Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm 36, so slightly late in life to be getting a diagnosis. Referred by the Mental Health team as they believed a Specialist ASD team would help with my Anxiety and Depression more than they could as I didn't respond to counselling/CBT is the normal way. My GP response to the referral was 'Oh I thought you had already been diagnosed' so it wasn't a surprise when the assessment team took less than 1/2 the 90 minute initial assessment to confirm the diagnosis.
That was 5 weeks ago, yet it took me until yesterday to be able to say it out loud for the 1st time and told my partner of 14 years. Although I expected the diagnosis it has left me feeling even worse as I feel it just confirms any negativity I thought about myself.
I am still awaiting my post-assessment follow up, but I was wondering what can I expect, where can I go for support.
In Addition, my company moved due to the Covid regulations and originally redundant I am now on a 6 month contract until the end of March to help the relocation, but soon will be looking for a new job.
I am no good at interviews as I struggle to connect with the interviewer and feel that I have no chance competing for a Job at the level I am currently at (I progressed within my current company). Should I disclose my ASD diagnosis to potential employers? I feel that if I do, they would not think me capable of holding a management level job. Any advice would be grateful.
dont disclose your ASD diagnosis wait until u are in the job for a while ( and therefore quiet valuable ) and know the company well particularly the HR dept. Your thoughts below are probably true. Wait for counter replies to get a balance.
Beepee1984 said: I feel that if I do, they would not think me capable of holding a management level job.
That's probably for the best but since I'd disclosed my neurosurgical condition to HR (Had to, the application asked if you were "registered disabled" (I don't know why, no one registers people disabled anymore....I was when they did) on the form and if so, how.....so of course, they read the form. I know you shouldn't have to disclose until asked or appropriate but the do get you on a bit of a bind with these online applications. But Beepee1984, I did wait about that long initially too.