The Autism Spectrum Quotient...

No, I'm not male... although, before signing up,  I did wonder about the potential exposure to that kind of thing, hence won't be inputting any detailed personal information. The main reason I posted is simply, that I want to find a way to converse with women in that particular age bracket, pre, or post diagnosis.Since I’m in it and currently researching the aforementioned in order to glean more insight into late diagnosis, as it’s been a long time coming for women in general. Thanks, I am aware of FB groups, but do not use social media run by Meta, hence decided to check on here, if any women are interested in discussing their experiences.

OK that's good to know. Not that it's wrong to be looking for a romantic partner as such, although this forum is not really for that, and does prefer us to not provide any info that could identify us in real life anyway, so you're on board there. There are plenty of us late diagnosed women here! I didn't mention FB, I used the word group meaning category, as in late or pre-diagnosed middle aged women, sorry for any confusion.

So where are you in the process of diagnosis? I had a pre-assessment this week and have an appointment for formal diagnosis next month. I identified myself as autistic in 2020 so have had a while to do loads of research and get used to the idea. It was good to have that confirmed in the pre-diagnosis.

You're so right, it has been too long coming, it would be useful to have known sooner, as long as that knowledge went along with greater understanding too. In many ways I don't feel a diagnosis on its own would have helped me in school, as it would probably have just been a label for bullies to use. But accommodations would have helped! And I might have avoided burnout at uni. But at least we know now.

OK that's good to know. Not that it's wrong to be looking for a romantic partner as such, although this forum is not really for that, and does prefer us to not provide any info that could identify us in real life anyway, so you're on board there. There are plenty of us late diagnosed women here! I didn't mention FB, I used the word group meaning category, as in late or pre-diagnosed middle aged women, sorry for any confusion.

So where are you in the process of diagnosis? I had a pre-assessment this week and have an appointment for formal diagnosis next month. I identified myself as autistic in 2020 so have had a while to do loads of research and get used to the idea. It was good to have that confirmed in the pre-diagnosis.

You're so right, it has been too long coming, it would be useful to have known sooner, as long as that knowledge went along with greater understanding too. In many ways I don't feel a diagnosis on its own would have helped me in school, as it would probably have just been a label for bullies to use. But accommodations would have helped! And I might have avoided burnout at uni. But at least we know now.

How they found it was arthritis was that after about a year my joints were bad enough that I got referred to a rheumatologist who diagnosed it. I wasn't thrilled, at the age of 20 or 21 to be told that! It's not as active now as in the early days, but I have many weak, stiff and deformed joints which can be painful. I am doing my utmost to avoid covid, since it was triggered by flu, I hate to think what long covid would be like on top!

I am not yet seeing a therapist, though I am making enquiries for counselling/coaching because I could do with some help. I journal on and off, never consistently, but it does help to write things down.

I know what you mean about a riddle wrapped in an enigma! I even had one school report which said i was an enigma. Well, he actually wrote anathema, which my family and I were hugely offended by! But it turned out it was an error and he had meant enigma...

Thanks for your quick reply. The pop-up states the following:'Navigate the group's applications' and in the lower corners is Next and Later - I've clicked around it and in it and can't remove it.

What I meant by coming to the conclusion myself, was mainly down to research, as that’s one of my strengths, in hindsight, I probably should have pursued that as a career - would have saved myself a lot of wasted energy!

I’ve listened to a lot of podcast discussions and it wasn’t until someone stated, that they had issues concentrating in restaurants, as they couldn’t drown out the neigbouring dialogue, that it clicked.

During the initial research, I dismissed autism, as the findings were unrelatable, subsequently, discovered that was due to the available information being predominantly male centered.

I’ve suffered from fatigue and anxiety since I was a teenager, along with undiagnosed insomnia, with highly erratic energy levels.

Your ME misdiagnosis isn't surprising, how did you discover, that it was arthritis, and how is it now?

Can I ask if you're seeing a therapist? as I've been advised to prior to the diagnosis.

I've always journaled, so it's not a stretch - I find it cathartic - and apparently childhood experience is a large part of the diagnostic outcome.

Overall, it appears that we have a lot in common, basically, I'm relieved to know, as I was fed up feeling like a riddle wrapped in an enigma!

The site is annoying to navigate, but worth the effort to make connections with each other and share info. Sorry, I don't know about the popup. I think there was another reply but it seems to have vanished, we do have a recurring issue with the spam filter occasionally removing genuine posts.

Oh yes, the research and the journalling to make sense of one's whole life in the new light! When I first found out about "female presentation" (though that term is not ideal of course) I wondered if there was anything about me which wasn't autism! And then later realised some of me is ADHD too... But all in a gloriously unique way, just a uniquely autistic way :) 

I've had fatigue since I was about 20 and had a bad reaction to flu which they thought was post-viral fatigue or ME but turned out to be arthritis. And then stress/anxiety/burnout, but I did start to wonder if there was something else as well!

Yes, it is a relief to know, and find somewhere I fit. I didn't exactly find it myself - youtube did it for me! It kept suggesting videos about "are you autistic?" and I watched one and here I am! While it would have been nice to know sooner, between "female presentation" and ADHD as well I am just glad to know now as both those things make it less stereotypical and thus often missed.

Hi there - thanks for your reply.  Apologies. someone else mentioned FB, I replied to everyone in one email, thinking, that anyone who initially replied would see it. The site is slightly difficult to navigate, as now, I can only see our conversation thread - I’ll take a look in settings later, as there’s a distracting pop-up, that I can’t remove, if you know how to do this, please advise.

Re diagnosis, like you, I’m awaiting an appointment for a formal diagnosis - not sure when that will be. I also self diagnosed around the same time as you, and researching the subject ever since. Currently, alongside the research I’m journaling my early life, in order to gain more clarity and have additional information for the actual assessment.

Yes, you’re probably correct re being diagnosed earlier, personally, I would have liked to have known in my twenties, as again, like you, I’ve had intermittent burnout for decades, that always perplexed me, as I knew what it wasn’t; however, when I eventually sought medical advice re fatigue, it was always diagnosed incorrectly.

Anyway, I’m relieved to know now, as I’ve been questing a long time - I’m just glad that I was proactive enought to find it myself! - so, maybe it is the right time?!