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What helped you while waiting for an assessment?

Ultramarine

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone can relate to the following things and if so, what helped you?


I'm currently waiting to hear whether my GP can refer me to the Lorna Wing Centre for an adult assessment.  If/when I confirm funding, the waiting list will be at least 5 or 6 months.  I'm a 38 year old woman.  I introduced myself recently on this forum and was overwhelmed by how kind and supportive the people on this forum are.  I feel glad to have found this community.

Because I'm relatively 'high functioning', I didn't suspect that I had autism until a few years ago, even though I knew something was wrong, and it's only now that I've plucked up the courage to have an assessment. Since finding out about autism, I'm becoming more and more sure that I am, and I have a friend who has an autistic son and they say that they are 100% sure that I am.

Did anyone else find the waiting period and the uncertainty difficult?  If so, what helped you?
I have some days where I feel sure that I'm autistic, and I feel relieved to have found the root of my problems and to know that they're not my fault.  I feel more accepting of myself than ever, because I know the reasons why I get anxious and struggle to talk around people.

Other times though, I find myself feeling like a fraud because I can function relatively well.  I wonder if I'm actually neurotypical and if so, I'm back to square one and I don't know the cause of my issues.   Does that make any sense?  Please don't get me wrong, I am grateful that although I have several difficulties, my problem isn't as debilitating as it could be, and I know many people struggle with day to day life much more.  But because I'm on the borderline, it makes it difficult to feel sure about whether I am autistic, and I feel that I can't accept myself and get used to who I am until I know for sure.

Can anyone relate to this and if so, what helped you?

Parents

  • Yes Ultramarine, I recognise a lot of what you say.  I wasn't diagnosed until I was 67 ( I was taken to see someone as a child when I threw tantrums, but I think my family buried that beneath a blanket of respectability).

    My diagnosis is ASD - High Functioning, I also have OCD.  I've lived independantly all my adult life, but it has been an uphill struggle a lot of the time.

    As I've just told a poster on another thread,  I found getting it officially recognised brought me great relief, as I suspect it would you,

    I hope things move along soon, waiting can eat away at you.

    Ben

Reply

  • Yes Ultramarine, I recognise a lot of what you say.  I wasn't diagnosed until I was 67 ( I was taken to see someone as a child when I threw tantrums, but I think my family buried that beneath a blanket of respectability).

    My diagnosis is ASD - High Functioning, I also have OCD.  I've lived independantly all my adult life, but it has been an uphill struggle a lot of the time.

    As I've just told a poster on another thread,  I found getting it officially recognised brought me great relief, as I suspect it would you,

    I hope things move along soon, waiting can eat away at you.

    Ben

Children
  • in reply to Ben

    Hi Ben, I'm really glad to hear that the diagnosis brought you a lot of relief, it must have been good to finally have an answer.  

    I can relate to what you say about the uphill struggle.  I found that I did well in very structured situations, like school and academic education.  After my education finished, I found it very hard to get established in the 'real world', and I have never felt that I have lived up to my potential.  I've felt a strong sense of failure for many years.  I don't know if this is related to autism.  On the other hand, I wouldn't want to use autism as an excuse for my own failings.  I've also never had a long-term relationship.

    Thanks very much for your post - it is very comforting to know that others have felt the same way.