Published on 12, July, 2020
I am a 45 year old woman and have always known there was something different about me but always thought I was just rubbish at life!
I have had mental health issues in the past and saw a psychiatrist for a while but was never diagnosed with anything, just told it was a possible mood disorder. Being autistic didn’t even cross my mind as at the time I didn’t have any knowledge of it then three years ago my daughter was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 13 and a lot of the things that were said made a lot of sense for myself and I started wondering if all the things I struggle with are because I am also autistic.
I did have a brief chat with my mum and she agreed but didn’t think I should persue it after the whole seeing a psychiatrist episode but it’s always been there at the back of my mind.
Last week I did a self-referral and have received a letter back saying that I have been accepted and am on the waiting list for an assessment. One thing it asks for is if I have someone that has known me since childhood that could attend an appointment. This is my question…..is it essential? None of my family live near me (I’m in the north and they are all down south) and I haven’t told them, nor do I want to. Is having someone come with me essential or can I just do this on my own?
I was diagnosed at 49. I had nobody to refer to, as well as nobody I wanted to refer to, for my childhood behaviours etc.
Although they do require some of this information because autism is a lifelong condition, it isn't absolutely necessary. I had so much personal evidence and stories of my experiences that my childhood didn't really come into it. I did however bring up some of my childhood, from my own memory.
My parents died a long time ago and I made it quite clear that I had no intention of involving my other family members due to age differences, health issues, and the fact I rarely speak to them. That, and I trust my own view of my experiences, over someone else's view.
So, it can be done, you just need to collect as much evidence as possible to back up your 'claim'.
Also, there is nobody else that I know now that i knew during childhood. That itself is a bit of a sign...
some of my childhood, from my own memory
I reported my history a few pages long as I had nobody to refer to my childhood. I think that clinched it more than and before the face to face.
Yes, probably.
I actually brought up my childhood at the end, because we'd not touched on it. I was told that the team had agreed that although it is usually a requirement I had provided so much context, so many meandering stories, that they were happy to diagnosis.
I forced some childhood stories on them anyway, just for good measure, haha.
But I think they'd already made the diagnosis.
forced some childhood stories on them anyway
Yes, I got one out too. lmao