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post - diagnosis with ASD Aspergers as older adult

kittythehare

 I am 53 years old, married,have a good job, a degree and professional qualification, and live in a quiet corner of SW Scotland. Last summer I was diagnosed with Aspergers. The diagnosis came as a relief and has really helped me to understand why I am as I am!

I have found the NAS very helpful. However, I now feel that I am left kind of high and dry. There are no support networks in my area, nowhere that I can go to meet other Aspies socially. My husband is wonderful, of course, and my family but sometimes I could do with a chat with someone who's not a close relative. I get rather depressed at times because I feel very isolated.

I am also trying to cope with peri-menopausal symptoms but don't want to go to my GP because I don't want to take drugs/HRT etc.

All in all, I really feel like I'm climbing the walls some days. I shut down and feel totally alone.

Is there anyone else out there who is in a similar situation or who has any helpful suggestions? Thanks for reading.

Parents
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    kittythehare said:
     There must be so many folk who are diagnosed as adults - often at middle-age and beyond - and are then kind of left to get on with it. I appreciate that we have had many years to find our individual coping strategies but, nevertheless, I'm sure I'm not the only one who could do with some sort of follow-on to the mixed-blessing of diagnosis

    I think there's a feeling that if you've managed to cope so far then just go on coping, but the stress of constantly using these coping strategies can result in physical problems as you get older such as high lood-pressure, IBS and troubles with digestion. 

    When people actually reach retirement it's clear from  posts here and on other boards that many find they suddenly have nothing to fill their days if they are living on their own and even those with a partner discover that difficulties may arise in personal relationships once two people - one of whom is on  the spectrum - are thrown  together 24/7.

    Looking on the bright side, as more people of middle-age and beyond recognize what has been the problem all their lives pressure will mount to make diagnosis more easily available for those in this age range and once there is a sizeable number of angry and articlulate people demanding action hopefully more attention will be paid to our problems.  

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    kittythehare said:
     There must be so many folk who are diagnosed as adults - often at middle-age and beyond - and are then kind of left to get on with it. I appreciate that we have had many years to find our individual coping strategies but, nevertheless, I'm sure I'm not the only one who could do with some sort of follow-on to the mixed-blessing of diagnosis

    I think there's a feeling that if you've managed to cope so far then just go on coping, but the stress of constantly using these coping strategies can result in physical problems as you get older such as high lood-pressure, IBS and troubles with digestion. 

    When people actually reach retirement it's clear from  posts here and on other boards that many find they suddenly have nothing to fill their days if they are living on their own and even those with a partner discover that difficulties may arise in personal relationships once two people - one of whom is on  the spectrum - are thrown  together 24/7.

    Looking on the bright side, as more people of middle-age and beyond recognize what has been the problem all their lives pressure will mount to make diagnosis more easily available for those in this age range and once there is a sizeable number of angry and articlulate people demanding action hopefully more attention will be paid to our problems.  

Children
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