Doubts and anxieties prior to assessment

Did any one else start doubting them selves in the weeks running up to you assessment?  
Knowing if you sat and thought about it rationally you have traits and signs, but gut reaction is I’m just being silly etc.

My GP agrees that I am probably autistic as do the people I’ve met in a local group. I think it’s just probably nerves knowing in a couple of months I’ll have an answer, as well as not knowing what to expect.

I’ve also been filling out a questionnaire and am feeling anxious that I can’t fill it all in because I don’t have relatives who can help.

am I just anxious over nothing?

also it’s Christmas, even though I spend it alone (which I like) I feel overwhelmed /overstimulated by it all 

Parents
  • Yes, absolutely this was my experience. 

    I was so stressed out that the day before my assessments I was being sick.

    I asked my mum to fill out the first set of forms, but made sure the centre were aware how clueless she was about my struggles.  For example she had no idea that I was bullied. I think once you're a certain age, it becomes less of an issue.  If you can describe childhood experiences on your own, that will give an indication too.

    These anxieties are perfectly reasonable.  It's frightening having your life examined and weighed in the balance.  But remember that as an autistic person, you deal with a lot of stress every day and you're stronger than you think.

    In the end, the people who assessed me were all understanding and supportive and that got me through it.  Trust your instincts.  

    Do you know what kind of assessment they're going to do?  I think the two main ones are ADOS or DISCO. I had ADOS and I looked up the structure which helped.  The other issue I had was that usually in stressful situations approach I cope by scripting in advance, but in this case planning what to say wpuld be counter productive.

Reply
  • Yes, absolutely this was my experience. 

    I was so stressed out that the day before my assessments I was being sick.

    I asked my mum to fill out the first set of forms, but made sure the centre were aware how clueless she was about my struggles.  For example she had no idea that I was bullied. I think once you're a certain age, it becomes less of an issue.  If you can describe childhood experiences on your own, that will give an indication too.

    These anxieties are perfectly reasonable.  It's frightening having your life examined and weighed in the balance.  But remember that as an autistic person, you deal with a lot of stress every day and you're stronger than you think.

    In the end, the people who assessed me were all understanding and supportive and that got me through it.  Trust your instincts.  

    Do you know what kind of assessment they're going to do?  I think the two main ones are ADOS or DISCO. I had ADOS and I looked up the structure which helped.  The other issue I had was that usually in stressful situations approach I cope by scripting in advance, but in this case planning what to say wpuld be counter productive.

Children
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