• Replies 11 replies
  • Subscribers 84 subscribers
  • Views 5259 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

Newbie, no diagnosis, thoroughly confused

Discombobulated

Hi all,

I'm a 31 year old female. I do not have an ASD diagnosis. Over the past few months however I have read journals and seen Ted Talks etc which have really resonated with me. They've made me realise that there may be a reason why I've never 'fitted in' and why I'm 'over sensitive', 'emotional' and in some people's eyes 'odd'.

I've joined the community to try and find out a bit more and hopefully talk to other people who may understand me for once. I don't know whether I am on the spectrum but I relate so much to what I'm seeing about aspergers/high functioning autism.

I'm not quite sure yet whether to go down the route of a diagnosis or even HOW to do it. Hopefully that's something I can figure out as I find out more too.

I feel quite confused (discombobulated) and isolated with all this. My partner was open about it to start with but now thinks I'm being a bit of a hypochondriac which actually makes me feel more misunderstood and isolated. I don't want to diagnose myself and know I can't.

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety (specifically social anxiety) in my early teens. I've had a ridiculous amount of therapy sessions, CBT, counselling, confidence workshops etc etc. I can say it's helped a little but I still really struggle with particular things. I don't really want to list it all right now, I feel like the list is endless.

Am I being daft? Am I being a hypochondriac? Am I trying to justify why I'm a 'fruit loop' when really that's just the way I am? This has just turned into a rant of sorts and I apologise for that. Congratulations if you actually managed to get to the end  Upside down

Parents

  • Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I've done a few online tests and all come back with 'strong autistic traits'.

    For the most part I've been able to manage my anxieties by developing different coping strategies. A lot of the time it involves having a soft weighted blanket or heat. The anxiety surrounding social situations and changes in routines is what I really struggle with though. It's exauhsting as I have to 'rehearse' conversations in my head before talking to people. I spend most of the day doing it. I try my best to avoid talking to people 1 on 1. I can't deal with confrontation at all. If something happens that I'm not used to I completely 'freak out'.

    In terms of the sensory side, I have what I call my little 'quirks'. I've got to wrap my pillowcase around my fingers at night. I do the same with blankets and cuffs of sleeves. I can't touch raw meat or other slimy foods like banana. I genuinely don't understand this slime craze! I'm really sensitive when it comes to noise.

    These are just a few things I've noticed.

    I dunno. I think like a couple of you have said, I'm going to stick around this forum a while. See how it feels. My 'traits' have caused problems for me in terms of work and personal life. I would be interested to see how, if at all, a diagnosis changed people's work lives.

Reply

  • Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I've done a few online tests and all come back with 'strong autistic traits'.

    For the most part I've been able to manage my anxieties by developing different coping strategies. A lot of the time it involves having a soft weighted blanket or heat. The anxiety surrounding social situations and changes in routines is what I really struggle with though. It's exauhsting as I have to 'rehearse' conversations in my head before talking to people. I spend most of the day doing it. I try my best to avoid talking to people 1 on 1. I can't deal with confrontation at all. If something happens that I'm not used to I completely 'freak out'.

    In terms of the sensory side, I have what I call my little 'quirks'. I've got to wrap my pillowcase around my fingers at night. I do the same with blankets and cuffs of sleeves. I can't touch raw meat or other slimy foods like banana. I genuinely don't understand this slime craze! I'm really sensitive when it comes to noise.

    These are just a few things I've noticed.

    I dunno. I think like a couple of you have said, I'm going to stick around this forum a while. See how it feels. My 'traits' have caused problems for me in terms of work and personal life. I would be interested to see how, if at all, a diagnosis changed people's work lives.

Children
No Data