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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, thank you so much everyone. I took on board the thing about not hurrying (though - 61 years!!) and what I've done is written to my surviving siblings to ask them if they have any memories of when I was little that might be useful to someone trying to get a picture of me back then. 

    I've spoken to my GP practice. They don't have anyone with ND specialism but they were really encouraging about me booking a appointment to speak to someone. So they've obviously come across it before.

    Is it worth thinking about the Lorna West centre rather than local places? I don't know a lot about it other than that it is possible to be referred there...

    Thanks! 

  • in reply to Speranza

    I was diagnosed at the Lorna Wing Centre in Essex, as after a screening apt at my local autism assessment centre they just said I was anxious! My GP obtained out of county funding through my local CCG for a 2nd opinion assessment,  and I then went to the Lorna Wing Centre. I know they have been inundated with referrals and have temporarily closed their waiting list. Good luck wherever you decide to go.

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  • in reply to Speranza

    I was diagnosed at the Lorna Wing Centre in Essex, as after a screening apt at my local autism assessment centre they just said I was anxious! My GP obtained out of county funding through my local CCG for a 2nd opinion assessment,  and I then went to the Lorna Wing Centre. I know they have been inundated with referrals and have temporarily closed their waiting list. Good luck wherever you decide to go.

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