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Late diagnosed Autism

Uklou222

Hi all,

I was diagnosed two years ago at the age of 26 after struggling for most of my life. Since being diagnosed I have found that i am finding it harder to do things that previously I was able to do. My anxiety is at an all time high, I’m really struggling in regards to car journeys, which previously I loved. I’m having issues at work due to me overthinking and not being able to let stuff go. And I didn’t know if this was something that is common or not? I’m really struggling at the moment as I feel as if I can’t do anything and I’m missing out on life. I don’t want to have to cause myself stress 24/7 so I’m avoiding situations. I’ve tried different things to help when I’m feeling particularly anxious, such as my noise cancelling headphones and having something to fidget with, but I feel as if I’m always on the verge of a meltdown. Can anyone else relate to this and is there anything I can do to help myself further? Disappointed

  • in reply to Harry

    Thanks so

    much for this thread, I can completely relate 

  • I can relate 100% to your post. I am 31 and was recently diagnosed with ADHD & ASD. I sought an assessment via Right to Choose but have been left in no mans land with no support or follow ups. Im currently looking for some occupational therapy to help me deal with day to day things as i really cant juggle work, relationships, hobbies and my own mental/physical health. 

    I live in Huddersfield and there seems to be very little here for Adults and my GP is no help whatsoever. 

    Have you managed to find anything to help?

  • in reply to NAS87249

    I am feeling much the same, often really struggling to keep it together at work.  but i would say that confirming i am autistic has taken such a massive weight off .... I have low days, but i think i am heading in a better direction.

  • I am 53 and reciently diagnosed. I went through some bad periods in my life (teen age years, mid 20's , and last 3 years) but I have also gone through good times. I am still recovering from a bad period and I tend to challenge myself less, give myself more time, always a rest day at the weekend. I am still very anxious at work then I see what 'normal' people do, and get away with, and realise I am no worse than they are. Hang in there, things will get better, don't be harsh on yourself, give yourself time.

  • in reply to NAS87249

    I can relate to all of the above, I think even now I’m still coming to terms with the diagnosis. I’ve spent over 20 years thinking I’m a lesser person and I was weird because I couldn’t function like everyone else could. And obviously now I have my diagnosis I understand why but it’s quite hard to change the way you have thought about yourself all these years! My family always say that when I do something I struggle with I need to pay myself on the back and tell myself that I did a really good job. But I find that hard to do, as I’m always thinking well any ‘normal’ person can do this easily so it’s not really an achievement..  I’m going to get into my doctor and see if there is any talking therapy they can provide as at the moment I don’t feel like I’m coping very well! 

  • I was diagnosed on Tuesday, i just turned 40. I've been feeling completely out of control at work and reacting to every slight change in such a negative way. I had already accepted I'm Autistic before the diagnosis but had a fair bit of imposter syndrome, seeking duagnosis was because i was already feeling burnt out and wanted to finally find some coping strategies that would work. 

    My anxietys been at peak level and after my work days I'm having meltdowns at home where i feel incapable of doing anything or contributing to home life. I had a meltdown on Thursday in work because i felt like i was being perceived as incapable, all actions suggested that and I'm still unsure how factual that situation was. (This all sounds like its been terrible since but i was experiencing this prior to my diagnosis just less frequently) I think I'm also grieving and sad for all the time not knowing or where it didn't have to be as hard as it was just to function. All becayse of the allistic expectation i had for myself and for what others perceived as the correct way to 'thrive'. I guess I'm realising that my 'thriving' can't be like i thought it should be, that i need to allow myself to just be me - whilst figuring out who is 'me' and who is the 'me-mask' i wore.

    When they gave me the feedback they said they would advise my Drs to put me in for an assessment of needs, occupational therapy and some cbt for my anxietys. Maybe you could try accessing something like that? Apparentky talking therapies work really well too. Although I've not started that journey yet, the reports not even been written to my doctors to inform them yet haha. 

  • My husband was recently diagnosed at the age of 41 a few months  ago. The diagnosis was certainly a shock to him (although not to me and others around us), snd he has certainly been struggling more st times since the diagnosis , and at the moment appears to be in some denial. We have also just had a baby too, so things massively heightened in that too x