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Newly Assessed - Any advice?

martintheactor

I've lurked here for a while. And yesterday after over two years waiting for an assessment I had it. The psychiatrist has said I am Level 2 Autistic. I'll be honest it's something it's always something I've either been told, or considered. It was only after massive burnout that I finally thought maybe some of the experiences I have had could do with context. Was I struggling because autistic, or because I'm just odd...or both!

It'll be somewhere around 4-8 weeks from what I've read on Psychaitry UK's website to get the paperwork and such, but I bluntly asked the assessor yesterday when I can consider it a formal diagnosis. He told me then and there. 

Twenty-three hours after the assessment now and I kinda don't know how to process it all. So I guess I'm asking what advice people might have?

For context I'm late 30s, have struggled with burnout on and off, but did manage to get my BA, Masters and even a teaching qualification. I've mostly been self employed, but the latest burnout has me now unemployed. I've for the first time been trying to take that break and I guess work through health issues construstively.

Thanks in advance folks.

Parents

  • Hello and welcome to the community! Slight smile
    Congratulations on your diagnosis. It’s a lot to process, especially after waiting so long, but it’s great that you’re doing the right thing by learning more about autism and how your brain works. Being part of this forum and learning from others is definitely a great start!

    My advice would be to take your time to process this at your own pace, there’s no rush. It has taken me about a year to start to accept my diagnosis and deal with the imposter syndrome (although it hasn’t completely gone). 

    Connecting with others who’ve had similar experiences can be really helpful. I have found watching YouTube videos from autistic people really helpful too. And just be kind to yourself. This diagnosis is just a way to better understand and support yourself moving forward.

    You’re definitely not odd, you’re uniquely you, and you’re not alone in this.

Reply

  • Hello and welcome to the community! Slight smile
    Congratulations on your diagnosis. It’s a lot to process, especially after waiting so long, but it’s great that you’re doing the right thing by learning more about autism and how your brain works. Being part of this forum and learning from others is definitely a great start!

    My advice would be to take your time to process this at your own pace, there’s no rush. It has taken me about a year to start to accept my diagnosis and deal with the imposter syndrome (although it hasn’t completely gone). 

    Connecting with others who’ve had similar experiences can be really helpful. I have found watching YouTube videos from autistic people really helpful too. And just be kind to yourself. This diagnosis is just a way to better understand and support yourself moving forward.

    You’re definitely not odd, you’re uniquely you, and you’re not alone in this.

Children
  • in reply to Andy

    I think that the imposter syndrome thing is what prevented me from saying, or even posting here. Like without the 'official' diagnosis I would somehow be watering down the experience of others who were 'properly' autistic or something. I get that it's all still a little new, but I think I've been left trying to take stock of what it means. Am I 'supposed' to be reveiwing past history for all the things I can now identify as having been miscommunications because autistic? Am I 'supposed' to tell everyone? In reality nothing has actually changed I guess. I'm the same person I was before the diagnosis, but I think the what comes next bit is what I can't figure out.

    Part of me feels like I need to be patient. Like will the report the psychaitrist write detail areas I can look to improve on. He was pretty categorical that my bluntness and proclivity to cut through the waffle and obfuscations that people put into their daily communications will likely hamper my ability to communicate with others. Do I now seek out ways to better cope with that? It feels a bit like university - I've learnt something, but then there are now so many unknowns out there that I don't know...