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Hello

Wetterhorn

Hi There.  Long Story short, I’m a 56- year-old male diagnosed with depression, anxiety, ocd, and ptsd.  My childhood was marked with the repeated trauma of an alcoholic family.  I’ve always felt most comfortable alone or in nature with non-people things, and l’ve always felt that I don’t fit in.  I recently started working with a new therapist who mentioned that, given that no one was really tested for autism in school when I was young, and given my symptoms, that I may be dealing with undiagnosed autism.  I had NEVER considered this for some reason.  So, me being me, I ran home as fast as I could to watch every YouTube video on the topic that I could.  Then I did a few online tests, like the AQ and CAT-Q tests, both of which I scored high on.  Anyway, now I have a lot to think about.  Get tested for a diagnosis or not?  It’s been a lot to take in, especially for someone whose mind never stops.  So here I am.  Thanks for allowing me to share.  

  • Welcome to the community. You have had a lot to digest and the information about autism is a lot to take in. I understand some of what you are going through as I struggle with depression, anxiety, possibly ADHD and I was recently assessed as autistic. When the possibility of being autistic was first suggested to me, I researched loads of stuff online, including the information from the NAS’s diagnosis hub that Bunny has posted below. I carried a great deal of shame about past failures and felt I was an innately bad and inadequate person so the possibility that autism was potentially responsible for the way I am was nearly too much to hope for. I decided to go for an autism assessment as I knew I would always have doubts if I didn’t. The question of what I would do if the assessment was negative kept coming back to me, knowing that if so, I would probably go into a deeper depression. For me, the formal diagnosis was hugely important and I am glad I went.  Everyone is different and all you can do is weigh up the information. If you decide to go for assessment, are in the UK and not going to go through the NHS, just make sure the private provider adheres to NICE guidelines, in case need to have the diagnosis recorded on your medical file. 

  • in reply to Bunny

    Thanks Bunny, but I'm ok with it. I was actually also scared of the assessment, as I hate talking about how I feel and my childhood with strangers, and I was also scared they would say I wasn't autistic, which would leave me with no explanation for feeling different. This forum has been, and still is, helpful to me and I try to support others if I can.

    I try to change what I can and accept what I can't.

  • in reply to Lotus
    Lotus said:
    my doctor said I wouldn't get any support, so it would just be a label

    It always really upsets me - on your behalf - whenever you talk (write) about this. It feels really disappointing to me that your doctor had that attitude.

    Perhaps it was more justified at that time, but I'd like to think that progress has been made since then, as reflected in the current NICE guidelines for post-diagnosis care. I also feel that the formal assessment process also gave me a much fuller understanding of my autism-related difficulties - and related support needs - than I would have been able to achieve without having gone through it. But, of course, each to their own. It's a very personal decision - about as personal as it can get.

    mending heart

  • Wetterhorn said:
     Anyway, now I have a lot to think about.  Get tested for a diagnosis or not?  It’s been a lot to take in, especially for someone whose mind never stops.

    Hi and welcome to the community!

    The NAS's (recently updated) diagnosis hub has a lot of articles that you might find helpful as you consider this new possibility and whether to seek an assessment. They include, for example:

    NAS - Signs that a child or adult may be autistic

    NAS - Deciding whether to seek an autism assessment

    NAS - How to request an autism assessment

    The hub also offers advice about the forms of support that are available following an autism diagnosis.

  • Hello and welcome to the forum.

    I'm female, 64, and self discovered my autism when I was in my fifties. I decided not to get a professional diagnosis - my doctor said I wouldn't get any support, so it would just be a label - but many do, and find it reassuring. It's a very personal decision.