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Feelings after diagnosis

chuckalicious

I, I've posted here before but since my last post I have had my asd assessment amd have all but been formally diagnosed as being on the spectrum and specifically aspergic. I have one more form to complete for my next apappointment but the person who did the assess!sent said she was certain but still needed that questionnaire done. 

Now, I've always known that I was different and that I was pretty sure I was going to be told I was on the spectrum. 

However, I had always imagined the diagnos would be a relief, allowing me to go a bit easier on myself. 

But now that I am at that point, I don't feel that at all. If anything I'm now questioning if the diagnosis is right, am I a fraud etc. My anxiety just will not give me a break. 

She also asked where I wanted to go from here. She gave me the contact details for a service which specifically helps adults with autism with things like social skills training to finding a job. And now I'm asking myself, where do I want to go with this? Do I want to get better at making lasting friendships or do I want to allow myself to be happy with how things are and not chasing somethin that inevitably won't be good for me. 

Has anyone else gone through anything like this?

I should add I'm male, 35 and married with 2 kids, who I look after full time at home. 

Thank you

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    If you are depressed then almost any news will be seen in a more negative light and this may have contributed to you not feeling great when told of the diagnosis.

    My understanding of this is that a lot of the anxiety and depression is generated by our inability to interact successfully with the world at large. The result of clattering about in the world accumulates and we end up in anxious and depressed states. Many people with autism find that drugs are of limited benefit and the recommended treatment is to have CBT. I have had depression and more latterly anxiety attacks in the past and can look back on what I was like before I started to work things out and try and work with a knowledge of the autism rather than in ignorance of the impact it was having. I always avoided drugs as I had seen that my father was on them for so long and it never really resolved anything for him. In hindsight, he had autism too and would have benefited from the insight that can be gained from a diagnosis.

    Look forwards, the diagnosis should be the start of a new chapter in your life. I felt it was like discovering a missing manual to 'me' and suddenly I could figure out what had been going wrong for years.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    If you are depressed then almost any news will be seen in a more negative light and this may have contributed to you not feeling great when told of the diagnosis.

    My understanding of this is that a lot of the anxiety and depression is generated by our inability to interact successfully with the world at large. The result of clattering about in the world accumulates and we end up in anxious and depressed states. Many people with autism find that drugs are of limited benefit and the recommended treatment is to have CBT. I have had depression and more latterly anxiety attacks in the past and can look back on what I was like before I started to work things out and try and work with a knowledge of the autism rather than in ignorance of the impact it was having. I always avoided drugs as I had seen that my father was on them for so long and it never really resolved anything for him. In hindsight, he had autism too and would have benefited from the insight that can be gained from a diagnosis.

    Look forwards, the diagnosis should be the start of a new chapter in your life. I felt it was like discovering a missing manual to 'me' and suddenly I could figure out what had been going wrong for years.

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