What helped you while waiting for an assessment?

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
  • I am waiting for my assessment and feel exactly the same way. I keep practising talking about my traits in my head and writing everything down so I don't forget to say something. I keep swinging from being certain I'm autistic to thinking maybe I'm not because I find this or that easy, and then I start listing all the traits again to remind myself that they are there. The rest of the time I just distract myself with special interests, work and other things I have to do. But it will be a relief to get the assessment out of the way because in the meantime it is just there in the back of my mind all the time. 

Reply
  • I am waiting for my assessment and feel exactly the same way. I keep practising talking about my traits in my head and writing everything down so I don't forget to say something. I keep swinging from being certain I'm autistic to thinking maybe I'm not because I find this or that easy, and then I start listing all the traits again to remind myself that they are there. The rest of the time I just distract myself with special interests, work and other things I have to do. But it will be a relief to get the assessment out of the way because in the meantime it is just there in the back of my mind all the time. 

Children
  • Hi Dara, I hope that your assessment comes along very soon.  I am doing the same as you, writing everything down in case I forget to say it, because in conversations I don't always have time to think.  I wish you all the best for the waiting period.  It sounds as though you are doing all the right things.