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Recently diagnosed adult and not coping well

Gafa

Hi All,

I am brand new to the community and this is my first post.

I had a private assessment last week and was diagnosed with asd. I was "hoping" for this outcome but now I've got the diagnosis I'm having a bit of a meltdown.

I have a full time job and a wife and live what society would consider a normal life but have always known I was a bit different and previously have had diagnosis of dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety and depression.

With this new diagnosis I am questioning everything that I previously thought I knew about myself and my perception of the world. The worst thing perhaps is suddenly feeling more disabled than before and feeling less able/confident than I was before. 

If anyone else has had an adult diagnosis and struggled with similar thoughts and adjustment I would really appreciate hearing from you.

Parents

  • Hi Gafa

    Welcome aboard!

    You're not in a unique position - lots of us on here are diagnosed as adults - mainly because we're old farts and there was no diagnosis available back in the day - we were just seen as a bit odd - but we masked so well that we hid in plain sight until life got too complex and we couldn't fake it any more.   

    I was diagnosed at 42 - I always knew I was very different but a friend's wife, a teacher, mentioned I had all the traits.

    It's been useful - I know why I preferred to work on my own, had difficulty relating to others and all the other social problems.

    I spent a long time re-running all the negative social interactions over in my mind realising just how naive and child-like my capabilities are and how easy I am to manipulate and bully.     It really knocks your confidence.    I was diagnosed as depressed too - it seems to be the default early diagnosis for us when we come onto the radar of the local mental-health services.

    I'm in my 50s, married with a child - and I'm a chartered engineer - but I cannot cope in a political / manipulative environment - like I'm going into battle completely unarmed!

    Have good look at the forum - you'll see lots of common traits - get comfy and settle in.    

  • in reply to Plastic

    I feel your pain. Diagnosed at 54 (this year) and work as a hardware design engineer in Aerospace. Politics here makes the working environment stressful and toxic. Luckily, next I can afford to reduce down to a 3 day week. 

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