Diagnosis in a 50 year old male.

I received a clinical diagnosis of autism when I was 60. This was four years ago. I was a teacher at the time. To reduce my anxiety, I:

* transferred from a school with 3,500 students in a metropolitan area to a rural school with just 350 students

* stopped dating because dating made me feel awkward and also cost a lot of money. 

* used the move to end the few friendships I had. While different people with ASD have different strengths and weaknesses, my social awkwardness is such that even being with people whom I actually like is always inherently stressful. By giving myself permission to embrace my inner recluse, I reduced my stress by having more personal me time.

* told my school administrators that I was autistic. They gave me some reasonable work related accommodations such as excusing me from attending school assemblies. While there was an unofficial expectation that teachers attend local sporting events, no such expectations applied to me. 

* long before I was diagnosed with autism, I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and chronic depression. My therapist recommended that I get one or more pets. I wound up adopting some kittens. I think this was one of the best decisions I ever made because having cats taught me about the importance of caring for others. Since cats can be hypersensitive about their owner's feelings, the care I gave my cats was responded tenfold with lots of cuddles, purring, and comfort - especially on days when my depression was particularly acute. Although my initial two cats have long since crossed the rainbow bridge, I now share my home with four feline companions. 

* built personal me time into my daily schedule so that I could have time to rest, to relax, and to emotionally recharge. I did this in part by always making sure that I had time to engage in one or more of my special interests. When I focused upon a special interest, I felt a lot of my stress fall away. 

* made sure that I got plenty of sleep. 

I received a clinical diagnosis of autism when I was 60. This was four years ago. I was a teacher at the time. To reduce my anxiety, I:

* transferred from a school with 3,500 students in a metropolitan area to a rural school with just 350 students

* stopped dating because dating made me feel awkward and also cost a lot of money. 

* used the move to end the few friendships I had. While different people with ASD have different strengths and weaknesses, my social awkwardness is such that even being with people whom I actually like is always inherently stressful. By giving myself permission to embrace my inner recluse, I reduced my stress by having more personal me time.

* told my school administrators that I was autistic. They gave me some reasonable work related accommodations such as excusing me from attending school assemblies. While there was an unofficial expectation that teachers attend local sporting events, no such expectations applied to me. 

* long before I was diagnosed with autism, I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and chronic depression. My therapist recommended that I get one or more pets. I wound up adopting some kittens. I think this was one of the best decisions I ever made because having cats taught me about the importance of caring for others. Since cats can be hypersensitive about their owner's feelings, the care I gave my cats was responded tenfold with lots of cuddles, purring, and comfort - especially on days when my depression was particularly acute. Although my initial two cats have long since crossed the rainbow bridge, I now share my home with four feline companions. 

* built personal me time into my daily schedule so that I could have time to rest, to relax, and to emotionally recharge. I did this in part by always making sure that I had time to engage in one or more of my special interests. When I focused upon a special interest, I felt a lot of my stress fall away. 

* made sure that I got plenty of sleep.