Published on 12, July, 2020
I was diagnosed back in October of last year and since then I've just been a mess mentally, (worsening depression, anxiety, and self-hate). Before I was diagnosed, I was under the impression that I was struggling with just both anxiety and depression for most of my life and that these difficulties I've been having could be fixed. Now, however, I've been having difficulty coming to terms that I'm autistic, that the difficulties won't go away, and that I will have to find a way to work with them. I don't know how to accept myself.
I'm sorry you feel like this. I'm still struggling with self-acceptance two years after diagnosis, although it is slowly getting easier. Obviously your autism won't go away, but it is still possible for depression, anxiety and low self-esteem to improve in autistics; the fact that you are going to be autistic forever doesn't automatically mean that you will always suffer poor mental health as a result. I think acceptance can improve over time.
Is therapy of some kind an option? It might help you to process your thoughts and feelings faster or more easily.
It’s a common consideration that diagnosis has two affective steps to it: The first is elation that a window has opened; the second is to find out that the resources aren’t there.
‘GeniusWithin’ is a good charity for helping you find your way through the ‘mire’ that is Autism on-the-ground. Though you’ve got to be quick, the space fill up quick for counselling, at the start of the month..:)
‘Free Courses England’ have courses, you guessed it, for free. Level 2 Understanding Autism, is the name of the course, when you enrol they find a sponsor as a final step.
It has answered some lingering questions about myself but it has somewhat given me more. Hopefully, I will come to terms with the diagnosis.
That's helpful advice, I need to take things more slowly to come to terms with myself. I won't make the mistake again bottling up my emotions and problems again.
To be honest, I don't know where to look (I'll look into that understanding autism course). I feel like I was thrown into the deep end when I got diagnosed.
I don't know why I'm depressed, I thought the diagnosis would have helped me come closer to finding the cause. I feel like my depression is caused by multiple different factors.
Have you considered using Autism Resources in your area? Or have you found that you depression is a result of a lack of community resources?
Because I found that there was a catastrophic lack of resources in my area, so I signed up for an ’Understanding Autism’ course with free courses England. My take on the situation was that, I wasn’t going to let despair reclaim me because the community is ailing, if I cannot go under or through then I’ll go over..!
Hi. I was diagnosed at 28 and went through similar emotions. It is really tough to come to terms with. I can’t say you won’t have difficulties, but I can say that knowing the source of the issue can really help manage it and make it better. Knowing and identifying how you struggle in relation to ASD can help you make adjustments to your life to lower that anxiety and depression.
If you can afford it, I would recommend counselling with someone who specialises in autism. And people here will always listen and support!
Hope you feel better.
Hi welcome to the forum, sorry no one has replied sooner. It's a bit chaotic here rn.
Acceptance can take a long time, it's a lot to take in and process so try to be kind to yourself and don't rush yourself. Just take it slow and let everything sink in. Sorry about your mental health, that's something I'm very familiar with. Talk about how you're feeling if you need to, don't bottle anything up.
There are good times ahead. Better things. But you've got to get through the bad to get to them, which you will and can do. Just takes time.