• Replies 32 replies
  • Subscribers 86 subscribers
  • Views 1659 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Autism diagnosis and the change it may have

Autismman

Hello there, I am new to this forum, really just posting out there to get some different opinions and ideas on what I am experiencing on a day to day basis. I’m a 37 year old male, left secondary school in year 7 due to bullying and not had any real education since. It wasn’t all the bullying that made me come to the decision that me and school were incompatible but it went a long way in that choice, I refused to go back. I was put on anti depressants ect but every time I tried to attend the school I would freak and withdraw from those trying to help. Anyway, that’s the rough background but in my adult life up until the last few years I never considered myself autistic until I read about it. I’m very social avoidant, dislike change unless I decide to, have a strong dislike for people making plans that involve me because I probably don’t want to go, avoid eye contact, that’s way too personal. I thrive on routine because it makes me feel safe like nothing bad will happen and it makes me feel good about myself also because I can repeat those good days where it’s just routine. I’m told I’m also very righteous? I mean I did want to be Batman of that helps but people said it wouldn’t really be possible which kinda made me have to grow up a bit. I suffer from anxiety and depression pretty much daily, I mean it’s always there really, no cure. Even at my work which is in an office environment I feel seriously overwhelmed, I’ve been there almost 20 years but my colleagues are still strangers to me and I’m almost frozen to my chair at times thinking that if I don’t put 110% in I’m gonna be looked down upon or looked at badly even though I know I work hard. I think I will seek out a diagnosis . Thank you for reading and look forward to the replies, 

Parents

  • In my opinion a diagnosis is useful, if not essential .

    I found that after having a similar experience of life to most people on here, upto being almost 50, finding out that it was autism was game changing.

    I had gone through all sorts of theories over the years, most of which were very negative towards myself and finally knowing "what was up" meant I've been far kinder to myself.

    There's a lot to unpack, some negative, some positive, there's grief and remorse and regret when you start to look at yourself and your life through a new more informed lense. but doing so gives you the chance to understand and change some things that aren't good for you and keep the things that are good for you (for example, an element of masking for some people is how they survive, so unmasking isn't always a must) , in the end  it's all about having more information about yourself and how to get through the days with the least amount of pain and anxiety.

    Any knowledge is powerful, so personally I think a diagnosis, overall, is a good thing to have.

  • in reply to Another Autistician

    Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I’ve got a drs appointment today, what’s scaring me most is somehow not getting the answers I need and being overwhelmingly lost and without reason. To me an official diagnosis is key for me to understand myself not just mentally but emotionally, if I’ve got a defined medical result then I’ll be much happier, 

  • in reply to Autismman

    I have very similar traits, for me (I have realised) I can be very rigid in it thinking and I am a bit obsessive with my routines. 

    Deciding to find out and then not knowing for so long would effect me a lot because when I start thinking about something if I don't have a sense of control then I will even literally loose sleep over it...

    Hope it goes well with the doctors - it may be worth writing out some questions in advance as then it may help you feel a bit more prepared and hopefully get on the road to getting the right answers...

Reply
  • in reply to Autismman

    I have very similar traits, for me (I have realised) I can be very rigid in it thinking and I am a bit obsessive with my routines. 

    Deciding to find out and then not knowing for so long would effect me a lot because when I start thinking about something if I don't have a sense of control then I will even literally loose sleep over it...

    Hope it goes well with the doctors - it may be worth writing out some questions in advance as then it may help you feel a bit more prepared and hopefully get on the road to getting the right answers...

Children
No Data