It's frustrating being 28 and only finding out now that I'm very likely to be autistic. It explains so many awkward moments in my life and why I'm hypersensitive to pretty much everything. I have childhood PTSD as well combined with grief from my stepdad dying from cancer in August 2020.
I have been long-term unemployed for a number of years and am trying to better myself in recovery but without the adequate support... It's truly difficult. I'm also on a two year waiting list for EMDR.
Hi Jembella
I'm sorry to hear of the waiting list time. I've just been through the diagnosis process myself and went private as my work was trying to force me back into the office even though I had explained (and they agreed) I was likely autistic. I got my diagnosis a week before my 39th birthday. If it helps at all, one of the books I read (Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Sarah Hendrickx) had a sentence in there that gave me hope. I don't have the book on me now so I can't quote it, but basically she wrote that it is highly unlikely for someone who thinks they are autistic after doing the research and identifying as so, to be wrong. You know yourself best and if you think you are autistic, and can see yourself in the criteria, a diagnosis will likely confirm your suspicions. It didn't stop the self doubt, I went around telling everyone I was only 99.9999999% sure I was autistic until I got the diagnosis 
But it did help me feel like I was less crazy and gave me something to hold on to when I was seriously doubting myself whilst waiting for the results. I realise with your employment status it might be impossible to do so, but if you get the opportunity to go privately I would recommend it. The waiting list when I booked in (October last year) was 3 months, the 2 sessions were 1 week apart and I had the report 2 weeks later. This diagnosis has saved my job as there is no way I could go back to the office. That little experiment of less than a day had me signed off for 2 weeks with anxiety and a heart doing crazy things, with a note insisting I work from home until I saw Occupational Health. Now both my autism report and occupational health report suggest working from home, so I should hopefully be able to continue.
I'm also sorry to hear of your stepdad, you were clealy close. I lost my dad when I was 14. It still hurts, but it does get easier with time. I wish you the very best with your diagnosis and therapy and hope you find some support and solace while you're waiting.
Hi Jembella
I'm sorry to hear of the waiting list time. I've just been through the diagnosis process myself and went private as my work was trying to force me back into the office even though I had explained (and they agreed) I was likely autistic. I got my diagnosis a week before my 39th birthday. If it helps at all, one of the books I read (Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Sarah Hendrickx) had a sentence in there that gave me hope. I don't have the book on me now so I can't quote it, but basically she wrote that it is highly unlikely for someone who thinks they are autistic after doing the research and identifying as so, to be wrong. You know yourself best and if you think you are autistic, and can see yourself in the criteria, a diagnosis will likely confirm your suspicions. It didn't stop the self doubt, I went around telling everyone I was only 99.9999999% sure I was autistic until I got the diagnosis But it did help me feel like I was less crazy and gave me something to hold on to when I was seriously doubting myself whilst waiting for the results. I realise with your employment status it might be impossible to do so, but if you get the opportunity to go privately I would recommend it. The waiting list when I booked in (October last year) was 3 months, the 2 sessions were 1 week apart and I had the report 2 weeks later. This diagnosis has saved my job as there is no way I could go back to the office. That little experiment of less than a day had me signed off for 2 weeks with anxiety and a heart doing crazy things, with a note insisting I work from home until I saw Occupational Health. Now both my autism report and occupational health report suggest working from home, so I should hopefully be able to continue.
I'm also sorry to hear of your stepdad, you were clealy close. I lost my dad when I was 14. It still hurts, but it does get easier with time. I wish you the very best with your diagnosis and therapy and hope you find some support and solace while you're waiting.
