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Recently diagnosed

Tami

Hi all. I am a 37 year old woman who was recently diagnosed as autistic and now I have the feeling I need to go back on what has happened though my whole life understanding that I was autistic the whole time and finally undersand why things had happen that way. Any one else has experienced that?

  • Welcome to the community,  I wish you find here support and like minded people. I'm similar age, awaiting assessment quite soon. I have no idea what I will feel after that.

  • Hi Tami

    I am also recently diagnosed. I find it way harder than I expected. Same as you, I am going through my past and sometimes it makes me "oh, that makes sense" other times I am just angry. I started to trial things like a fidget at home and work. I feel more uncompromising about noise at work. It's hard work rather than fun. I am sure "the weight off my shoulder" part will come, it needs time.

    I hope you find your way through the jungle

    Freya-fs

  • Congratulations on your diagnosis and welcome to the community!

    There are plenty of older, late-diagnosed and late-realised people here, so you're in good company! 

    My own diagnosis turned out to be the start of a new journey of learning and adapting - and that has included exactly what you've described. I'd suggest taking extra care to be patient to, and kind with, yourself - and to take your time with processing everything.

    The NAS has a great set of articles focused on "after diagnosis", including one covering how you might feel over time, and others covering support. 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 - other advice covering post-diagnosis, including these and more:

    • 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. 

    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:

    Amazon UK - The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy

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

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

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

  • Welcome. Yes, post-diagnosis, I found I needed to go back and review the past. I found there was just one understanding that covered so most of the things that had happened; it was my autism. Then I, more or less, stopped musing on the past and got on with the future.

  • Yep, just about every one of us who has had a diagnosis.

    Take a glance through some of the recent intros here - we're all in the same situation. I hope you enjoy being part of this community.