Autistic ?

Agreed

I’ve went ahead and booked an appointment with my GP for the 22nd. I just hope that I’m taken serious.

The fact that I’ve got this many traits and have had the same results in the questionnaires is too much of a coincidence for me. 

It can be a long journey. My best advice is read some autistic blogs, watch some YouTube videos by autistic people, learn a bit more and find what you relate to.

If you decide to go to your GP, make sure you are ready to explain specifically why you think you are autistic with examples, as some GPs can be dismissive or need educating.  Then be prepared to wait a year or two until you get your assessment. 

There's no need to rush into anything, just sit with this new idea for a while and see how it feels.

And welcome to the community. :) 

Yes, I can identify with the majority of what you have listed. Especially the texture-related sensory stuff. I cannot stand being touched by people I do not know very well. I hate having oily or greasy fingers. I can do things like change the oil on a car, but I have to know that I can clean my hands immediately afterwards. Any sort of finger food is a big no-no - I only eat pizza with a knife and fork.

I thought I’d watch a video on YouTube, explaining some traits I’ve noticed.

• Sometimes forgetting to eat.
• I hate phone calls and waiting around.
• Feeling out of sync/disconnected from everyone and myself.
• Always feeling tired.
• Don’t like being told what to do.
• Comfort in repetition.
• I struggle with crowds.
• Seeing people as people.
• Coming across sarcastic.
• Overly empathic, or the complete opposite.
• Avoiding trying new things.
• Relating more to animals than to people.   
• Don’t particularly like being touched, not sure why. If I was to say where, it would be my back.
• Enjoying repetition.
• I have a blank facial expression.
• I prefer pacing, instead of sitting down.
• I often come across blunt or rude.
• Either having good or bad memory. (Mostly bad)
• Difficulty identifying emotions in myself and uncomfortable when someone around me is upset or emotional.
• Unable to multitask, gets frustrated.
• Awkward in groups, I’d remain quiet in school.
• Preferring written communication as opposed to speaking.
• I’m either really productive, or really bad at being productive.
• Comfortable being alone.
• Id sometimes think of what I might say to someone, or what I could say in my head. 
  
• I prefer small talk but it leads to awkward silences. 
• I wouldn’t speak in primary school when I was younger, was referred somewhere then ended up speaking fine.
• I like soft fabrics or really smooth textures.
• I often repeat certain phrases or words.
• Anxiety throughout the day.
• Fussy eating, weird textures
• Don’t like dirty hands, constantly cleaning them.
• Talking to myself

How about the trained professionals that don’t diagnose you because you give eye contact or smile at a joke? They should be trustworthy, but they aren’t. 
I say, if you know you know. But confirmation can do wonders for the mind.

Id say, every one of us is different so I really would only trust the judgement of a trained aessesor, and even then it's a fine line between correct and possibly not. It's just an opinion at the end of the day

Self diagnosis is a bit of a double edge sword. You sort of know, but then have nothing concrete because it's all on your head.

For me, the long wait and subsequent diagnosis, solidified my suspicions and has at least allowed me to move on.

It's taken 6 months of a bit of an identity panic, but finally feel I'm settling back in to life but with some level of empowerment in my side.

So I say go for it. Got nothing to lose

I think it might be useful to see the test scores of someone who has had a clinical diagnosis, to compare yours with. I was diagnosed with ASC a few years ago. My scores are: AQ10 - 9, AQ50 - 37 and RAADS-R - 167. 

I’m considering getting an appointment booked with my GP to see if I’ll be able to get an appointment for an assessment. 

But after seeing the results of the questionnaire above, what are you thoughts?

I'm currently at a loss for words and don’t know what to think about it. 

Take it slowly, it's a lot to absorb, you will know yourself in time. It may explain some things you could have struggled with in life. Having a diagnosis won't remedy much really, but on the flip side, knowing what has caused issues you may stuggle with us also very empowering.

But again, take it slowly, keep talking on here, there is a lot to read through, and some VERY great people here to support you in your journey

Heres another one from the link I was provided above. 

I believe I previously did the AQ50 assessment, but just to be sure, I’ll post it here. 

Well, your nephew is lucky to have an uncle caring enough to dig so deeply to understand him.

As for you... it does run in families you know... you may well have been flying under the radar as a happy or unhappy autistic person for years, or else be just missing the criteria but have a number of significant traits kicking around your genome.

I don't understand this test you post, although an AQ50 is worth a go. Any score 17+ is high, 30+ and you defo need an assessment.. 

What you do with it then is up to you, but whether you self identify, get your own diagnosis, or decide you aren't autistic and want to just support your nephew, the community is here for you.

Catlover

What do you think of my results?

There’s a pretty long waiting list, so I suggest getting that referral sooner rather than later.  I don’t think a diagnosis will help you understand why you are like you are especially, because you’ve already had the realisation that you might be autistic, if you know what I mean? What it will do is take away the doubt, suspicion and overthinking.

When I realised, I ignored it for a year and went into severe burnout. I then spent a year or more researching autism and analysing myself in detail. By this point, I felt ready to approach someone about the prospect of being assessed. They agreed it would be worthwhile, and I went ahead with it. Even though I knew I was autistic years before my diagnosis, it was still a shock, and took some time to digest. It was the best thing I done for myself I think. You won’t regret it either.

Catlover

It’ll help me understand why I’m the way I am, how I act and feel. I know that it won’t necessarily change anything but I suppose it’ll help knowing. I’ve also completed the first questionnaire, is it fine to post a photo of it here?

I guess the AQ50 is a place to start if you haven’t done that already. There are other tests here https://www.aspietests.org/ . The can indicate whether you might want to get assessed, as I’m sure you’ve noted already.

Regarding assessment, is that what you want? What would it mean for you? Will you want to apply for benefits or changes at work? Because if so, approach your GP. Otherwise, take some time to study you instead of the things you can find online. That way you can start to work out how ASD affects you, how much, and in what areas.