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Pursue a diagnosis?

Purple

I'm 37 years old, a mother, have a successful career as a transport modeller... and in recent years, it has dawned on me I'm autistic.  Every time I read a list of traits, I tick SO MANY boxes!  I did an online Autism Quotient test (it said it was Prof Baron Cohen's one) and it gave me a score of 44/50.

I've always had difficulty fitting in - hate social situations, say the wrong thing (or at least in the wrong way), don't make eye contact, know I'm different - so I'm glad there seems to be a good reason for it.

But should I pursue a formal diagnosis?  I discussed the above with my GP (also Asperger's, I gather) and she basically said the wait's really long and I don't sound like I need any support, so she doesn't see the point.  (The context for this was that we were discussing a different health issue and she said I sounded "flat" and I should make another appointment to discuss my mood - so why she now thinks I don't need support, when undiagnosed autism is a leading cause of depression in women like me, I'm not sure.)

I want a diagnosis because I like certainty.  And because if I'm going to bring it up at work (they're all into their Diversity & Inclusion), I don't want to feel like a fraud.  But there are probably people in greater need of a diagnosis than me, so would I be wasting the NHS's time?

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  • Purple said:
    I'm 37 years old, a mother, have a successful career as a transport modeller

    This is a fantastic achievement!

    Purple said:
    The context for this was that we were discussing a different health issue and she said I sounded "flat" and I should make another appointment to discuss my mood - so why she now thinks I don't need support, when undiagnosed autism is a leading cause of depression in women like me, I'm not sure.

    This, almost hidden away in brackets, contains a lot to unpack. Here might be one of the reasons to pursue a formal diagnosis. I frequently have long patches of depression, and receiving an autism diagonsis helped me see factors that influence the depression.

    Purple said:
    I want a diagnosis because I like certainty.  And because if I'm going to bring it up at work (they're all into their Diversity & Inclusion), I don't want to feel like a fraud

    These - to me - also appear to be sound reasons.

    Purple said:
    But there are probably people in greater need of a diagnosis than me, so would I be wasting the NHS's time?

    Why would it be wasting the NHS's time? If you think there is an issue with your health - physical or mental - then addressing it early would be helpful for both you and the NHS. You don't worry about putting plasters on cuts as you know it could lead to a worse situation if you don't

Reply
  • Purple said:
    I'm 37 years old, a mother, have a successful career as a transport modeller

    This is a fantastic achievement!

    Purple said:
    The context for this was that we were discussing a different health issue and she said I sounded "flat" and I should make another appointment to discuss my mood - so why she now thinks I don't need support, when undiagnosed autism is a leading cause of depression in women like me, I'm not sure.

    This, almost hidden away in brackets, contains a lot to unpack. Here might be one of the reasons to pursue a formal diagnosis. I frequently have long patches of depression, and receiving an autism diagonsis helped me see factors that influence the depression.

    Purple said:
    I want a diagnosis because I like certainty.  And because if I'm going to bring it up at work (they're all into their Diversity & Inclusion), I don't want to feel like a fraud

    These - to me - also appear to be sound reasons.

    Purple said:
    But there are probably people in greater need of a diagnosis than me, so would I be wasting the NHS's time?

    Why would it be wasting the NHS's time? If you think there is an issue with your health - physical or mental - then addressing it early would be helpful for both you and the NHS. You don't worry about putting plasters on cuts as you know it could lead to a worse situation if you don't

Children
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