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Too late?

Spideynose

Hello

At the age of 50 I’m trying to get up the courage to ask my GP to refer me for autism diagnoses. 
I feel very scared.  After a lifetime of struggle I’m almost wondering if it’s worth the fear of more stress and possibly not being able to access support. Im pretty sure the doctor will believe me.  I score very highly on the various online tests and I’ve got a medical record of problems that puzzled the doctors and were not resolved by interventions such as SSRIs or sending me to dieticians or doing MRI of my brain.  But I’m stressed out because I feel like it’s a race against the clock as well as horrendously hard to access NHS care now with the added pressure to have to self advocate (I’m a very single mum) and I am extremely competition/stress avoidant.  Im thinking about it now because I’d like to do a masters but I know won’t survive it unless my situation or needs are formally recognised.  My last qualification nearly killed me to try to get dissertation done and I had a year long extension and still struggled hellishly. 
Im worried that it’s too late and I feel so alone and in pain.  It would help to know if anyone else has the same situation and if anyone has any encouraging suggestions. 
thanks 

Parents

  • These replies have helped me already.

    I did fill in something called the Autism Spectrum Quotient on a page that was linked with Right to Choose.  I scored 45/50 .  I think the first step seems to be even getting a GP appointment is difficult.  I feel a lot of anxiety about how I'm going to communicate this journey with anyone let alone the doctor largely because i've become pretty adept at hiding and masking (at a great personal price alas)  I honestly think not much is going to change in reality - because I'm a mum if anything - but that at least if there's something I want or need to do in my life (even things like drive somewhere I've not been before) I might know how and when to ask for help.  I don't know if there is anything I can do about my acute sense of smell though, is there?  2 meters distance during the pandemic was such a relief (but actually not enough as I'd prefer 3 meters or more)...not so much fear of corona but because I had a break from smelling other people's breath, body, perfumes etc SLIGHTLY less. 

  • in reply to Spideynose

    Hello Spidynose.  I am Number.  We are similarly aged.

    I have a question = "what do you hope to happen if you attain a formal diagnosis?"

    Is it just reassurance that you are "definitely" autistic.....or do you anticipate other changes or support to appear?

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