Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi all,
I do not post often so in a very quick summary, mental issues over 30 years which were diagnosed as SAD but following a 9 month assessment with 7 people am on route to an autism diagnosis.
My yearly cycle of low mood, anxiety and thoughts of suicide (only thoughts and lived with decades) have started kicking in... I took these as being me and medicate in a month or so until Spring (SAD diagnosis).
I am now going through this for the first time where I am informed I have all the traits of autism and the testimonials I have read were like reading my life story.
The result is, I feel like I am going through this for the first time and it is scary... I am finding it isn't actually a me thing or a questionable diagnosis many don't accept... I've read the reains autism have low life expectancy so with feeling vulnerable, I am scared i'm not my energy draining self that fights every year...
I don;t know the question to ask or to whom, I think I am asking of you are similar and what you did as a diagnosed autistic/ have diagnosed autism... I am scared.
It's perfectly okay to be scared. Learning something new about yourself on such a level is scary. I remember thinking when I was diagnosed in March that I didn't want to be autistic because I knew of the struggles that the community have to deal with.
I know that statisti8cs can seem daunting, especially life expectancies etc, but you shouldn't look at it like that. Everyone's stories are unique, and you are more than just a number. Your life is not predetermined by who you are or a diagnosis that you have just received.
Hopefully now that you seem to be learning more about yourself, you can find the help and support you need, and these difficult circumstances can maybe improve.
There is always hope.