Is it Autism and/or Mental Health?

I am awaiting an assessment, so I'm trying to remain open minded about which side of the line the assessors will put me in. However, I'm over it on every online test I've done almost every post on this forum or in my research seems to be a lightbulb 'me too' moment. So, I'd be surprised if they didn't minimum tell me there are a few strong traits.

It was a MH issue for me too which brought me to this point. But, for the seriously accute medical phobias, which are literally endangering me, involving episodes which look like tantrums including self-harm and an inability to speak or absorbed anything said to me, but which are anything but tantrums, and resulting in a general level of high anxiety, I could have gone my whole life just being a bit quirky.

What I have found so sad here is the sheer number of folks who likewise have, or have been thought to have, MH problems, and who don't seem to have been getting the right care and support. Either the possibility of ASD has been missed and have had a misdiagnosis, or it's acknowledged but nothing seems to be adapted for them.

By way of support, all I can say is, you are so not alone and if only the right help can be identified and provided, I'm sure our respective situations can't be hopeless. It's finding it and getting it that seems to be the challenge. 

I am 56 now, but I have raised a wonderful lad alone. Parenting had its challenges. Given my medical phobias pregnancy and my c-section were a nightmare. The thought of *** feeding was repulsive, so I didn't do it. I was very good at structured outings and educational inputs for my son, but absolute rubbish at the 'mummy, can you play with me?' moments. All I could do was sort and organise his toys. I wasn't a fun mum, but I was a gentle one. I guess I just acknowledged my short comings and ensured he had other people (relatives, child minders and other kids) in his life to provide play of the sorts I couldn't do. 

Just an idea, but perhaps they key to parenting for anyone, with ASD or not, is to identify the bits your good and what your not. And then see whether you can get good enough or whether there's some other way to ensure your child gets what they need. After all, unless we happen to have a maths degree, we probably aren't the person who will teach them algebra. I don't think any parent can provide everything a kid needs, but we can see to it that what they need is provided somehow.  Ultimately, all we ever have to bring to the relationship is ourselves and we all of us have something positive to offer our children that they will remember with affection in their own old age, I'm sure.

I am awaiting an assessment, so I'm trying to remain open minded about which side of the line the assessors will put me in. However, I'm over it on every online test I've done almost every post on this forum or in my research seems to be a lightbulb 'me too' moment. So, I'd be surprised if they didn't minimum tell me there are a few strong traits.

It was a MH issue for me too which brought me to this point. But, for the seriously accute medical phobias, which are literally endangering me, involving episodes which look like tantrums including self-harm and an inability to speak or absorbed anything said to me, but which are anything but tantrums, and resulting in a general level of high anxiety, I could have gone my whole life just being a bit quirky.

What I have found so sad here is the sheer number of folks who likewise have, or have been thought to have, MH problems, and who don't seem to have been getting the right care and support. Either the possibility of ASD has been missed and have had a misdiagnosis, or it's acknowledged but nothing seems to be adapted for them.

By way of support, all I can say is, you are so not alone and if only the right help can be identified and provided, I'm sure our respective situations can't be hopeless. It's finding it and getting it that seems to be the challenge. 

I am 56 now, but I have raised a wonderful lad alone. Parenting had its challenges. Given my medical phobias pregnancy and my c-section were a nightmare. The thought of *** feeding was repulsive, so I didn't do it. I was very good at structured outings and educational inputs for my son, but absolute rubbish at the 'mummy, can you play with me?' moments. All I could do was sort and organise his toys. I wasn't a fun mum, but I was a gentle one. I guess I just acknowledged my short comings and ensured he had other people (relatives, child minders and other kids) in his life to provide play of the sorts I couldn't do. 

Just an idea, but perhaps they key to parenting for anyone, with ASD or not, is to identify the bits your good and what your not. And then see whether you can get good enough or whether there's some other way to ensure your child gets what they need. After all, unless we happen to have a maths degree, we probably aren't the person who will teach them algebra. I don't think any parent can provide everything a kid needs, but we can see to it that what they need is provided somehow.  Ultimately, all we ever have to bring to the relationship is ourselves and we all of us have something positive to offer our children that they will remember with affection in their own old age, I'm sure.