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Advice on going for late diagnosis

Speranza

I'd like to ask if any of you have any advice. I know it's a long process, and looking at the forms the GP would have to submit, I see they ask "What is the patient hoping to get from diagnosis?" The truth is, I don't know. It's a few years since I realised I wasn't neurotypical but hey, I'm 61. I know it's not unusual to be diagnosed later in life but... I have hundreds of strategies in place which had me fooled, let alone other people.

I've been in counselling for a while and have been addressing 'emotional numbness' and it keeps coming to me that this might just be normal for me if I do have Autism. As I also have anxiety (again, coped until my fifties without diagnosis or medication) I can see this could related back to something else undiagnosed.

Mostly it's the feeling of 'being other' which I know people on here will understand. However I have lots of traits which would belie an ASD/C diagnosis. If I met the 5 year old me I would be referring her directly for assessment, but I'm obviously great at masking after over half a century!

Do you think I am right to think about seeking diagnosis? I feel there is a lot of effort going on beneath the surface which might be easier if I had some explanations... or should I just leave well alone as for the most part I am fine and very few people would suspect on meeting me that this is going on.

I am not in the least bit bothered about possibly having that label, in fact I might be more worried if I didn't have it. But do I NEED it?

Your thoughts would be very welcome. I have my last counselling session soon and so it may be the point to try something different and go for diagnosis. What do you think? I also fit the profile for ADHD and I don't know how to go about raising both as a possibility... 

Many thanks,

Gill

Parents

  • Thank you so much for responding. Actually I AM about to go into dispute re a contract coming to an end - the Union is involved - and I did think that being on a waiting list would have some slight clout. Although in fact I believe under Disability Law a diagnosis is not absolutely necessary, of course it might help.

    I've been thinking for ages about the pros/cons. I have thought for years I may be Aspergers but more recently I've realised I very probably AM ADHD - I work with SEN children so I know the waiting lists are horrendous - 5 years in Sheffield at the moment, and that's children...

    This is the Nth time I have been in counselling and we've hit a brick wall - this has happened before and it's probably what I would say to the GP: that my emotions are troubling me but I can't 'find' them. My concern is that I am so good at masking that I don't think I'd fit any of the criteria straight-forwardly. I have an incredible imagination and a definite Theory of Mind. But digging down, I haveacquired a lot of this.

    I know you can only give thoughts on here, I need to speak to the GP and see if that helps my decision. Of course it depends on their knowledge. As I'm on my own pathway, I will have to see that as part of the process I suppose!

    Thanks again, :) 

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  • Thank you so much for responding. Actually I AM about to go into dispute re a contract coming to an end - the Union is involved - and I did think that being on a waiting list would have some slight clout. Although in fact I believe under Disability Law a diagnosis is not absolutely necessary, of course it might help.

    I've been thinking for ages about the pros/cons. I have thought for years I may be Aspergers but more recently I've realised I very probably AM ADHD - I work with SEN children so I know the waiting lists are horrendous - 5 years in Sheffield at the moment, and that's children...

    This is the Nth time I have been in counselling and we've hit a brick wall - this has happened before and it's probably what I would say to the GP: that my emotions are troubling me but I can't 'find' them. My concern is that I am so good at masking that I don't think I'd fit any of the criteria straight-forwardly. I have an incredible imagination and a definite Theory of Mind. But digging down, I haveacquired a lot of this.

    I know you can only give thoughts on here, I need to speak to the GP and see if that helps my decision. Of course it depends on their knowledge. As I'm on my own pathway, I will have to see that as part of the process I suppose!

    Thanks again, :) 

Children
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