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Do i go for an assessment?

Kool_kat

Hi

I'm 40 (female) and I've never ever felt like I fit in. I've always known I'm different but it's only recently I've started to question if it could be autism.

I read an article about how autism presents in females and I felt like i was reading a description of me -

* never fits in

* anxiety / depression (I've been on antidepressants for 20 ywars)

* struggle in social situations - i hate them and avoid. I overthink every interaction and try to plan conversations in my head. I feel awkward and analyse how I'm standing, how I'm walking and the eye contact I'm making. When I was younger I used to watch tv and try to see how the characters responded to certain situations and then imitate it. I'm a huge people pleaser and tell people what I think they want to hear

* I can cope with loud noises but I can't cope with lots of different noises at the same time

* I hate changes to my routine. I'd have happily stayed in 1 job for 40 years but had no choice

* if doing something new (for example taking my child to a new baby group) I have to research it then let it sit in my head fir a while before committing to going. When I buy new clothes they sit in my wardrobe for a few weeks before they become mine and I can wear them.

* I love spotting patterns like words in number plates or symmetry

I started reading the umbrella picker and a lot of the things she described totally aren't me -

* I can lie and do lie to avoid social situations 

* I'm not massively organised or neat

* my memory isn't great.

I genuinely don't know what to do. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

I did an ag50 test (I think that was what it was called) and scored 33. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Parents

  • We can't give a medical opinion here, and although the online tests are fairly accurate, there's an obvious margin of error that is reduced when you take a regular assessment.  There's several reasons for this.

    I'd say that there's a +/- 5 margin on the online test.  

    So, speaking hypothetically, lets say you've done a test and scored at least 28/50.   When the score popped up did you feel some sense of validation?   Would it help you to make this result official? 

    There's no bonus prize that comes with a diagnosis.  In fact, to some, it poses more questions.  Some feel they need more help and quite often go looking for therapy options and the like that are rarely available on the NHS.  

    On the other hand, some view it as the missing piece in the jigsaw.  

    You are essentially asking us - how would you feel post diagnosis, and we don't know.   Are you the sort of person that needs definitive answers in their life generally?  Or are you content with the balance of probabilities?  

    My opinion - from reading your post - is you are the former type - but I am willing to be corrected.  

Reply

  • We can't give a medical opinion here, and although the online tests are fairly accurate, there's an obvious margin of error that is reduced when you take a regular assessment.  There's several reasons for this.

    I'd say that there's a +/- 5 margin on the online test.  

    So, speaking hypothetically, lets say you've done a test and scored at least 28/50.   When the score popped up did you feel some sense of validation?   Would it help you to make this result official? 

    There's no bonus prize that comes with a diagnosis.  In fact, to some, it poses more questions.  Some feel they need more help and quite often go looking for therapy options and the like that are rarely available on the NHS.  

    On the other hand, some view it as the missing piece in the jigsaw.  

    You are essentially asking us - how would you feel post diagnosis, and we don't know.   Are you the sort of person that needs definitive answers in their life generally?  Or are you content with the balance of probabilities?  

    My opinion - from reading your post - is you are the former type - but I am willing to be corrected.  

Children