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Does an official diagnosis help

GreenGardener

Hi. I have been seeing a therapist for about two and a half years now. We have recently been talking about my possible autism. My therapist has said that although she can't diagnose me, my charatiristics/ things that I struggled with would probably be categorised as autism. I have done research myself  and through speaking with family members, think I am autistic.

Is going through with a proper diagnosis worth the appointment s and stress? I am conflicted, some family members are encouraging me to peruse it, others think it's enough that I know myself and can get help in other ways. 

Did getting a official autism diagnosis help other people?

Parents

  • I was diagnosed a few years ago (age 62). I wish I'd had some sort of inkling at an earlier age

    After my diagnosis I was initially elated to finally understand why I was feeling so different. For me, feeling any sort of relief was quite short lived as I went through a grieving process for the person I felt I could have been and should have been. Many late diagnosed autistics report feeling this grieving process. Two years on I'm still unpacking the real me as I try to drop a lifetime of masking.

    I'm feeling more at ease with my lack of friends, and lack of a career (I've always worked but unskilled and part time) as I stop berrating myself for not matching up to societies expectations of what a successful happy person looks like. I now understand that I was never going to be able to work full time or have masses of friends (I do sometimes feel sad about that though). I now see just how much support I've  had throughout my life without actually realising it.  I'm not in a place where I fully accept that I was never going to "fit in" but I'm getting there. 

    Getting a diagnosis isn't a magic wand that will instantly make your life better - but it will set you on a path towards a better  understanding yourself. 

    Inula

  • in reply to Inula

    Thank you for your reply. 

    As I am getting older and I see how other people's lives are progressing I can sometimes feel lonely, I can relate there. A big part of my reasoning for wanting a formal diagnosis is to possibly feel some kind of relief or understanding of myself. 

    Good luck with your unmasking. I actually feel lockdown helped me and was a big part of my questioning of I was autistic as I didn't have to mask as much at home. 

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  • in reply to Inula

    Thank you for your reply. 

    As I am getting older and I see how other people's lives are progressing I can sometimes feel lonely, I can relate there. A big part of my reasoning for wanting a formal diagnosis is to possibly feel some kind of relief or understanding of myself. 

    Good luck with your unmasking. I actually feel lockdown helped me and was a big part of my questioning of I was autistic as I didn't have to mask as much at home. 

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