Lost after diagnosis

KimmySunshine said:

I’m honestly not sure what I’m meant to do to help me process this and I feel like it’s weighing down on me.

Therapy (or counselling) could be very helpful for this. It's commonly 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 it:

NHS - Talking therapy

In my case, I chose to have a course of counselling that focused on helping me to process how my experiences and diagnosis of autism have impacted me.

Before arranging this, you might first 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

Immediately following my diagnosis, this book also taught me some important principles and enabled me to make some helpful changes:

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

More generally, if you don't feel that you're receiving enough support, then the first article here includes a link to a template letter that you can send to your GP to request a personalised support plan, in line with NICE guidance:

NAS - Formal support following an autism diagnosis

NAS - What can I do if formal support is not offered or is not enough

Oh wow thank you, I’m definitely going to check the books out! I’ve just had an email from the autism hub who have told me I’m on the waiting list and there’s approximately a 6 month wait, at least that’s some progress! The information there you’ve given me is exactly what I was looking for and hoping I’d get after diagnosis instead of just the report and a leaflet 

Oh wow thank you, I’m definitely going to check the books out! I’ve just had an email from the autism hub who have told me I’m on the waiting list and there’s approximately a 6 month wait, at least that’s some progress! The information there you’ve given me is exactly what I was looking for and hoping I’d get after diagnosis instead of just the report and a leaflet 

OK.  I waited 2-3 months for the screening call, had several calls cancelled last minute,  and finally on 3rd appointment told its another 4+ months wait to start any therapy online and 12+ months if I wanted to have face to face therapy

TT in my area had no offering for Autism specifically, so assume that is the standard ?

Jalapeno said:

Anyhow as the waiting list is months

Just to clarify, that’s not necessarily the case.

The latest figures from NHS England, for example, show that 90% of referrals for talking therapies involved a waiting time of fewer than six weeks.

In light of the short waiting times, I actually delayed my referral for several months. I felt it best to wait until my post-diagnostic mental turmoil had settled enough for me to be able to benefit from the counselling.

good to hear they've got back to you. 

My local charity, part funded by the NHS, has provided some support - mainly phone call and some online meetings. They have some meet ups and drop ins , but they are all daytime, so no good if you work like me.

Am awaiting Talking Therapies to start for - but thats for social anxiety as not sure my local team even cover Autism: seriously I think I was almost being asked to not ask for any sessions on it, but thought hey why not I pay my taxes and it's the NHS's problem if they only provide a service, devised entirely for NTs.  Anyhow as the waiting list is months - just refer yourself now and you can decide if its for you or not, as it will take a few months on the wait list.

You're most welcome!