• Replies 5 replies
  • Subscribers 84 subscribers
  • Views 2280 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Why are some people devastated when they get an ASD diagnosis?

NAS63284

I have read a lot of accounts written by adults discussing their Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. In a lot of cases it seems that the person's world fell apart and it took them a long time to come to terms with the diagnosis.

I remember when I was handed the piece of paper with my ASD diagnosis and I think the councellor was expecting me to be quite emotional.

As it was - I was rather blase about the whole thing. It is not like other types of diagnosis (eg cancer) where you find out you have gone from being healthy to unhealthy in an instant, and now have a big battle on your hands. Instead it was quite helpful since it allowed me to put a name/label to why I always felt "different".

I am just curious if other people also reacted in a similar way to me?

I am also interested in hearing from those who found it a big shock to receive an autism diagnosis and found it hard to accept. I am just wondering why people react in this way? Perhaps it is because they felt under pressure in life to live a certain way? Luckily for me I have never had those pressures placed on me. My parents have always been quite "hands off" when it comes to telling me how to live.

Cheers!

Joe (diagnosis 7 months ago at the age of 37)

Parents

  • I was initially very happy. But I did find it difficult to come to terms with. I can think of three things right now that made it an emotional experience for me:

    1. The acknowledgement/validation after having to fight hard to get a diagnosis and being dismissed/ignored in the past when asking about autism. I couldn't fully believe I was going to get the diagnosis until it was confirmed; I had to keep thinking it might not happen so that if it didn't I wouldn't be so disappointed. But that meant it was harder to get rid of those doubts.

    2. Strong feelings of grief, due to missed opportunities in the past to get the help and support needed to cope/succeed/fulfill one's potential, and time spent trying to do as people wanted when it clearly wasn't the right thing, and being given the wrong treatment for mental health difficulties that happened as a result of the undiagnosed autism, and not being listened to, and frequently misunderstood.

    3. Disappointment when things are still tough and there isn't that much help out there. Of course this will depend on where you live and what services are available, and also on whether or not you struggle with low mood/depression which will magnify anything you think about the negatives in your life, and also harder to see any positives.

    I wouldn't use the word 'devastated' to describe my experience of being diagnosed, but it might fit with some of the other emotions that come along with diagnosis. Also, a fourth possible thing that might happen is being happy to be diagnosed, but then met with incredulity, disbelief or rejection from someone who was expected to be supportive.

Reply

  • I was initially very happy. But I did find it difficult to come to terms with. I can think of three things right now that made it an emotional experience for me:

    1. The acknowledgement/validation after having to fight hard to get a diagnosis and being dismissed/ignored in the past when asking about autism. I couldn't fully believe I was going to get the diagnosis until it was confirmed; I had to keep thinking it might not happen so that if it didn't I wouldn't be so disappointed. But that meant it was harder to get rid of those doubts.

    2. Strong feelings of grief, due to missed opportunities in the past to get the help and support needed to cope/succeed/fulfill one's potential, and time spent trying to do as people wanted when it clearly wasn't the right thing, and being given the wrong treatment for mental health difficulties that happened as a result of the undiagnosed autism, and not being listened to, and frequently misunderstood.

    3. Disappointment when things are still tough and there isn't that much help out there. Of course this will depend on where you live and what services are available, and also on whether or not you struggle with low mood/depression which will magnify anything you think about the negatives in your life, and also harder to see any positives.

    I wouldn't use the word 'devastated' to describe my experience of being diagnosed, but it might fit with some of the other emotions that come along with diagnosis. Also, a fourth possible thing that might happen is being happy to be diagnosed, but then met with incredulity, disbelief or rejection from someone who was expected to be supportive.

Children
No Data