• Replies 10 replies
  • Subscribers 79 subscribers
  • Views 1915 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

Do I have Autism?

Tulip52

Hello I have just joined the site, i am 52 years of age and think I may have autism. Last week I had a melt down! I was due to go on holiday. The night before I took my dog to the boarding kennels and broke my heart and was unconsolable! I didn't go on my holiday that I had so been looking forward to. This brought on a conversation with a collegue who discretky mentioned autism. I looked up on this and everything started to fall into place. Briefly my childhood was sad, traumatic and emotional. I spent some time I don't know how long, in foster care and a childrens home with my brother. I don't remember much of my childhood. during my teenage years I was disruptive at school, spent a lot of time on my own, played truant. I refused to go to school for my mum for approx 3 months when I was about 14 years. I wasn't naughty but stayed at gone tidying up . I recall constantly washing my hands for a period. I had an image and a weird sensation of sleeping on boards, and can sometimes occasionally experience this now. I cut all my hair off to be like the boys! I left school with 2 gcse's, knowing I could have done better and regretted it. I worked hard, always wanting to do a perfect job. I seemed to learn What people expected of me. I became promiscuous, thinking that this was the only way I could be close to someone. I could not recognise when someone truly liked me. I was often on my own. I went from one job to another! Continueing to live a destructive life but always in employment. In alcohol I would break my heart crying in public and could become angry in alahol. I have struggled with depression, low self esteem, obsessive thoughts all my life. Struggled to cope with demands and changes in my life and unexpected occurrences. I am articulate, very caring and supportive. My head feels full! Foggy! My memory is poor and I struggle to retain information! I have highs and lows and cannot hide my emotions. I have never married and had no children. I have few friends and most of my relationships with men have been based around sex. It's as though this is what is exoected of me. I went to see my doctor yesterday, she was very supportive and is going to refer me to the mental health team. However, I am concerned that they will dismiss me as they have in the past. Something is not right! Why do I feel different? I am a strong minded person. What do you think From reading this? I would appreciate your advice. Many thanks 

Parents

  • hello thank you this is very helpful. I have ordered the book that you mention. For my brother in particular who has seen many phsychiatrists over the years but none have come up with any thing other than anxiety, even indicating that David is a malingerer! David has had enough of these apontments for him nothing has changed. at his most recent visit to the psychiatrist David asked why do I talk to myself the reply he had was ...I don't know why do you talk to yourself? David wants to know what is wrong with him. from being a very popular boy with lots of friends he withdrew one reason he says was because he couldn't concentrate enough to listen to what someone was saying to him! He used to sit right up close to the to with the volume turned up high, my mum shouting at him to turn the to down! He has a high IQ and knew he was clever. He was one point from being on the Mensa register! i could go on one on! I know it will be very difficult for him to attend another appointment for yet another kick!! He always feels worse after! But I think I may have found something here that no one has mentioned before! David's words to me that I will never forget we're this is not a life style choice, do you think I like living like this!! I will prompt him to consider pursuing this with my support. this site is so helpful it feels like there is some compassion and understanding unlike what has been shown in the past. I would like to take this further for David. Why is it so difficult for the medical professionals to show some understanding instead of just offering medication?! The mental health system is appalling! I would consider paying for a private assessment for David but have read that this means little and does not have the same recognition as an nhs diagnosis. It is challenging to pursue this but is something that I think we need to do. Many thanks for reading and your advice and guidance.

Reply

  • hello thank you this is very helpful. I have ordered the book that you mention. For my brother in particular who has seen many phsychiatrists over the years but none have come up with any thing other than anxiety, even indicating that David is a malingerer! David has had enough of these apontments for him nothing has changed. at his most recent visit to the psychiatrist David asked why do I talk to myself the reply he had was ...I don't know why do you talk to yourself? David wants to know what is wrong with him. from being a very popular boy with lots of friends he withdrew one reason he says was because he couldn't concentrate enough to listen to what someone was saying to him! He used to sit right up close to the to with the volume turned up high, my mum shouting at him to turn the to down! He has a high IQ and knew he was clever. He was one point from being on the Mensa register! i could go on one on! I know it will be very difficult for him to attend another appointment for yet another kick!! He always feels worse after! But I think I may have found something here that no one has mentioned before! David's words to me that I will never forget we're this is not a life style choice, do you think I like living like this!! I will prompt him to consider pursuing this with my support. this site is so helpful it feels like there is some compassion and understanding unlike what has been shown in the past. I would like to take this further for David. Why is it so difficult for the medical professionals to show some understanding instead of just offering medication?! The mental health system is appalling! I would consider paying for a private assessment for David but have read that this means little and does not have the same recognition as an nhs diagnosis. It is challenging to pursue this but is something that I think we need to do. Many thanks for reading and your advice and guidance.

Children
No Data