Published on 12, July, 2020
A few weeks ago, I posted a discussion thread about seeking a private diagnosis.
Well I went through the assessment and earlier this week they diagnosed me with Autism after a long and thorough assessment process. The lady said that I know your a worrier and that you'll think about it until the report is sent to you. I'm going to tell you now that for me you met all the criteria for an ASC diagnosis.
I am relieved and feel vindicated now for how I have felt for a number of years. I was talking about this with my specialist mentor yesterday. I just feel very sad and frustrated that I went through life for 33 years having to try and hide, mask and fit into a world that was one that I did not recognise or identify with. I'm sad that some of my life experiences were traumatic and that I had to go through all that to get to this point. I'm frustrated that it was never picked up on. That I was misdiagnosed with social anxiety when I was 19. How did nobody pick up on it? or consider that it was Autism.
However, I'm also sat here now thinking what's next? I perhaps have just sort of carried on as normal this week as if this week was no different to last week. I haven't felt sad or felt the need to go through everything again. I suppose this just my way of adjusting to the news.
I am still waiting for the full report to be sent to me. I guess once I have it all explained in writing then I'll have a better idea of how to take it.
How did others feel when they found out? I'm definitely interested if you were also diagnosed later in life like me.
Hi I’m new to the group. My son had his official report sent today. He has been diagnosed with ASD & ADHD (ADD) He has struggled since the pandemic. I thought I was depression & anxiety. Partly because e of Covid & hormones as he was 13/14. My doctor refused help saying he would be fine after the pandemic Thankfully his school were amazing, I honestly don’t know where we’d be without them. The organised a mentor & councillor for him. Then refers hIm to the Glasgow Health Youth Project, which was setup for kids that struggled with mental health through Covid. They diagnosed him with depression & anxiety. He’s struggled so much with secondary school. I mean actually hyperventilating in the car. This was a huge change from primary. He really hates being there. But he’s been saying to me for a while he thinks he has ADD. So after speaking to one of his teachers we decided we have him assessed. I knew I was pointless going to my doctor about this so we had it done privately. I never for a second thought this was what was going on! But I’m so glad we’ve done it. It’s like everything just makes sense to him now. But I feel so sad for him. Knowing now how much he must have been struggling & he didn’t know why. The psychologist said he became really good at masking to get through. But I now also feel so angry that I went to my doctor for help & we were completely ignored. The psychologist gave me the li k for this site. After reading a few stories, including this one, I can’t believe how much I can relate to my boy. The exhaustion, the flu like symptoms after socialising, the sensory reactions to gels & creams. I’m definitely going to get him to have a look. I think interacting with people he can relate to will read help him. I hope you’re doing well & are still coping with your diagnosis ️
We’ll done fir surviving the diagnostic process. I was numb fur a while then went through the stages of grued process but I was 50 when I was diagnosed and have lived a lot of life that I needed to recalibrate!
dccwal_90 said: I just feel very sad and frustrated that I went through life for 33 years having to try and hide, mask and fit into a world that was one that I did not recognise or identify with
Blimey! I could have written that line myself... just replace '33' with '67' and It's my story. You say you feel 'relieved' and 'vindicated'... well yes! me too.
I had to wait until I was 67 (three years ago) after a private assessment which I had sought as I had simply had it with decades of NHS services failing me. Looking back, I don't know how I got through some of it..... several different lables were put on me, each one contaning the word 'anxiety'. ...Well, as that is one of the biggest symptoms of ASD, how did they miss it? I was sent away with repeat prescriptions for highly addictive drugs to which, of course, I became addicted.
I'll stop there as I don't want to highjack your thread, but I assure you that you are not alone. I have found many others on this forum with similar experiences.
To be positive, I have now read several books on ASD and learned much from them.
Knowledge and understanding has brought great relief.
I wish you well.
Ben
Sometimes we're meant to figure it out ourselves.
Ships are safe mored, but that's not what they're for.
I was told a couple of weeks ago I met all the criteria to be diagnosed and I am also waiting for the report to be sent. I've had quite mixed feelings. I felt relieved and validated that someone recognised it but then couldn't believe they had. I'm 36.
So far only my family know and one friend and they've all had similar responses - that it doesn't change anything being diagnosed or that they don't think I am. It's made me feel a bit frustrated really. I'm not really sure where to go with things next
I felt relieved to have some kind of explanation for why my brain doesn't work how it should, but unfortunately any hopes I had that this diagnosis would kinda leave a trail of breadcrumbs that would lead me out of the desert were unrealistic. It's very much a case of read and hear as much as you can stomach and try to figure it out yourself.
I was diagnosed when I was 34.