Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi
Registered a couple of weeks ago.
Already feeling at home here.
Thanks everyone for sharing their experiences and tips - really helpful. If I pick up any along the way, I'll share too.
I'm starting on my journey towards diagnosis as an adult partly because like many others I've always experienced that sense of not fitting in and have seriously suspected ASD for about 15 years now partly because we've had to get one of our daughters assessed (she's on the long waiting list for child assessments) so I owe it to her to get myself in order so I can help her through life and lastly because the natural chaos of family life and being peri-menopausal seem to bring out the worst of my ASD traits and my ability to mask and cope is wearing out - I need my workplace to adapt in order for me to continue working and in order for that to happen I feel I need a formal diagnosis.
Anyway - nice to meet you all.
ItsMyMind
Howdy. Welcome. :)
ItsMyMind said:I’ve been capable of riding things out in the past but now I’m just worn down by it. I’m at the stage where validation of my condition is vital for me
I can 100% relate to this. When I look back to things I've done ("successful" things) I can't imagine doing it now, and nor do I want to. I also feel worn out, "done", weary with the treadmill.
No problem
Thank you Duckbread; will be having a look at Purple Ella’s YouTube videos
Welcome!x
That's a long time to wait for a referral too! I know what you mean - I'm quite similar. I really hope you feel better soon and don't have to wait too long. It might be worth calling the assessment centre to find out what the wait times are usually like. While you're waiting, I've found Purple Ella's YouTube videos very helpful. She has lots of great tips (I think there's even a video on what you can do while waiting for diagnosis), so you might find some useful strategies that you can start trying now.
i test software so i work with developers all the time.
Life really is a journey, isn’t it? I had no idea how my life would change or how my ability to cope would fluctuate. I’ve been capable of riding things out in the past but now I’m just worn down by it. I’m at the stage where validation of my condition is vital for me. Thanks for your reply.
My brother is the same. He has Asperger traits but wasn't diagnosed. Now, he's a final year student at Magee - in Derry - studying software development. His placement year was spent at Randox Laboratories.
Thank you for sharing this; have started following straight away. Connecting with others is so important to me :-) Much appreciated
That’s very interesting, Aidie. Would you mind sharing your respective ages, out of curiosity? It’s great that your daughter is ‘working’ her Aspie traits to her advantage.
Thanks DuckBread :-) A year is a long time to wait. I’ve just managed to get my referral completed by my surgery after much too-ing and fro-ing (since July!!??). I’ll be phoning the assessment provider this week to find out about waiting times. I’m the sort of person who hits the wall all of a sudden; so when I finally get to breaking point (I’m there now) I have nothing left in the tank to keep me going so I’m not looking forward to a long wait for assessment :-(
Thank you Nessie. Makes me feel really welcome
I'm fortunate to have been diagnosed as a child. It's adult life that is the issue.
hi i did it the other way around i got my diagnosis first. now my daughter believes she is on the spectrum but doesnt mind or want a diagnosis ie she 's a "happy aspies" busy researching cancer
Hi,
You will find a number of resources and articles for women on the spectrum on these twitter feeds:
https://twitter.com/hashtag/autisticwomen?src=hashtag_click
https://twitter.com/unseenautism
Hi! Welcome to the group I'm in my 20s and currently awaiting my diagnosis; I also wanted to understand myself better and felt the need for adaptations at work. I've been on the waiting list for a year now. It's good that you're getting your daughter support at an early age - I hope you both get the answers you're looking for.
hello and welcome!
Hello ItsMyMind,
It's nice to meet you too. I'm so pleased you're feeling at home here. There are lots of friendly and knowledgeable people on these forums and I find them a great support too.
I hope both you and your daughter get the diagnoses and support you need. I totally get about hormone fluctuations bringing out the worst in your ASD, as well as burning out from masking and coping with day-to-day 'normality'. I hope your employer makes some reasonable adjustments for you in time. It sounds like you're well on your way to taking back control of your life, which is so inspirational to read.
Have a great day and see you about,
Nessie xx