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I've just been diagnosed

Shannon

Hi I've just been diagnosed with Autism and ADHD I'm 22 and I really don't no how to come to terms with the diagnosis. I'm scared what others will think I no its who I am and then the doctors are talking about meds for adhd and there's so much mixed opinions I don't no what to do. I've been suicidal lately and recently diagnosed with bpd aswell so I'm a mess honestly, I have no friends I'm so scared to reach out, did anyone else struggle to accept there diagnosis and how did you overcome it and come to terms

Parents

  • Hi Shannon - first of all let me say that it's really brave of you to share your feelings (good or bad) in regards to diagnosis and I need you to know you're not alone. I'm 23 and was diagnosed last month with Autism and Dyspraxia which has made me feel at points over the past few weeks like, "what is the point" to life anymore!

    Lots of people gave me the typical advice of saying that this doesn't define you and that you're still the same person. I'm not sure if you can relate to this but if you realised you were struggling with things for so long and for some reason had some kind of hope that they would "get better" or this was just a "phase" or even thought they were a side-effect to pre-existing mental health conditions, then an Autism diagnosis really wasn't the kind of long term and never changing answer that you thought you would receive? But you're still here and that's what ultimately counts.

    Truth be told, I am still coming to terms with it and a month in, every day is a mix of small waves of self-understanding but sometimes a little bit of self-annoyance / hatred - I think it's natural to have the mentality of thinking "why me" due to pre-conceived ideas of Autism and the limitations society puts on those that are neurologically diverse but then again, there MUST be some positive to it right?

    All you can do is take one day at a time and be patient with yourself as for some reason, to me a diagnosis felt like they had just dumped a whole new personality on the desk and told me I had to walk out of there with it around my neck haha (you have to laugh!). It's just another step in learning about yourself as an individual and this is just another thing to add to your uniqueness. Now, in terms of other people and how they see you, in my experience my family/friends and partners family were very accepting - some knew already and for some, the diagnosis made a lot of things make sense but at the end of the day, all that matters is how you feel so start working on that.

    You might not right now like that you are Autistic but there must be at least one thing that you do like about yourself? Focus on those things and amplify them...trust me, being Autistic will soon become the least interesting or relevant thing about you! You are amazingly individual and this diagnosis does not define you or who you are in someone else's eyes as that should not ever be a factor in your self worth.

    Always here x

     

Reply

  • Hi Shannon - first of all let me say that it's really brave of you to share your feelings (good or bad) in regards to diagnosis and I need you to know you're not alone. I'm 23 and was diagnosed last month with Autism and Dyspraxia which has made me feel at points over the past few weeks like, "what is the point" to life anymore!

    Lots of people gave me the typical advice of saying that this doesn't define you and that you're still the same person. I'm not sure if you can relate to this but if you realised you were struggling with things for so long and for some reason had some kind of hope that they would "get better" or this was just a "phase" or even thought they were a side-effect to pre-existing mental health conditions, then an Autism diagnosis really wasn't the kind of long term and never changing answer that you thought you would receive? But you're still here and that's what ultimately counts.

    Truth be told, I am still coming to terms with it and a month in, every day is a mix of small waves of self-understanding but sometimes a little bit of self-annoyance / hatred - I think it's natural to have the mentality of thinking "why me" due to pre-conceived ideas of Autism and the limitations society puts on those that are neurologically diverse but then again, there MUST be some positive to it right?

    All you can do is take one day at a time and be patient with yourself as for some reason, to me a diagnosis felt like they had just dumped a whole new personality on the desk and told me I had to walk out of there with it around my neck haha (you have to laugh!). It's just another step in learning about yourself as an individual and this is just another thing to add to your uniqueness. Now, in terms of other people and how they see you, in my experience my family/friends and partners family were very accepting - some knew already and for some, the diagnosis made a lot of things make sense but at the end of the day, all that matters is how you feel so start working on that.

    You might not right now like that you are Autistic but there must be at least one thing that you do like about yourself? Focus on those things and amplify them...trust me, being Autistic will soon become the least interesting or relevant thing about you! You are amazingly individual and this diagnosis does not define you or who you are in someone else's eyes as that should not ever be a factor in your self worth.

    Always here x

     

Children