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Newly diagnosed at 53

MimiLexis

Hello all

I have just recieved my Autism level 1 diagnosis this morning. I feel relieved and shocked even though I knew I was on the spectrum. My dad was undiagnosed and he never spoke until he was 8. My son is on the spectrum, Aspergers and PDA and my youngest granddaughter is non verbal autistic.

The psychiatrist was lovely, she explained things to me as to how she came to my diagnosis and highlighted I had done well to get this far. Her report will be ready in 2 weeks and hopefully I will be understood more.

I hit rock bottom last spring when I broke down and couldn't continue pretending (aka masking) anymore. I struggle with instructions in work settings, being told I am dramatic or that I am miserable and speak to people in an arrogant way. I dont have any friends and moved 250 miles in February this year to be nearer my son and daughter in law. I can finally have answers for the difficult childhood I had interacting with children and understanding schoolwork and social settings, I struggled in every way up until my burnout last year. I cant keep a job for long and getting told off by managers over the years for my behaviours. I want to be me now, no more trying to fit in or stressing and preparing to interact with people every day.

I hope all undiagnosed older adults like myself get the diagnosis that is right for them and live a happier life, we deserve that after living a lot of years being misunderstood.

Parents

  • Good morning from America, Mimilexis!

    Congratulations on your diagnosis! I hope that leads you to being kinder to yourself and understanding your past in a new lens. Definitely get involved in the other threads on here, you’ll find there are a lot of others with a similar situation (late diagnosis) to yours! Best wishes.

  • in reply to profdanger

    Ah thank you for your kind response!

    Yes I know I have a journey ahead of me and now with clarity as to why I have always struggled to fit in. 

    I have been reading etc and awaiting my assessment, after being refused an assessment on the NHS I went through my GP via Right to Choose with Psychiatry UK... im glad I didnt give up though I came close to it, I knew I had to do this no matter how difficult it was.

  • in reply to MimiLexis

    Wow that sounds like quite a journey. It wasn’t nearly as hard for me. I just had to convince a therapist I might be Autistic, spend $80, and wait a couple months. I don’t think it’s necessarily easier to get an assessment in the US, but my experience sure was easier than I hear from most people who have gotten it in the UK.

  • in reply to profdanger

    It sure helps when someone helps us, my mental health practitioner agreed with me last year that I should be assessed for Autism and its so strong in my immediate family too. I knew I was different, I felt different all my life and my struggles were the same through the years with different people. I cried at all my jobs, brought to tears and stress because I just couldn't cope in them environments.

    Its sad to think so many of us have gone through this. My granddaughter is non verbal and she is the most wonderful little girl. Her experience has been fab, nursery school helped my son and wife access all the help she needed and is now thriving in special school. Yes life is hard for her parents, as it was for me when my son was growing up due to his very difficult behaviour but we have eachother. We all understand eachother and that is what matters, some family dont understand but that's not our problem. We are happy in our world, where we feel safe and can truly be who we are.

  • in reply to MimiLexis

    I was 30, so it was about four to five years ago. I almost didn’t get the referral because everyone thought it was just ADHD, but thankfully my therapist thought it was at least worth checking into.

    I’m sorry to hear that they looked into it when you were four and it took so long for it to be revisited. Our understanding of Autism has definitely different back then.

Reply
  • in reply to MimiLexis

    I was 30, so it was about four to five years ago. I almost didn’t get the referral because everyone thought it was just ADHD, but thankfully my therapist thought it was at least worth checking into.

    I’m sorry to hear that they looked into it when you were four and it took so long for it to be revisited. Our understanding of Autism has definitely different back then.

Children
  • in reply to profdanger

    It sure helps when someone helps us, my mental health practitioner agreed with me last year that I should be assessed for Autism and its so strong in my immediate family too. I knew I was different, I felt different all my life and my struggles were the same through the years with different people. I cried at all my jobs, brought to tears and stress because I just couldn't cope in them environments.

    Its sad to think so many of us have gone through this. My granddaughter is non verbal and she is the most wonderful little girl. Her experience has been fab, nursery school helped my son and wife access all the help she needed and is now thriving in special school. Yes life is hard for her parents, as it was for me when my son was growing up due to his very difficult behaviour but we have eachother. We all understand eachother and that is what matters, some family dont understand but that's not our problem. We are happy in our world, where we feel safe and can truly be who we are.