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What have you achieved from getting diagnosed?

Kitsune

I was diagnosed with ASD (Aspergers) in December of last year and the last week or so have been feeling a bit despondent about it. I spent a few years prior to assessment and diagnosis focused on analysing my life and getting the diagnosis, like somehow getting a diagnosis would ‘fix’ me. Since diagnosis I’ve thrown myself into ‘being autistic’ and I spend a lot of time socialising with other autistic people which works well actually. But I can’t help feeling that I haven’t really achieved anything by getting a diagnosis, it might explain why I am the way I am but it doesn’t change anything, it doesn’t change me, it doesn’t make me any less weird! I’m just the same person that I’ve always been, life carries on regardless!

So I just wondered, what do other people think that they have achieved from getting a diagnosis?

Parents

  • I’ve been diagnosed nearly a year now. For me the biggest thing is that I’ve stopped blaming myself for things I can’t help. It’s had a massive (positive) impact on my mental health. It’s also allowed me to recognise when I need to take break from eg ‘peopling’ or sensory problems, which has meant way less meltdown/near meltdown situations. 

    I do still have moments when I get really down over the whole ‘this is forever’ ‘life will always be difficult’ but I guess that’s natural. Everything isn’t going to magically improve over night. Are you just in one of those dips do you think? Overall I’m so pleased I got a diagnosis. Like you I’ve met a lot of amazing autistic people since diagnosis and I think that’s actually a really big thing so good on you.

Reply

  • I’ve been diagnosed nearly a year now. For me the biggest thing is that I’ve stopped blaming myself for things I can’t help. It’s had a massive (positive) impact on my mental health. It’s also allowed me to recognise when I need to take break from eg ‘peopling’ or sensory problems, which has meant way less meltdown/near meltdown situations. 

    I do still have moments when I get really down over the whole ‘this is forever’ ‘life will always be difficult’ but I guess that’s natural. Everything isn’t going to magically improve over night. Are you just in one of those dips do you think? Overall I’m so pleased I got a diagnosis. Like you I’ve met a lot of amazing autistic people since diagnosis and I think that’s actually a really big thing so good on you.

Children
  • in reply to Zomted

    I do know what you mean about stopping blaming yourself for things. I'm realising how very literally I take what people say and that if they aren't specific with what they tell me then I probably won't realise exactly what they are trying to tell me. Now I have a reason why and I can tell other people that they need to explain things properly otherwise I won't always 'get it'. I'm also getting better at realising when I'm getting a bit over loaded with 'stuff' and I'm more able to rejig arrangements so that I can take a break when I need to. 

    I'm ok with it being forever, I'm already used to having a brain that's not 'normal'. I'm more just wondering where I go from here? Not in a dip as such just maybe a block in the path of my journey that I need to fathom out a bit before I can move on. Thank you! Spending time with other autistic people does definitely help!