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Newly diagnosed at 37 - imposter syndrome

rustyb
over 1 year ago

Hi all,

So on Monday this week I was given the news that I “satisfy the criteria for a diagnosis of ASD”. I’ve always felt “on the outside” in life, and took the decision to look into a diagnosis last year after becoming so overwhelmed at a family wedding that I felt like I needed to run out of the building. 

I spoke with my GP, who was really understanding. I completed an AQ50 test and on the GP’s advice went through the Right to Choose ASD process with Psychiatry UK. I was sent some forms to complete, and then had a few months to wait before my assessment appointment. 

By the time my appointment came around, I was feeling in a much better place than when I first started seeking a diagnosis. I’d basically convinced myself that I would just be wasting the psychiatrist’s time, and would be sent away with my tail between my legs for wasting their time. 

So I was pretty taken aback when I got the news that I did in fact meet the criteria.

It’s been a bit of a mad week since the diagnosis. I’ve alternated between feeling like I’m imagining things and they’ve got it wrong, and re-examining my entire life through this whole new lens.

I’m just curious as to whether this is a common reaction amongst the recently diagnosed or not?

Parents
  • over 1 year ago

    It's a very common reaction. I think it's pretty much universal on this forum! Be gentle with yourself, it will take a while for the diagnosis to sink in.

  • over 1 year ago in reply to Luftmentsch
    Luftmentsch said:
    It's a very common reaction. I think it's pretty much universal on this forum!

    Having dug abut deeper into the forum, I’m beginning to see that now!

    Great to have a community like this to lean on. It’s been a strange week: one minute it’s the imposter syndrome; the next I’m getting bothered by things that hadn’t previously affected me pre-diagnosis - like I’m somehow “more autistic” than I was. 

  • over 1 year ago in reply to rustyb
    rustyb said:
    like I’m somehow “more autistic” than I wa

    Oh, I definitely get that too. I was actually diagnosed during the pandemic, and I'm not sure whether I'm less tolerant of certain things now because diagnosis made me realise that I struggle with them and that it's OK to want to avoid them, or whether it's because the lockdowns made me realise that the world could be quiet, less intensive and generally more autism-friendly.

Reply
  • over 1 year ago in reply to rustyb
    rustyb said:
    like I’m somehow “more autistic” than I wa

    Oh, I definitely get that too. I was actually diagnosed during the pandemic, and I'm not sure whether I'm less tolerant of certain things now because diagnosis made me realise that I struggle with them and that it's OK to want to avoid them, or whether it's because the lockdowns made me realise that the world could be quiet, less intensive and generally more autism-friendly.

Children