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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

  • Hi Gill, welcome.

    Its a journey, to get a diagnosis - if you rush into it you may not have a good idea of yourself and either not get diagnosed, or even misdiagnosed.  Take your time, you are now aware of some things but there may be more.  Write down things about yourself and difficulties you are aware of, involve others if you can who may know things you don't, and build a story of who you are that you tell during the diagnosis journey.

    A diagnosis can help settle your mind about yourself, so that is the best way to approach it.  It can help access other things either now or in the future, so something else to think about - do your difficulties mean you need support.  There can be benefits to having it on your medical records.  Focus on positive reasons for a diagnosis for yourself.

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  • Hi Gill, welcome.

    Its a journey, to get a diagnosis - if you rush into it you may not have a good idea of yourself and either not get diagnosed, or even misdiagnosed.  Take your time, you are now aware of some things but there may be more.  Write down things about yourself and difficulties you are aware of, involve others if you can who may know things you don't, and build a story of who you are that you tell during the diagnosis journey.

    A diagnosis can help settle your mind about yourself, so that is the best way to approach it.  It can help access other things either now or in the future, so something else to think about - do your difficulties mean you need support.  There can be benefits to having it on your medical records.  Focus on positive reasons for a diagnosis for yourself.

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