• Replies 23 replies
  • Subscribers 88 subscribers
  • Views 5382 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Recently diagnosed: struggling to accept

NAS75891

After about 20 years of thinking I might be autistic I was diagnosed earlier this week. Leading up to the assessment I was worried I was just being a hypochondriac and was fairly convinced I would not be diagnosed.   Anyway I was. (It was private but at a reputable place with a clinical psychologist- I did my research) 

After the initial relief,  I’m now in a spiral of obsessive checking and reading of autism related articles/books etc to convince myself the diagnosis is correct. Basically back to square one. 

My brain is saying to just live my normal routine for a few weeks and experience my normal life with this new perspective (I’m off work til next week so I don’t really have to do anything) and also wait for the written report which won’t be ready for a few weeks.

But I just can’t seem to do the logical thing. I keep ruminating about not having enough restricted behaviours or sensory issues to meet the criteria . (There is no doubt whatsoever about the social interaction side!!!)  I feel kind of paralysed and I can’t keep off the Internet. 

Is this sort of thing common? Can anyone relate? 

Parents

  • Yes I can as had a private assessment earlier this year. There's an element of.. I felt the assessors maybe made more of some things than I thought. ..but I think they need to show evidence you meet the criteria - they know what they're looking for. Also I was just over the line on the ADOS  (but this is based on observable behaviours, it doesn't show wholly what's going on inside). I also can't relate to a lot of stuff people talk about themselves being on the spectrum so that sometimes makes me doubt myself. I do feel I have been dealt a fairly good hand in order to have a good life.   I doubt my diagnosis a lot...usually when things are going well. However,  life continues and there are days or situations where I can see myself, as clear as day, that I'm autistic. I think our traits are fluid depending on situations and what's going on. 

Reply

  • Yes I can as had a private assessment earlier this year. There's an element of.. I felt the assessors maybe made more of some things than I thought. ..but I think they need to show evidence you meet the criteria - they know what they're looking for. Also I was just over the line on the ADOS  (but this is based on observable behaviours, it doesn't show wholly what's going on inside). I also can't relate to a lot of stuff people talk about themselves being on the spectrum so that sometimes makes me doubt myself. I do feel I have been dealt a fairly good hand in order to have a good life.   I doubt my diagnosis a lot...usually when things are going well. However,  life continues and there are days or situations where I can see myself, as clear as day, that I'm autistic. I think our traits are fluid depending on situations and what's going on. 

Children
No Data