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Any advice for diagnosis assessment next week?

Biblio44

Hello,

I have just joined up. This forum is a great idea, as I can talk to like minded people without having the stress of actually meeting you. I am a 42 year old married woman with 2 children. I first considered having a diagnosis about 18 months ago and the day is nearly here. My assessment appointment is on Monday afternoon. 

I am starting to feel very anxious about the appointment and just wondered if anyone has any (hopefully positive) advice?

I am worried the consultant will tell me not to be so ridiculous, of course you're not autistic. However, I have read a lot of books on the topic and taken a lot of online autism tests which have all come back with high scores.

Part of me really wants the diagnosis as it will make so much sense of my life and difficulties. But another part thinks if I do get a diagnosis, my husband and family will think differently of me (negatively). 

I am starting to wonder whether I am doing the right thing.

It would be nice to hear back from someone who has been in a similar situation, or anyone.

Thanks

  • in reply to Eccentric1

    Hi, I have decided not to take anyone with me to the appointment. I have only told my psychologist that I have the assessment appointment. I don't think I will be able to cope with having to deal with someone else's reactions as well as my own on the day. Once I have processed it all, I will hopefully share the diagnosis or not with my husband soon afterwards. Yes I have done the Cambridge tests which came back high, all other online tests I've done have also come back high. My father has very similar traits to me and I suspect he could also be on the spectrum. I've never mentioned this to him but if I get a diagnosis then I may do. But that's another story.

    Thank you for your reply.

  • in reply to Former Member

    That's a good suggestion, I will try and write down what I want to say and then hopefully won't forget anything. Thank you for your reply.

  • Take someone with you that understands/knows you well (Parent, partner).  They will understand how you are/react with some stimuli (sound, smell, touch, taste, visually, space nd balance).

    I did not know that I just blurt things out as a script which can upset others endnote realise/understand that (their feelings/emotions).

    Some of the questions are too NT for even me to comprehend/understand and therefore I answer as scripted and appear to not have Autism/Asperger's/PDD-NOA.

    Have you done the Cambridge AQ/CQ tests yet?

    If so, what were the results like and did they lead to the assessment (or is it just a screening)?

    Are there others in your family (parents/children) that appear slightly different?

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I was diagnosed two years ago. If you are diagnosed some people will only see the label and not the person. This can be tough but for me has been worth it as knowing why I can and can't do certain things has been incredibly helpful and has a huge impact on my MH.

    How does anxiety affect you? For example, are you likely to struggle to answer as fully as you'd like, could you struggle to process the questions? If you are likely to have any difficulties I'd take some notes along of the points you'd like to get across then you could refer to these as you go along and provide the assessor with the piece of paper afterwards if you don't have the opportunity to mention everything.

  • in reply to I'm done with Christmas Cards

    Hi, thank you for replying. I agree, I really want an objective assessment. I keep thinking 'I must mention this..and that..' Your advice about seeing it as chatting to someone about a favourite subject is helpful, thank you. It is strange, I want them to see the real me but it is so hard to stop trying to act normal. I would never normally speak about a favourite subject to a stranger, as they would think I was weird and get bored. I would also never tell anyone about the mannerisms I have (I think may be stimming?) or knowingly let them see me do it. It is hard to think I will have to let my guard down for the assessment or I will appear too normal!

     I just can't wait to get it over with. At least then I will know one way or the other.

    It definitely helps to hear from someone who has been through it recently.

    Thank you :)

  • Hi Biblio, I was diagnosed a month ago at 52, so I can relate to the "being in two minds" and also the anxiety.

    The consultant won't (or at least shouldn't) tell you not to be ridiculous! It's natural and common to feel unsure at this stage (in fact probably diagnosis plus or minus one year!) from my own experience and what I've read here.

    Obviously, be yourself. If you're really anxious, try to see it as a day out and a chat with someone about one of your favourite subjects? 

    I was anxious, because I wanted the diagnosis. But I also wanted an objective assessment perhaps even more, and this helped me to relax; provided I could come away without kicking myself for not mentioning X,Y or Z or not having behaved like the true me, I could be content that I couldn't have done more to get a "true" result.

    Not sure if that helps but at least you've heard from someone who's been through it recently :-)