Post Diagnosis Blues

Must be something in the water at the moment (or maybe it's the heat?) I'm bumping along on zero spoons today...

Picked up my official diagnosis report today too so I guess that has an impact.

So fed-up with autism right now, I just 'want my life back'...

Going to take a break from the forums I think.

Original Prankster said:

So fed-up with autism right now, I just 'want my life back'...

At this early stage it's a strange time. You can lose yourself in the diagnosis at first. I did.

I'd say take a step back, and spend time thinking about who you are, and have always been. You can get too deep into autism, and not think about who you really are. Forget the paperwork, and clear your mind for a bit. Not saying ignore it all, but in my own personal experience I had to just clear my mind for a while.

Yes, you have autism, but there's so much more to a person than that. It's better to know you, than everything about autism. Hope you find your way and get things back on track.

All the best.

The irony is that being autistic will mean being given a diagnosis of being autistic is likely to trigger a bunch of autistic traits...

Aw sorry to hear that! Mind you I think that overthinking or thinking in loops  is part of the nature of autism so we’re destined to be overthinking about something, whether it’s about autism itself or something completely unrelated. 

Yeah I think I understand what you mean, that it’s better to learn about bits of autism as and when that ‘bit’ becomes relevant, as opposed to just learning absolutely everything about autism all at once when half of it’s not even useful?? Better to just pick out the bits that apply to us and are helpful.

I still have days where I can over-think stuff.

I think that learning certain things is as important as "unlearning" others, if that makes sense.

I think that it's good to learn as you go, rather that learn everything first, including stuff that doesn't help or apply to us, then have to "unlearn" to stop yourself over-thinking.

Dunno if that makes sense, but you can know too much when it comes to something that relates to you. Autism is such a mixed bag it's best to pick and choose the right information.

No problem at all! Trust me the fallout after diagnosis is always something I don't like to see people go through! It can be rough!

It's so good that you've come out of the other side of being 'lost in it all' and you're still here to tell us the tale :-) 

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and advice with us :-)

That's one thing that's so good about this forum. There's people at so many different stages pre and post diagnosis that there are plenty of people, like yourself, at a later stage of acceptance and coming to terms with 'being autistic' that can help those of us who are still going through the earlier stages.

Thanks again for sharing :-)

It's understandable that getting the diagnosis would trigger the 'symptoms' that you list above. It certainly triggered the first 4 in myself. I can see what you mean now, thank you for clarifying :-)

I had little experience of autism before I was diagnosed. Within 3 months I was told I was autistic, and had a world of stuff to look at.

I've spoken to other people who got lost in it all, I know I did. ALL I saw those first few months was autism in everything, if you get what I mean. My past, things I did, a list too long to even type!

I think it's good to just step back and not get too intense with it all. I couldn't see the wood for the trees. There are things that will apply to you, things that won't, and things that aren't even worth thinking about.

You've just got through a pretty stressful time with the diagnosis process. Take some time out, and let it sink in naturally. Always put your own identity before the autism, yes it is a part of you, but it's not the only thing about you.

It can feel like an identity crisis, or that your life is set in stone. Just take your time, and day by day it makes sense. You can really go too deep.

You might feel a bit self-conscious, reflective, and critical of everything but trust me, it's best not to concentrate on it too much at the moment.

You've done the hard part, just try to pace yourself with it all.

I'd like to think I know what you are going through, and trust me you'll get through it!

I had little experience of autism before I was diagnosed. Within 3 months I was told I was autistic, and had a world of stuff to look at.

I've spoken to other people who got lost in it all, I know I did. ALL I saw those first few months was autism in everything, if you get what I mean. My past, things I did, a list too long to even type!

I think it's good to just step back and not get too intense with it all. I couldn't see the wood for the trees. There are things that will apply to you, things that won't, and things that aren't even worth thinking about.

You've just got through a pretty stressful time with the diagnosis process. Take some time out, and let it sink in naturally. Always put your own identity before the autism, yes it is a part of you, but it's not the only thing about you.

It can feel like an identity crisis, or that your life is set in stone. Just take your time, and day by day it makes sense. You can really go too deep.

You might feel a bit self-conscious, reflective, and critical of everything but trust me, it's best not to concentrate on it too much at the moment.

You've done the hard part, just try to pace yourself with it all.

I'd like to think I know what you are going through, and trust me you'll get through it!

Aw sorry to hear that! Mind you I think that overthinking or thinking in loops  is part of the nature of autism so we’re destined to be overthinking about something, whether it’s about autism itself or something completely unrelated. 

Yeah I think I understand what you mean, that it’s better to learn about bits of autism as and when that ‘bit’ becomes relevant, as opposed to just learning absolutely everything about autism all at once when half of it’s not even useful?? Better to just pick out the bits that apply to us and are helpful.

I still have days where I can over-think stuff.

I think that learning certain things is as important as "unlearning" others, if that makes sense.

I think that it's good to learn as you go, rather that learn everything first, including stuff that doesn't help or apply to us, then have to "unlearn" to stop yourself over-thinking.

Dunno if that makes sense, but you can know too much when it comes to something that relates to you. Autism is such a mixed bag it's best to pick and choose the right information.

No problem at all! Trust me the fallout after diagnosis is always something I don't like to see people go through! It can be rough!

It's so good that you've come out of the other side of being 'lost in it all' and you're still here to tell us the tale :-) 

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and advice with us :-)

That's one thing that's so good about this forum. There's people at so many different stages pre and post diagnosis that there are plenty of people, like yourself, at a later stage of acceptance and coming to terms with 'being autistic' that can help those of us who are still going through the earlier stages.

Thanks again for sharing :-)