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That post diagnostic feeling

Deleted user
over 4 years ago

Maybe I'm odd  but now I've got the diagnosis I'm not ecstatic or anything.  It's just a 'Well I was right all along" feeling .  I'm still the same person ,warts and all,than I was before.

It's not as though there has been a sea change or anything.  I think this may be due to the awareness that there's little out there for adults , and I can't see how this is going to affect me going forwards.

Parents
  • over 4 years ago

    That seems pretty normal based on my own experience plus frequent threads here.

    Why did you seek diagnosis?

    Was the diagnosis the goal e.g. to get 'reasonable adjustments' with your employer or, was it about gaining understanding of 'why' you are the way you are so that you can more effectively tackle 'problem areas'?

    For me it's been:

    • I can tell people "I'm autistic" with a clear conscience
    • I have been able to access more information that relates to 'me' which has lead to increased understanding of myself
    • It's starting to allow me to get traction with my NTs to understand me on my terms, not constantly judge me by theirs and find me wanting

    How do you want it to affect you?

  • over 4 years ago in reply to Original Prankster

    As  I have never worked due to severe mental illness it was not about the work area.  It was about fitting parts to the puzzle of why I am as I am . From there hopefully  to function as well as possible as a 62 year old with Asperger's and severe mental illness .

    I think if I was 25 years younger I 'd see more scope for  things improving as a result of the diagnosis . 

  • over 4 years ago in reply to Deleted user

    So 'things' won't improve 'as a result of the diagnosis'... BUT things CAN improve now that you have more knowledge.

    Do you have better understanding of your:

    • sensitivities e.g. sound, light, smell?
    • stimming - do you even stim? I know it's not socially acceptable but it helps us. I realised I pluck my beard, to the point I end up with a bald patch. I've bought a couple of 'fidget spinners' which keep my hands occupied and this has both stopped me 'beard plucking' and also (unexpectedly) given me an outlet for anxiety/excess energy
    • recovery actions - what do you do to 'decompress' and/or recharge when you have 'low spoons'? (you know about 'spoon theory' right?) I do exercise to recharge and 'withdraw' to decompress
    • indicators that you are heading for shutdown/meltdown? Can you observe yourself and pick up stuff like raised voice, increased agitation etc.?

    Use the diagnosis to say "Right, I'm neuro-atypical - so I find these things use 'spoons' up, if I can't avoid them then I need to plan to be able to recover. I struggle with these areas of communication so I need to find some strategies to make that easier - even if it's simply asking people to be clearer about what they mean when I'm not sure..."

    Hopefully you're getting direct support from your local NHS but if not, keep reaching out here, maybe see if there's a local group you can join.

    Hang on in there!

Reply
  • over 4 years ago in reply to Deleted user

    So 'things' won't improve 'as a result of the diagnosis'... BUT things CAN improve now that you have more knowledge.

    Do you have better understanding of your:

    • sensitivities e.g. sound, light, smell?
    • stimming - do you even stim? I know it's not socially acceptable but it helps us. I realised I pluck my beard, to the point I end up with a bald patch. I've bought a couple of 'fidget spinners' which keep my hands occupied and this has both stopped me 'beard plucking' and also (unexpectedly) given me an outlet for anxiety/excess energy
    • recovery actions - what do you do to 'decompress' and/or recharge when you have 'low spoons'? (you know about 'spoon theory' right?) I do exercise to recharge and 'withdraw' to decompress
    • indicators that you are heading for shutdown/meltdown? Can you observe yourself and pick up stuff like raised voice, increased agitation etc.?

    Use the diagnosis to say "Right, I'm neuro-atypical - so I find these things use 'spoons' up, if I can't avoid them then I need to plan to be able to recover. I struggle with these areas of communication so I need to find some strategies to make that easier - even if it's simply asking people to be clearer about what they mean when I'm not sure..."

    Hopefully you're getting direct support from your local NHS but if not, keep reaching out here, maybe see if there's a local group you can join.

    Hang on in there!

Children