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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
  • JJ said:
    it was like a yo-yo,

    Definitely! Stick it out though.  It's ok to feel up and down. I still do even with a diagnosis. You have to keep reminding yourself why you have put yourself forward for diagnosis. It's not just something that everyone does, you have all the reasons which you know yourself. What helped? Coming on here, talking to my partner, reading some AS books, making notes about how I felt I presented.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    Hi Out_of_step, thanks for your reply.  Yes, that's a really good point - I genuinely have reasons to think I might be autistic, so I'm not a real fraud.  Thanks for the suggestions.  I find this forum really helpful, people are so kind and supportive, and it's really helpful to hear that others understand what I'm feeling and have felt the same way.

Reply
  • in reply to Deleted User

    Hi Out_of_step, thanks for your reply.  Yes, that's a really good point - I genuinely have reasons to think I might be autistic, so I'm not a real fraud.  Thanks for the suggestions.  I find this forum really helpful, people are so kind and supportive, and it's really helpful to hear that others understand what I'm feeling and have felt the same way.

Children
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