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Struggling with waiting for assessment

ButILikeTheTheatreAndArtGalleries

Hello, I'm new here. Hope I'm doing this right. I was seen by a psychiatrist recently for something else and they asked if I'd ever wondered if I was autistic. I have, so I was happy for her to make a referral. I know there is a long wait but no one can tell me how long, which is elevating my anxiety a lot. Does anyone know how long it takes in Bolton, by any chance? Also, does anyone have any advice on how to manage my thoughts and feelings during the waiting time, which I know could be years? I actually do want to be diagnosed autistic for a number of reasons but friends I've mentioned it to have said they don't think I am, but I do. I'm so so so confused about what to think, what to expect, what to hope for. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about whatever the result will eventually be. Will I feel relieved or disappointed either way? I don't know. Am I a fraud to even be considering all this and creating this account? It's hard. Thanks for reading.

Parents

  • Hi there, I'm in the same situation as yourself, only recently in the last 2 weeks been referred for assessment. Firstly, I wouldn't consider you a fraud for coming here, I'm the same, it did cross my mind, but having thought about it, this to me is the most logical place to come whether autistic or possibly autistic. Whether we're autistic or not hopefully we can get / give advice/ support on here. 

    My mindset is slightly different to yours in respect of hoping for a diagnosis, I'm trying to stay neutral in my thinking. I am trying not to pin my hopes on autistic or non autistic. In the meantime while I wait I am trying to focus on finding my "tribe" as they say. (Social is my big struggle)

    As for how you will feel if you got a diagnosis of autism, I imagine that's different for everyone, but I've seen an interesting graph that shows the cycle kind of like a roller coaster... Starting to go up slightly, then a big dip, then gradually climbing back up to where you started, then carrying on further up... Hope that makes sense. Putting it simply, relief, regret ,disappointment, hope, acceptance, understanding, more content. 

    As for what to do while you wait, well, I'm still trying to figure this out too. I've been doing a lot of looking back at my life and looking at things that have happened, thinking.. was this because of autism? As hard as it is to do, you just have to keep living your life as best you can, putting your life on hold for a couple of years would not be great preparation whatever the diagnosis. 

    Anyway, that's enough from me. All the best. Just keep posting on here, I'm sure you'll be welcomed by the community as I have been. 

Reply

  • Hi there, I'm in the same situation as yourself, only recently in the last 2 weeks been referred for assessment. Firstly, I wouldn't consider you a fraud for coming here, I'm the same, it did cross my mind, but having thought about it, this to me is the most logical place to come whether autistic or possibly autistic. Whether we're autistic or not hopefully we can get / give advice/ support on here. 

    My mindset is slightly different to yours in respect of hoping for a diagnosis, I'm trying to stay neutral in my thinking. I am trying not to pin my hopes on autistic or non autistic. In the meantime while I wait I am trying to focus on finding my "tribe" as they say. (Social is my big struggle)

    As for how you will feel if you got a diagnosis of autism, I imagine that's different for everyone, but I've seen an interesting graph that shows the cycle kind of like a roller coaster... Starting to go up slightly, then a big dip, then gradually climbing back up to where you started, then carrying on further up... Hope that makes sense. Putting it simply, relief, regret ,disappointment, hope, acceptance, understanding, more content. 

    As for what to do while you wait, well, I'm still trying to figure this out too. I've been doing a lot of looking back at my life and looking at things that have happened, thinking.. was this because of autism? As hard as it is to do, you just have to keep living your life as best you can, putting your life on hold for a couple of years would not be great preparation whatever the diagnosis. 

    Anyway, that's enough from me. All the best. Just keep posting on here, I'm sure you'll be welcomed by the community as I have been. 

Children
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