Published on 12, July, 2020
I am 57 female and have been diagnosed with autism level 1, my psychiatrist also practically told me I have adhd too but need to have a separate assessment to fully diagnose adhd. I have an awful lot of traits. This is all come as a shock because all my life I've been struggling to get by in general, and feeling different from everyone else. Has anyone else been diagnosed late in life too?
Diagnosed at 48 with Aspergers and on the waiting list for ADHD assessment. I received my diagnosis one week before lockdown and it took a mental toll on me. Not at first, but maybe three months in I got really low. Getting Covid didn't help either. It's now some years later and it's still as hard. What can you do though? :)
A growing number of us, actually. I was 56. But congratulations on getting your diagnosis now and welcome to the club. I hope you find us a supportive bunch.
I was diagnosed as autistic aged 41 years old, and I received my report a few days ago. I'm currently awaiting feedback from my ADHD assessment. I made a video about my delayed diagnosis and I have started an autism YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0Pp9VH9U7g
https://www.youtube.com/@AutisticNotAlien/videos
Yes, I’m a 53 years old Irish gay man from a Rural Irish Catholic background in the U.K. 21 years and I’ve been diagnosed later in life via Zoom & email in 2021, having started the process in 2019 - what I’ve been really shocked by since my diagnosis is the fact that there is very little post-diagnostic support apart from this website and forum and of how much ignorance there is out there when it comes to autistic adults - most of the post-diagnostic support is geared towards children and not adults, in both public and private health spheres - most people simply refuse point blank to understand the condition, refuse to be educated about autism, regard our issues as nonsense and still hold the belief that the only way to manage autism is by means of ultra strict milltary style discipline - as an older gay man, even though many autistic people are LGBT and many LGBT people are autistic, the lack of support within the LGBT community is as shocking as is the level of prejudice and discrimination within the LGBT community towards autistic people - all of this is going to present serious problems in the coming years with an ageing population of autistic adults beyond state pension age, in terms of the quality of life that we will have - I cut all ties with the LGBT community 18 years ago and I returned to my traditional Catholic faith, as I have extended family in Rural Ireland and I’ve come to realise that what carries me through and what is important to me is my Catholic faith - I personally believe that autism is in some ways an advantage, as it enables us to see with clarity the truth of a given situation, such as we have seen with Covid - focusing on real facts and on the truth, it makes us immune to brainwashing and indoctrination that so impacts everyone else around us
NAS78873 said:How did you deal with it?
The ASD or the diagnosis?
If you mean the diagnosis it was a relief to put myself and my life into a context that makes sense.
Age 48 last year. I've always felt different and struggled too. I recognise many times that I was unwell was burnout, and am trying to ensure I am better to myself as a result.
NAS78873 said:Wow and I thought I was the only one!
...as did so many of us.
Welcome to the club,
Ben
Wow and I thought I was the only one!
How did you deal with it? I feel I knew I had it but when you are diagnosed late in life it kind of puts the pieces of a puzzle together.
Thank you, it's good to know I'm not on my own.
I was diagnosed three years ago aged 67.
Hi.
Yes, I was diagnosed at 60 16 months ago.
Welcome
Yes, age 50 and bipolar age 53. Welcome!
Yes, lots of us here. I was diagnosed at 52 earlier this year. Still getting my head around it.
And welcome!