I'm 31 years old and female, and recently referred myself to the adult autism diagnostic team. I've had problems with social situations for as long as I can remember - even when I was at playgroup aged 3 I remember sitting in the book corner rather than joining in with the other children because I was confused by them. I've always been really sensitive to sensory stimuli, easily overwhelmed, and obsessive. When I was younger it was all about categorising dogs, now I'm into butterflies (and when I say into, I mean I read butterfly identification books like other people read novels, heh. My partner thinks I'm odd. She's quite right!). I also have a tic disorder, so I know I have other neurodevelopmental issues, and I've had problems with depression, and eating since just before my teens. But because I come across as intelligent, people have always seemed to mistake my lack of social skills for arrogance or aloofness, because clever people aren't supposed to find 'simple' things like conversations or coping in office environments or going out on the town incredibly overwhelming and impossible. I actually really like people and wish I could make friends more easily, I just really suck at it!
I'm really nervous about being assessed, partly because I'm so bad at communicating with people I don't know, and partly because my parents won't get involved. They are refusing to have anything to do with it because they don't want to think of anything being 'wrong' with me. I've had tics and anxiety problems since I was 4, so it shouldn't be news that I'm not neurotypical! I don't see things that way at all anyway, I just see this as a potential explanation for things I've found hard. And I also think that there are good aspects to the way my brain works. I love spotting patterns, I have a weird way with words that my partner thinks is hilarious, and I really enjoy getting absorbed in things I'm interested in.
I basically just wanted to ask if anyone could tell me a bit about the process of being assessed as an adult, and particularly if anyone has had an assessment without involving their parents, because it's really unlikely that mine are going to come around to the idea any time soon.
