• Replies 4 replies
  • Subscribers 84 subscribers
  • Views 244 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Recent diagnosis

Bee04x

Hi

I have recently been diagnosed with autism and feel like things that used to be a struggle internally are now external. Such as getting the bus and regulating myself I feel overwhelmed with everything and I’m not sure if this is because the label has validated these feelings and my brain has let its guard down a little but I wondered if this was normal after a diagnosis? Thank you in advance. 

  • Congratulations on your diagnosis and welcome to the community!

    As for many others, my diagnosis turned out to be the start of a new journey of learning and adapting. I'd suggest taking extra care to be patient to, and kind with, yourself - and to take your time with processing everything. It can be normal to experience a lot of emotional dysregulation after a diagnosis. The NAS has a great set of articles on "after diagnosis", including one that covers how you might feel during the coming days / weeks / months. You might find them helpful as a starting point:

    NAS - How will I feel after receiving an autism diagnosis - includes perspectives from other autistic people

    NAS - After 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

    Therapy or counselling are 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 might instead be able to self refer for talking therapy on the NHS. 

    Before arranging anything 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

    Finally, I'll just mention a couple of books that I and others have found helpful early on in our post-diagnosis journeys:

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

    How to Be Autistic (free download currently available via this page)

  • in reply to Oscar

    Hi Oscar, thank you for validating me in the feeling. I was just feeling more that what I was feeling wasn’t normal for after a diagnosis because I only thought I would feel relief but it’s much more than that. So thank you! 

  • Hi Bee04x and welcome, 

    I want to say that, in 2 sentences, you have summarised how I have been feeling since my diagnosis 6 months ago. I have been feeling an important door has at last opened, I am 70+, and from what I have read this feelling is quite common.  

    I feel like a horse released, from the security of its stable, into into a big strange field and doesn't quite know where to run. 

    So what to do about it! The general recommendation is to take things slowly and be kind to yourself. For me "the being kind" is particularly important when thinking of negative things in the past. They weren't my doing; they were just the result of the autistic me being in a world of predominantly Neurotypical people.      

    I am taking my time and trying to gradually get used to this new self. I am very reflective by nature so this helps. 

    Best wishes,

    Oscar

  • Hello Bee0$x,

    Welcome to the online community. Congratulations on your diagnosis.

    I am sure the community members will have lots of advice for you. In the meantime, you may find our After diagnosis section and About autism section useful.

    All the best,

    Karin Mod