Recently diagnosed at 67 looking to make friends

Hi Bunny 

Thank you very much for your message and the links.Its greatly appreciated and I will contact my GP surgery ! 

Hi Gary

Congratulations on your recent diagnosis and welcome to the community!

Unfortunately, feeling lonely and isolated is far from uncommon among us - and I definitely feel the same way.

The NAS has a couple of resources that you might find helpful, which include links to further resources:

NAS - Loneliness

NAS - Making friends - a guide for autistic adults

You might also find it helpful to contact your GP surgery and ask to be referred to a social prescriber / social prescribing link worker. This is something that I'm planning to do myself very soon.

Their role is to work with you, potentially over several sessions, in order to develop a personalised care and support plan that meets your "practical, social and emotional needs that affect their [your] health and wellbeing". This model operates throughout the UK. For example: 

NHS England - Social prescribing

Hi again Gary,

Thank you for the message and the welcome. That's great that you have a local group nearby for adults and perhaps nice that it wasn't too busy. We haven't got similar near us here, but thank goodness for the internet as otherwise I would have been totally lost.

Anyway, nice to meet you too.

Thank you I really appreciate that 

Great stuff - be confident

Thank you Gary.

Ill take a look at the podcasts. 

That’s good ! My first go to favourite composer is Beethoven! I have many other favourites in many different time periods and styles ! 
There is just something comforting and kind of familiar with Beethoven’s music.I have loved classical music since I was a child.Growing up in the 1960s classical music featured a fair bit at school.The morning assembly there was often  music and even at junior school the school orchestra used to play Benjamin Britten’s Young Persons Guide to the orchestra.

My earliest memory of classical music was again at junior school where we had a lesson called music and movement with Prokfiev’s Peter and The Wolf playing on the radio and we were told to move around the classroom which had been cleared of desks and chairs to the music to try and freely express ourselves lol ! The 1960s !! 

Hi Take 5 

I totally get it ! I am so sorry that you have to wait an agonising 10 months.I do remember when I was feeling very unsure and up and down before I took the plunge to pay privately hearing that most people who suspect or think they are autistic ARE autistic when they get assessed! 
Likewise I became obsessed with listening to podcasts and watching you tube videos.I can recommend a few channels on you tube that might help you to feel less stressed about it.

Adult with Autism 

Am I Neurodivergent 

Autism Chrysalis 

Neurodivergent Doctor 

Inside The Auti-Verse 

Kojo Sarfo 

Creative Autistic 

Essy Knopf 

Woodshed Theory 

I hope this helps and let me know 

I do feel what you’re going through.

Gary 

Hi

Yes I love music and play the piano a little. I love nature being outside and I am keen on wildlife? Who is your favourite composer? I like Beethoven.

• I’m pleased to hear that you are working your way through everything. I am only self realised atm but I have 10 months to go until my assessment. I’m terrified for the reasons you are mentioning above. I feel like these thoughts are the only thing that occupies my mind at present, that and recognition that I have many more meltdowns that I ever thought I did. On a bad day I can feel like I could ask to be admitted, on an ok day I feel like there is hope. I understand how much those thoughts of self validation can really take over and just want to say don’t be so hard on yourself. I try to tell myself the same and hopefully this is part of the journey to feel more comfortable in our own skin. 
  
  Take care and thank you for asking

Hi Leni 

That’s very kind and I have been looking a local groups and attended one this afternoon there was just 2 of us nevertheless it’s a start .

Its a question I think of building back up some confidence and start investing time in meeting other autistic adults.I appreciate that so thank you.

This forum is also very helpful and enjoy posting Leni.

Its nice to meet you 

Gary

Hi, I was diagnosed last year when I was 49 and the first year was a huge wave of different emotions including feeling very isolated. It does get easier, and well done reaching out on sites like this. Have you looked if you have any adult autism groups meeting near you? I found meeting other autistic adults very validating and comforting, but it does take a bit of time. This was my first post on here too! Good luck with your journey.

Hi Taki 

That’s great to hear.

In my situation I was masking for years and it’s only now that I realise that it’s ok to feel different.Its now a question I think of getting on with this new version of myself and make the necessary adjustments and as you say be at ease and be relaxed 

Hi Gary, I accepted my diagnosis around 70.  I was diagnosed when I went to university at age 30. I got rid of that label - I will have to compete in the job market later. I was lucky.  I spent most of my working life in foreign countries, mainly Asia, where I was not expected to fit in. I studied at Imperial College London where the emphasis (then) was working day and night to get the degree and not socialising or joining things. Then aged 70, exhausted, OK, I don't pretend any more, I have autism, I am not able to have free conversations etc.  I announced this to the people I meet almost daily in the doggy park. I was amazed, they said they knew and so what?  Probably for the first time in my life I was relaxed and at ease with myself.

Hi there 

Things are starting to make sense but I am often thinking what if the assessors got it wrong? 
There are times when I look back and think yes autism makes sense and then my mind wants to find a some kind of evidence that no I am not autistic.

I have been thinking that my mum was.

CPTSD is something that I acknowledge from childhood.My parents spent their whole lives arguing and screaming at each other.

A lot to digest.

How are things with you ? 

Hey Gary

Just wondering how things are for you now. It’s been a few months since your diagnosis and I hope everything is starting to make sense? 

Hi Gigi 

listening to classical music,nature and being outside.How about you Gigi

Hello NAS96623

This sounds familiar. I too struggle  to make friends and don't look autistic. 

Hello Gary

I too was late diagnosed in my 50's, and it has been good to finally have an understanding,  my life suddenly makes sense. have you recently been diagnosed?

Have you any special interests Gary?

Hello Uhane 

Thank you.Much appreciated.That coming home feeling is needed ! 
The weird difficult thing about this diagnosis is that I have been masking my entire existence and despite several comments over many years questioning whether I was autistic I chose to brush over them.If only I had asked them in more detail of what they meant .

How are things for you ?