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Can't cope with diagnosis

Emily001

I was encouraged to go for assessment for autism. I did and now they have said I'm autistic. This has made me very upset. I feel that now I have been diagnosed I will only ever be seen as autistic and I think I feel hopeless or lost.

Does anyone understand this? 

Parents

  • Hi Emily001,

    Yes, many of us here do understand what you're describing.

    You have just discovered something very profound about yourself.  It is perfectly fine, and not unusual, if you feel 'hopeless and lost' just now - I'm sure that many of us here reacted that way at first - I know I did!  And I'm also sure that many people here can assure you that those feelings will pass, and one day soon you will see this as a new beginning.

    The most important thing to remind yourself is that you haven't changed - you are still the same "you" that you have always been.  The only thing that has changed is that you have discovered a new name for some of life's challenges and wonders.  Your personality remains just as it was before, and there is no reason that anyone who loves you should love you any less.

    Try not to worry yet about how other people will react to your news.  You do not have to reveal your new discovery to anybody that you don't want to, and not until you are good and ready.  Most likely, the people who encouraged you to be assessed did so with the best of intentions, not because they want to 'judge' you in any way.

    Come back here as often as you need to.  No matter what emotions your new discovery brings out, nobody here will be judging you, and you will find people who have been there before you, and will be glad to talk things through.

    Be kind to yourself, and do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Reply

  • Hi Emily001,

    Yes, many of us here do understand what you're describing.

    You have just discovered something very profound about yourself.  It is perfectly fine, and not unusual, if you feel 'hopeless and lost' just now - I'm sure that many of us here reacted that way at first - I know I did!  And I'm also sure that many people here can assure you that those feelings will pass, and one day soon you will see this as a new beginning.

    The most important thing to remind yourself is that you haven't changed - you are still the same "you" that you have always been.  The only thing that has changed is that you have discovered a new name for some of life's challenges and wonders.  Your personality remains just as it was before, and there is no reason that anyone who loves you should love you any less.

    Try not to worry yet about how other people will react to your news.  You do not have to reveal your new discovery to anybody that you don't want to, and not until you are good and ready.  Most likely, the people who encouraged you to be assessed did so with the best of intentions, not because they want to 'judge' you in any way.

    Come back here as often as you need to.  No matter what emotions your new discovery brings out, nobody here will be judging you, and you will find people who have been there before you, and will be glad to talk things through.

    Be kind to yourself, and do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Children
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