Lost

Hi, I was diagnosed with autism 2 weeks ago, I’d been on the waiting list 18 months. I also have significant mental health problems. I thought the autism diagnosis would help me in understanding why I don’t understand life, but all I feel is lost and confused. I don’t know who I am anymore.

i also have a 17 year old son with autism, he was diagnosed when he was 14.

Parents
  • Take your time to let it all sink in and do some investigation. You already found your way here. 

    To me it was like a mourning process, And it also surprised me that after the diagnosis they don't offer some more help, after all it is a condition without cure or specific goto-medication.

    Talking to a psychologist could also help. 

    To me what makes all the difference is taking lots of time, having my special interests (watches, atheism,... ) and spending enough time looking information about these topics, and doing things at my own slow pace and trying as much as possible to reduce stress. 

Reply
  • Take your time to let it all sink in and do some investigation. You already found your way here. 

    To me it was like a mourning process, And it also surprised me that after the diagnosis they don't offer some more help, after all it is a condition without cure or specific goto-medication.

    Talking to a psychologist could also help. 

    To me what makes all the difference is taking lots of time, having my special interests (watches, atheism,... ) and spending enough time looking information about these topics, and doing things at my own slow pace and trying as much as possible to reduce stress. 

Children
  • Thank you, it’s good to have people that understand. Our phone and internet went down yesterday, so me and my son sat and watched a couple of DVDs, totally different to my normal routine, I was surprised at quite how much it threw me.

     I’m still not over it today. Thankfully my CPN was able to get my phone line reconnection prioritised because of my mental health difficulties. So it’s sorted but I’ve shut down, can’t even think about what we’re having for tea, so getting a McDonalds.