Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi. New here. I’ve been waiting for an assessment for ages and have received communication that I should get an appointment within the next few weeks. The process has been outsourced to The OWL Centre but it’s through the NHS. I am in Dorset.
Anyways I’m just suddenly feeling super anxious about the whole thing cos I don’t really know what the process will entail and also have the “what if they say I’m not autistic?” panic going on too.
I have thought I am autistic for over a decade and have identified as such for the last couple of years. I would like the formal diagnosis though because sometimes I get a sense that people don’t believe me when I explain how I experience the world (is that common?)
Any info and reassurance would be very welcome!
Thanks :)
Hi,
Welcome home. Exciting news about the appointment, sounds like you've been waiting a really long time for it
It's totally normal to feel anxious about the process and the ultimate result. I'm happy to provide details on the assessment if that would reduce your anxiety?
Regardless of the outcome, you can still identify as autistic. I completely understand that you want a formal diagnosis however if you don't get it then that doesn't suddenly stop you from being autistic, just means the person who assessed you wasn't very intelligent. Yes very common for people not to realise how difficult life is for us, in my opinion getting a diagnosis doesn't always help with that, some people just really don't have a clue
Alisha xx
Thank you so much you’ve made me laugh and cry and feel better and welcome all at the same time!
I’m a bit anxious that they won’t ask the right questions or give me space to elaborate where necessary. Also I have my sister who is five years older than me to come with me but nothing from parents or childhood apart from my own recollections. I’m 42, my parents are not interested. I worry I won’t have enough concrete evidence outside of my own experience if that makes sense?
Again thank you so much, it’s so nice to be believed without having to justify or explain!