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imposter syndrome whilst waiting for a diagnosis

SophieWhit

I am getting diagnosed later in life (27 years old) and every step I progress into the diagnostic journey, I keep getting a paranoid feeling that I am lying, I am a fake etc and I know I am not, but does anyone have any advice on how to stop these feelings? Everyone in my life who I have spoken to about going forward with a diagnosis has been saying that it's clear I am autistic and without a doubt I have no worries about the diagnosis coming back lacking but I still worry. I think it stems down to not knowing what I will do if I get the answer that I am not autistic because I have more or less accepted it (I've been thinking I could be for at least half of my life now) and I know that is a silly feeling because my GP (who is experienced in autism luckily) wouldn't have put me forward for a diagnosis if they disagreed AND my friends who are also autistic wouldn't be supporting me in going for this but yeah.. any advice?

Parents

  • I completely get this I was 34 when a doctor suggested I go through the diagnosis process. A few of my family and friends were completely on board and said they thought I was autistic for ages however there were people around be who sceptical.
    I knew everything I had said was 100% truth but I couldn’t shake the feeling of if the result was I’m not autistic I would have looked like a fool, liar and imposter.

    The only advice I have is trust in who you are, you know yourself, your know how you feel. If you’re 100% honest with the process then what will be will be. If the result is yes you are autistic you’re ready for that in your mind although I was and I still cried like a new born baby when they told me. I think it was the realisation and relief of the pressures. If you’re not that just means it’s something else and keep searching for the answers to your mental health. Your mind will convince you of the worst things about yourself, positive mental health is fighting against that voice and searching for the answers. Knowledge is power. 

     if everyone around you is saying they can see it too then the odds are you most likely are. Feeling paranoid about it is normal I did I felt like a fraud but once you get to the end and they give you the diagnosis my whole life suddenly made sense, I looked at my past with fresh eyes. 

    good luck

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  • I completely get this I was 34 when a doctor suggested I go through the diagnosis process. A few of my family and friends were completely on board and said they thought I was autistic for ages however there were people around be who sceptical.
    I knew everything I had said was 100% truth but I couldn’t shake the feeling of if the result was I’m not autistic I would have looked like a fool, liar and imposter.

    The only advice I have is trust in who you are, you know yourself, your know how you feel. If you’re 100% honest with the process then what will be will be. If the result is yes you are autistic you’re ready for that in your mind although I was and I still cried like a new born baby when they told me. I think it was the realisation and relief of the pressures. If you’re not that just means it’s something else and keep searching for the answers to your mental health. Your mind will convince you of the worst things about yourself, positive mental health is fighting against that voice and searching for the answers. Knowledge is power. 

     if everyone around you is saying they can see it too then the odds are you most likely are. Feeling paranoid about it is normal I did I felt like a fraud but once you get to the end and they give you the diagnosis my whole life suddenly made sense, I looked at my past with fresh eyes. 

    good luck

Children
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