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Acceptance?

Anotherandy

Since I've finally managed to write a post here I may as well go all in and ask the question that's been the monkey on my back for a long time now; how did you move towards acceptance of your autism? 

Long story short is I know a fair bit about ASD, recognise many traits in myself, accept that I probably am autistic (have told family and friends I'm awaiting formal diagnosis) but honestly don't feel that I am until I get the official badge from said formal diagnosis. (I imagine this to be quite common among autistics - it's quite an autistic thought process in itself?)

So yeah, I'm awaiting a late diagnosis (late 40's) which in reality given it was picked up in relation to a mental health issue (that I now realise was probably a second major burnout episode) 15 or so years ago shouldn't have been quite so late...

I've always known I was different, always felt outside, spent years fearing I was various degrees of plain old crazy while just about managing a job, life, family etc. 

For those of you with similar tales how did you get that doubt out of your mind? Did it actually go with the diagnosis - did that make acceptance easier? And yeah, I guess what do I do towards accepting myself for what's pretty much odds on - that I am autistic. Perhaps posting here is the first (or another) step? Help?!

Parents

  • After being alerted to the possibility of me being autistic, I researched adult autism traits in a maniacal blitz. I came to the definite conclusion that autism was the best explanation of why I was the way I am. However, I also felt a compelling need for this conclusion to be validated. I therefore paid for an autism assessment for myself and my daughter. I was told that I would be getting an ASD diagnosis only 30 minutes into the assessment. I was then diagnosed with two related anxiety disorders.

  • in reply to Martin

    It fits well for me too funnily enough - I've done a fair bit of further research and discovered that many of my quirks link to ASD. Some I had no idea about - so I guess that's helped with my acceptance. 

    Going private is something I've considered, though I'm so far down the list now I'm not sure it's worth not continuing to wait. 

    And anxiety. Yes. Very much so - had a diagnosis of GAD here some time back which I'm currently medicated because of. I try very hard not to be though it's peaks and troughs as you'll know. When it gets completely unmanageable I have to take that action. 

    I suppose what I've found particularly confusing is that I've been picked up about other things over the years too along with anxiety and depression, so the waters become muddier. If I'm honest, all of what I am links best to autism, I just can't seem to get over the "I'm autistic" hurdle. I guess I'm pretty sure, but the diagnosis itself would erase all doubt. 

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  • in reply to Martin

    It fits well for me too funnily enough - I've done a fair bit of further research and discovered that many of my quirks link to ASD. Some I had no idea about - so I guess that's helped with my acceptance. 

    Going private is something I've considered, though I'm so far down the list now I'm not sure it's worth not continuing to wait. 

    And anxiety. Yes. Very much so - had a diagnosis of GAD here some time back which I'm currently medicated because of. I try very hard not to be though it's peaks and troughs as you'll know. When it gets completely unmanageable I have to take that action. 

    I suppose what I've found particularly confusing is that I've been picked up about other things over the years too along with anxiety and depression, so the waters become muddier. If I'm honest, all of what I am links best to autism, I just can't seem to get over the "I'm autistic" hurdle. I guess I'm pretty sure, but the diagnosis itself would erase all doubt. 

Children
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