• Replies 12 replies
  • Subscribers 85 subscribers
  • Views 297 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
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

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

  • Part of my thinking - do I / do I not - go for formal assessment: was even if it the outcome might not greatly directly impact "now" would it be helpful in my service provision an safeguarding in the future?

    I am older than you and I would say that the ability to put up with the World without reasonable adjustments etc. may well become less so with age.

    Ultimately, there is only one person who can make and be happy with the decision (i e. yourself) - however, it is worth thinking about the different settings and environments you navigate in life and at different age groups too.

    There are some workplaces where, historically, being disclosed as an Autistic person could have been a barrier to entering or progressing in that sector - but that is becoming less likely these days.

    The other way to consider it involves setting to one side you on "your best day" and thinking about you "on your worst day" ...and thinking whether having a formal diagnosis, in your area of your Country, would offer you access to adjustments or services which might assist you on your worst days - which would be barred to you without a formal diagnosis.  Again, you (or other people in your area) are best placed to judge that correctly - as service provision does vary quite a bit from place to place.

    Another thought might be - if the formal diagnosis route were to cease to be available to me - would that be to my current or long term detriment?

    Maybe another consideration might be: If I have now (or in the future were to develop or have diagnosed) another condition too - physical health related or mental health related - would knowing my Autism / ND status potentially have any relevance or influence on my treatment considerations for those other conditions?

  • in reply to DormouseAtRest_25

    That makes a lot of sense. Thank you for your reply.

Reply Children
No Data