Diagnosed at last!

welcome

you're second person I know about, waiting 4 years for diagnosis, it happened tio me too

I'll give you the best youtube channel I found https://www.youtube.com/c/Autistamatic/videos

he gives advice for all neurotypes, not just share experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1WoYqVfio0 that's type of music I like

yep, I love pigs! really? i would love to live on a farm

Yes, I agree. The wait was just time to doubt myself. Just under 5 years for me. That sense of relief you describe is wonderful. So many answered questions, but more questions to ask too. I’m pleased you got there in the end though.

Keep up the vids. We need as many autistic voices out there as possible.

And yeah, the day I was diagnosed I had a little private boogie round my front room, I was so happy and so grateful :-)

Congratulations. Welcome to your autistic community.  4 years is ages to wait to know who you are.

Darla said:

I was hoping for some tips and tricks on how to cope and make friends, sensitive issues, avoid the massive anxiety attacks but wasn't told anything like that :/ maybe I've got to try and work that out over time? 

I assume you were looking for more post diagnosis support? You can hopefully problem solve and gain advice about these things from engaging more with your autistic community, the best advice is from lived experience.

You say you want to manage anxiety attacks, this book might help:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Avoiding-Anxiety-Autistic-Adults-Wellbeing/dp/1529394740/ref=asc_df_1529394740/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=534859762239&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1814129457686534693&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9041112&hvtargid=pla-1414716712930&psc=1&th=1&psc=1
 
This book by Luke Beardon is brilliant.

Also you say you create YouTube videos, have you heard of Aucademy? This channel is great, it could really help you learn more about your autistic identity and profile.

https://youtube.com/channel/UCLsMY1ZY9-8IReQfGX-CvBQ

I hope you feel like you belong in your neurokin.

Thank you so much Dawn. The relief was straight away, flooded me and caused me to cry - slightly embarrassing but was happy to tears.

Thanks for suggesting MIND, I'll give them a try. I did read that there's an autism centre near me so I could look at attending a day session and see how that goes, just for more knowledge and support. I could give them a call first.

Omg same! I've read a few autism bios on my Kindle, some hit home a lot and some are very inspiring. That's why I've done my videos, to help others, hopefully be inspiring. 

Thank you piggy - love your name and pic! Are you a pig lover? I live on a farm and we used to keep pigs :) 

I love classical, that's my fav. I like pop, rock, electric, synth, all of it to be honest lol.

I'm sorry you had a long wait as well. I think honestly waiting is the worst bit. It caused me so much stress and dread. I'm just glad it's over now lol.

Oh wow! Congrats - hope that's the right word! :) I was diagnosed Friday, 24 years.

Congratulations! Many of us have been down that road and known that sense of relief when our suspicions are confirmed.

Sadly, support thereafter is lacking. You might try and see if MIND Cass or another organisation is running any courses for the newly diagnosed or thoes awaiting diagnosis to help us bend our heads around it.

Otherwise, I have found reading the bios of other autistic people and this forum to be the best source of information to really understand.

Congratulations!! what music do you like?

I’m pleased to read that you are feeling relieved. It can be such a long wait and I can relate to a lot of what you said here. It was much the same for me as well as the long wait time.

February 2021, at 59 years of age!

It was/is. Feels like ages I've been unable to breathe and now I can again. It's a nice, happy, positive feeling.

Were you diagnosed recently?

It must be a big relief to finally get clarity and validation, I know it was for me.