Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi complete newbie here.
im wondering if anyone has been diagnosed as an adult?
I’ve always known I was abit ‘quirky’ as some say about me. But in the past few years I’ve started to mask less and just be myself even around family and they’re noticing things now.
Does anyone else get overwhelmed easily? Sensory overload happens a lot. I struggle with a lot going on and rock a lot to allow my to understand or take in what’s being said to me etc this has definitely started showing slot more recently.
I find something I really like and then have to learn everything about it. Where it started? Why? What’s the reason it? When did it originate? I read fact books and then become so overwhelmed I end up flapping and getting myself into a state. I’ve come to realise I’ve masked so much over the years growing up that now those coping mechanisms I created are now not working so well as they once did. I have this urge we’ll need to understand myself and this is definitely making me think about pushing for an assessment.
I crave routine and absolutely hate change!! It takes me months to get used to a change, this has definitely heightened in the past 2 years or so. I know even as a child I’ve always hated change anyway.
has anyone ever been diagnosed in their 30’s? Where would I begin?
thanks if you reached the end
Diagnosed last year at the age of 46 (ouch! - although since my time on this forum I consider myself one of the more lucky ones)
A lot of things in your post I related to. Overload, fascination with new topics, desire for routine - yep. All relatable here.
There's the autism spectrum quotient if you're looking for some kind of self-screening https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient
It's a screening tool to indicate whether someone should be considered for an assessment. I used the shortened version, AQ10 to open up a conversation with my GP. He had me keep a mood diary because of my depression (one of those overlapping conditions along with anxiety) and my responses pretty much convinced him to push ahead with an assessment. I suspect it was to do with how much I wrote, the writing flourishes and my recollection of a rather unpleasant experience struggling with the overhead lights in a chemist waiting for a prescription.
There is advice here on getting assessed on the NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/ and the NAS has a good page here https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis
The NHS was taking ages, so I was fortunate enough to get someone at work to advocate for the company to pay for my diagnosis because it wasn't covered by our occupational health contract. I went to a private local company which was really supportive and has provided some excellent follow up sessions. It's not cheap though.