Hello

Thank you!

Thank you. Yes I've discussed it with my husband and he is supportive and encouraging me to look into it more.

Thanks for the advice regarding the GP, I'll bear it in mind!

Thank you. I'm a little anxious about going to the GP to be honest. Part of me feels silly to be going to them about this because I'm an adult, even though I know that doesn't really make sense. I think maybe it's fear of being laughed out of the place.

I've been back and forth over going since I booked the appointment in October. My husband has thankfully been very supportive and has persistently convinced me to keep the appointment. 

With regards to the GP offering antidepressants, I'm afraid I won't be a great example as I do also have depression and anxiety, and so already take sertraline! Though to be fair, a lot of my depression seems to surround me not feeling normals, struggling with socialisation and relationships, and not being able to connect with my emotions very well. I've always just felt really odd.

Thank you. I was debating whether I even should try for a diagnosis, but I so have difficulty in the workplace and it would be good to have just for that really. I'm glad this place exists though, I wouldn't have had anyone to talk with if not.

Thank you. I never even thought of sleep contributing!

Hi, thank you. That makes a lot of sense actually. I struggle a lot with sounds and physical touch being very overstimulating too, and where I've largely been able to avoid triggering situation, I just can't do that with kids.

HI MB93

Welcome to the community.

It sounds like you've got a lot on your hands - especially with a couple of young children.
You say that your husband has noticed that you are struggling - have you had a conversation with him about the potential of being autistic? If not, then I strongly urge you to do so, because you simply cannot have too much support through what is typically a very frustrating and drawn out process.

I found that whilst my GP wasn't dismissive of the idea that I may be autistic, she really didn't provide any help in getting me to the point of the assessment waiting list. Mental health services were also on the whole next to useless, although I did eventually get a support worker who understood the process.

What I'm saying is go for it, but be under no illusion that its going to be a smooth ride.
I say this with the very best intention and wish you well in your journey.
Hopefully you will be able to find a lot of guidance here.

Welcome

Hi mardy bum...love that song 

If there is one piece of advice I can give you is this, depending on your gp, if at all your gp tries to brush things off or play things down, please be strong, speak up for yourself as best you can and don't leave until you feel your gp is taking you seriously and either refers you, or gives you a number for self referral.

When my second child was approx 18 months old, that was the first time ever I went to my gp as I simply could not cope, he kept insisting I was depressed, back then I wasn't, just desperate. Upon refusing anti depressants he then offered me iron tablets. I cried all the way home that day, and have probably cried most days since, and that was neat 30 years ago. Eventually to cut a long story short, I was diagnosed autism/adhd aged 49, I am now 54.

I also took my very introverted son to the doctors aged approx 14, expressed all my concerns, explained everything and was sent away. My son was diagnosed autistic this year aged 30. 

I have recently just spoke to my grandchilds teacher, explaining I see enough traits in my grandchild for me to see the red flags, so fat I haven't been to impressed with response given. Have things improved...Time will tell.

So my advice is, please don't leave your GPS surgery deflated, feeling misunderstood and like you are going mad, because a lifetime of struggle and masking will drive you mad. 

I'd also be interested to know if your doctor offers you sertraline or citalapran, it seems to be doctors first suggestion, you're depressed take these. 

Let us know how you get on .

Hello Mardybum (great name btw), I am Number.

You have joined these pages at an uncharacteristically fractious time.....but please don't let that scare you off.  It is normally MUCH calmer and less fighty!  I'm genuinely not sure why.

Anyhow - back to you.

Firstly, don't worry about "your status" as being without a formal diagnosis.  MANY here are in that boat, but are undoubtedly autistic.  MANY here have chosen not to seek a diagnosis because the practical benefits of doing so are "de minimis" although the KNOWING and ACCEPTING one's autistic reality is definitely key (in my opinion) and formal diagnosis can help with that.

Secondly, don't worry about family members being dismissive - MANY here have that problem....in skip loads!

And finally, I also hope that his community might be able to help you with talking about all this stuff.  In the past, that has been the case with MANY souls who explore this place - not all, by any means - but enough to make it REALLY significant for many of us who have arrived here....and stayed.

Anyway - bedtime is upon me.  I hope to see you around on a different page sometime soon.

Kind regards

Number.

Most people who research autism and feel that they fit the bill, are autistic. Not many non-autistics ever feel that they might be, it just doesn't occur to them. So, if you feel that a diagnosis would be useful to you, please do not be put off seeking one. Also many autistics have sleep problems and having a small child and a baby is going to make sleep even more problematic than it would be for an allistic mother. This will tend to erode the masking abilities that you have perfected over the years and leave you extremely exhausted.

Hello and you are very welcome here. 

What you are describing is called masking and it’s exhausting, so the additional effort and energy requirements of looking after young children has probably just pushed you beyond your energy levels and so the mask has slipped.

Not so different to what set me on my journey to a diagnosis.