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Diagnosis

Soopy05

Today I have received my diagnosis of ASD. I feel a sense of relief and a tinge of sadness of my history and all the times I’ve beaten myself up unnecessarily, lost relationships and difficult experiences. But I’m comfortable almost pleased.
However, my partner has struggled with the concept since it first arose earlier in the year as he sees no “problem” with me and by his own admission doesn’t understand or know how he should respond ?
I’m 52 and I suppose to some extent it’s odd to have a diagnosis at this stage in life.
Any shared experiences ? How did you feel ? Has it affected your outlook ? Has it affected your close relationships ?
Thank you in advance x

  • Congratulations on your diagnosis! 

    I was 56, mmmm...and yes, it is a wonder to think I've been so many years on the planet without knowing.  Once I got over the shock, I was massively relieved.  It made sense of everything and I was suddenly able to see the potential solutions to the things that were defeating me and able to congratulate myself for my achievements, realising that I had made them despite the odds stacked against me.  A sense of sadness for the things that could have been different had we known earlier is normal at our age.

    It hasn't really affected my close relationships.  Those are people who love and accept me and my quirks as I am anyway.  They didn't need a label to understand me.  It has had some positive impact on relationships with services like GPs though.  I battle to get some of them to wrap their heads around it, but the more open minded are now showing more understanding of the difficulties and treating me better.

  • Hi, I haven't been formally diagnosed but I felt overwhelmed when I self-diagnosed as being autistic. I was diagnosed with ADHD in the late 80s early 90s and generally had a harrowing childhood. I have always been told that I had Asperger's but would laugh it off. It was only when I saw a presentation that it clicked. It seems quite common for people to have been misdiagnosed as ADHD back in the day. I'm sad but it has really helped to explain some of my "weird" behavioural traits which could simply not be explained. 

  • I'm still awaiting official diagnosis & I'm 54 now. I'm 6 month into a 3 year assessment wait. 

    I don't think my wife mind's whether I'm diagnosed autistic or not, as she knows me well enough, whatever happens I'm still the same person, but I'd like to officially know for me.