Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi Everyone
I’m 35 and having done some reading over the past few days and online testing I’ve come to the realisation that I’m probably autistic
I think it’s quite mild and I’ve got good coping strategies as I don’t need any help really with my career, education or relationships. However working in the NHS I believe this means the chances of getting a formal diagnosis are pretty much nil and I don’t really want to get in the way of people more needing help and support
However, I now recognise that a wide variety of things I’ve always thought were either just me being weird or struggling with things that everyone else just gets on with, are actually quite classic autistic traits
I still think I’m processing a lot of this and don’t really know how I feel about it but I was hoping people might have advice on how to bring this up with people. I worry because a) I really struggle to talk about my emotions b) I don’t think people will take me seriously without a formal diagnosis and c) I think my parents will get quite upset. On the other hand though I want to be able to explain why I sometimes behave in ways that don’t make sense and seem hurtful to other people which I’ve never been able to articulate before
That’s it really, I’d love to hear from anyone that’s been in a similar position
It’s good that you’re coming to this realisation about yourself. Generally I think most people realise that they’re autistic before they get a diagnosis. I hope you can talk to those close to you about this - as it will help them to understand you a bit more (well - if they understand autism anyway). It is tricky - I understand that. My children are both autistic and that’s how it clicked with me that I am too. I’m just halfway through getting a diagnosis now with the nhs. I haven’t told my dad though that I’m autistic because I don’t think he’d understand - he’s not very educated about autism. He wouldn’t believe that someone who seems quite ‘normal’ on the outside is actually autistic. He wouldn’t get it so there’s no point in talking to him about it. My mum has dementia so I can’t tell her either.
I hope you have more luck in this way!
Thanks Kate. I have to admit I had some pretty inaccurate assumptions about autism until a few days ago so I do feel for the older generation. I actually think my parents may both suffer with autism/MH issues as well and can’t decide if this makes things easier or harder!