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initial assessment

buffy

Hi, I am a 42 year old female and I have just had an initial assessment. I have been told that I am going to be forwarded for the full assessment as the initial findings suggest I may have high functioning autism, OCD and sensory issues. I'm not sure how I feel about all this or even what any of it is going to mean for me. My friends have reacted with a mixture of "well, I thought that all along anyway" while others seemed uncertain of what to say, like they're shocked and they think it's bad news. As a person who takes cues from other people's reactions and behaviours, this has left me feeling quite anxious and I don't know which way to turn, emotionally. Is this a bad thing? Some people's reactions suggest it is. My parents also reacted in a negative way. I thought "going down the path" for a diagnosis would help me understand who I was, but now I just feel confused and anxious. Is this normal?

thanks

Parents

  • Hi Buffy, welcome to the forum.

    One thing I was told before my evaluation started has always stuck with me.  Whatever your diagnosis, you will still be you, and you will not have changed.

    An autism diagnosis is not like a diagnosis for a disease or illness.  If you are diagnosed, you haven't suddenly acquired some new and horrible problem, merely gained a better understanding of something that was always there to begin with.  And autistic conditions are not degenerative.  They stay the same throughout life and do not get worse as we age - in fact, it can improve with age, because we can gain the wisdom to deal with the issues it causes in better ways.

    A little anxiety is natural, of course - it is a very profound thing to discover about ourselves, and will take a little time to adjust to.  However, try not to be too concerned about other people's reactions.  There are a lot of misconceptions and half-truths out there about autism, and many people will base their reactions on those false ideas.  Once you understand your condition better yourself, you will be able to talk to them with the reassurance of knowing the truth.

    In the meantime, while you wait for your assessment, coming here to talk to people who live with autism and have been through the diagnostic process, is something that many people find incredibly helpful and re-assuring.

    Best wishes.

Reply

  • Hi Buffy, welcome to the forum.

    One thing I was told before my evaluation started has always stuck with me.  Whatever your diagnosis, you will still be you, and you will not have changed.

    An autism diagnosis is not like a diagnosis for a disease or illness.  If you are diagnosed, you haven't suddenly acquired some new and horrible problem, merely gained a better understanding of something that was always there to begin with.  And autistic conditions are not degenerative.  They stay the same throughout life and do not get worse as we age - in fact, it can improve with age, because we can gain the wisdom to deal with the issues it causes in better ways.

    A little anxiety is natural, of course - it is a very profound thing to discover about ourselves, and will take a little time to adjust to.  However, try not to be too concerned about other people's reactions.  There are a lot of misconceptions and half-truths out there about autism, and many people will base their reactions on those false ideas.  Once you understand your condition better yourself, you will be able to talk to them with the reassurance of knowing the truth.

    In the meantime, while you wait for your assessment, coming here to talk to people who live with autism and have been through the diagnostic process, is something that many people find incredibly helpful and re-assuring.

    Best wishes.

Children
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