Hello, Newly Diagnosed, relieved and wanting to connect

Close...that was Whitley Bay.  The Tunnel of Love was a funfair ride at the Spanish City.  I worked in the chippy there as a kid in school holidays.  Happy days.

You probably know this already but your village was made famous in the lyrics of Tunnel of Love by Dire Straits. Another great song that I used to listen to all the time in my teens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAirINwjaxE

Thank you, I just read your blurb and it made me cry. With recognition and inspiration. Your fourth along the path, but it's one I want to walk along too. thank you for welcoming me to it. big smile

Haha...great song but the Coolercoats relates to the village in the NE where I live.  Thank you I will keep you updated re: assessment 

I hope that you can benefit from this forum.  I was around your age when receiving my diagnosis, High Functioning Autism.

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the diagnosis! It's an amazing feeling being diagnosed and the start to an exciting journey of self discovery.

Hi, I am recently diagnosed as well. I also would like to connect. Getting the diagnosis is indeed a relief, just finally getting the confirmation why are we the way we are.

Hello and wellcome to the community. I hope you find many friends here and wish you well on your journey of self discovery now you have a diagnosis.

Knowledge and understanding is helping me to slowly accept  this condition, I certainly feel much better about it now than I did at first.

There are numerous books published on autism, and reading has certainly helped me to learn and accept; however, books can be expensive, but ebooks are more affordable and, of course, libraries are free!

Ben

Hello Tamsyn

Thank you very much, It means so much to be able to talk with others. I feel i have watch life from the outside wondering how people manage the normal things, why I can't seem too. Now I know why and now it's time to understand and accept this difference. Ohhhhh there is tribe like me, how very exciting. 

I do feel I need to clarify. I'm also on the waiting list (about 1 year in, also have 2 more to go). I'm on the waiting list for the Maudsley.

But I have had an autistic screening with a specialist psychologist who I saw privately. Which is enough for me but they have pushed me to go for the full diagnosis as I have medical/health issues and I can't always follow the doctors in real time, I'm hoping that the autism diagnosis from the NHS will mean that the doctors give me a little more time and consideration when they're speaking with me.

I spoke to my dad about it, and it seems I was diagnosed when I was eight years old. And the psychiatrist told my parents not to tell me as I was evidently of low cognitive ability. Which I think reflects the views of autism in girls 40 years ago.

N

Much appreciated 

Gosh, thank you ben.

Things just get better it's such a supportive thing to write, I appreciate it a lot. So there is a gang of us late diagnosis individuals. I've never really been one for groups but feel so relieved to be here.

I have many questions. It is amazing to have a place to be able to ask those who know, and perhaps reduce my sense of isolation and oddness.

N

Coolercoats (I initially read Cooler Cats, and have a habit of picking up snippets of words, and finding some lyrics to worm around in my head, I am now singing cool for Cats. Is this just a meeting or an Auti thing?)

Good luck in two weeks. And as you say a clearer picture, I feel excited for you and thank you for reaching out it means ever such a lot. 

Thank you Bumper, I always felt that i missed lessons that others learnt. With frustration and sadness I look back at the amount of effort i put into trying to pretend to fit in. Years of studying behaviour just so I could learn how to connect with and be like normal people, I hear the shadow ringing of 'why can't you just be normal' from teachers and adults said to me as a child. It's a bittersweet joy to find this now. 

Is 55 now viewed as mid life? I hope so.... here to greater ease and self compassion for the time ahead.

N

Thank you for making me fell welcomed

Hi N, welcome to the forum and congrats on your diagnosis. I'm mid 40's too and currently on the waiting list (approx 2 years to assessment), but I've found this forum such a great place for support and feeling like I've found a tribe I belong to. Looking forward to getting to know you

Hello and welcome.

Ahhthatswhy........ Oh how well I remember that feeling. What an excellent screen-name.

Hello 'N', I was in your position about three and a half years ago, aged 67.

The one thing I've learned from this forum is that I am certainly not alone in receiving a late assessment / diagnosis.

I now have the answer to the great question regarding 'Ben', but oh how I wish I  had known earlier.

As ancient angst is resolved and perplexing puzzles are solved,  things just get better.

Hope you have a simiar experience.

Ben

Hi, welcome here to connect with others! I was diagnosed with the same symptoms as you at 42. The friends here have helped me a lot. I've gotten a lot better with this and I hope you do too.

__________

shell shockers 2

Hello I'm pre assessment....my assessment date is in 2 weeks.  I'm really late possible diagnosis too as I'm 51.  I feel I already have some understanding also...I've avoided social situations like the plague the older I got.  A diagnosis will finally join a few dots on the page and I'm hoping the picture will become clearer.  Good to see you on here.