can't get without a diagnosis, such as the exam concessions, I don't necessarily need as other than not being able to read well if I'm tired, I've never struggled with exams. Combine that with the amount of time it'll likely take me to get through the whole process, meaning I probably won't even have a diagnosis till I finish my course. I want it to be able to say to myself and other 'this is who I am' kinda thing without anyone being able to say otherwise, but I already know it and have accepted it in myself, and without a diagnosis I feel I almost have more freedom in whether I choose to tell people or not, where as with one I'd feel almost obligated to disclose it even if it impacted me negatively. Like once it's all written down and documented, then it's really real! 

Anyway, the uni, yeah it'll be a huge change for me, but I've already taken two years longer than other people my age to get there and I'm not too worried about the social side of things since the one thing I'm interested in and could talk for hours about, is what the entire campus I'll be on and all the courses there are centred around, animals! :D so I'm looking forward to it really, just think it'll be difficult settling in properly as even tho I'll have accommodation there, I'll still be travelling back home for a few days each week to keep on top of the animals I have here, which is gonna be super stressful :/ 

I'm not in the habit of telling anyone really about me being autistic, I think that's mainly down to the lack of a formal diagnosis making me feel less valid, but maybe I should be more forward in mentioning it at uni? Would I be able to say I'm autistic and would they accept me as autistic without a diagnosis tho? 

From my own experiences, I'd advise caution on relying on general services such as counselling to support you with the challenges you face as they are aimed at NTs and not how the ND mind works. I accessed these at uni and found them to be pretty useless TBH.

If you were to receive a diagnosis and applied for the Disabled Students' Allowances you could access an autism mentor who'd work with you to develop coping strategies for the things you find challenging. 

If you are interested in a diagnosis I'd write to the disability departments of the uni's you're looking at studying at and ask them what their processes are for students seeking a diagnosis. I work at a university where we will pay for your assessment and you can sit this in just a  few weeks after the initial enquiry, however, most uni's aren't like that.

I found school and college a breeze as the workload was limited and the social interactions wee simpler. University, especially my UG years, were significantly harder to cope with.

From my own experiences, I'd advise caution on relying on general services such as counselling to support you with the challenges you face as they are aimed at NTs and not how the ND mind works. I accessed these at uni and found them to be pretty useless TBH.

If you were to receive a diagnosis and applied for the Disabled Students' Allowances you could access an autism mentor who'd work with you to develop coping strategies for the things you find challenging. 

If you are interested in a diagnosis I'd write to the disability departments of the uni's you're looking at studying at and ask them what their processes are for students seeking a diagnosis. I work at a university where we will pay for your assessment and you can sit this in just a  few weeks after the initial enquiry, however, most uni's aren't like that.

I found school and college a breeze as the workload was limited and the social interactions wee simpler. University, especially my UG years, were significantly harder to cope with.

I am early 50's and am on the waiting list for full diagnosis.  I am quite happy not knowing everything BUT my employer and actual Damagement will not recognise it without a diagnosis in writing (YES I KNOW THE LAW) .

 Back when I studies, my UG years were not an issue at all and a good friend was open about his Dyslexia with the department after failing the first year without that known.

Getting that diagnosis, as mentioned by others opens up more support and maybe even Access to Work/others can help in the future