Recently diagnosed at 43, my head is allover the place

Looking for advice. I am recently diagnosed ar 43 with autism level 1. I feel like I don’t even know who I am anymore as my masking/ camouflaging score was extremely high. How can I help myself to understand myself more?

Parents
  • Congratulations on your diagnosis and welcome to the community.

    Following a diagnosis, it can be common for us - especially as late-diagnosed adults - to experience a lot of emotional dysregulation. Besides perhaps feeling some relief about now having an explanation for our past difficulties, this can also include working through a phase where we experience confusion, uncertainty, and/or (backward-focused) anger, frustration, grieving and more. So please don't worry - it's normal! 

    As for many others here, my own diagnosis turned out to be much more of the start of a new journey, rather than a conclusion full of instant solutions for my ASD-related difficulties.

    The NAS has a great set of articles focused on "after diagnosis", including one covering how you might feel during the subsequent days / weeks / months. You might find them of interest and/or helpful:

    NAS - How you might feel after a diagnosis

    NAS - Other advice covering post-diagnosis including:

    • Talking about and disclosing your autism diagnosis
    • Emotional support for family members after a diagnosis
    • Formal support following an autism diagnosis
    • What can I do if formal support is not offered or is not enough
    How can I help myself to understand myself more?

    In respect of getting help to understand yourself better, therapy (or counselling) is often recommended after a diagnosis, as a follow up action for your GP to arrange. If you prefer, depending on where you are in the UK, you may instead be able to self refer for talking therapy on the NHS. Before arranging it, you might find it helpful to borrow or buy this book, which includes discussion of various types of therapy and counselling, together with advice on choosing the right therapist or counsellor - all from an autistic person's viewpoint. Several of us here have found it very helpful:

    The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy

    This book enabled me to make some immediate, helpful changes:

    Self-Care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask!

  • Thank you for taking time to reply 

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