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Newly diagnosed at 52 and struggling

NAS96052

Hello

I'm a 52 year old woman and recently diagnosed as autistic.  I feel so sad and angry and am struggling.  I've always known I was wrong and very different but just plodded along, tried to fit in.  

I've had depression, anxiety and OCD since I was 19 but with no real relief from medication. If medicine doesn't work what does?  I'm mourning the life I could have had if I'd had support all those years ago. I know times were different but I'm drowning in questions. Would I have stayed in my career longer, could I have saved my marriage, would my relationship with my 3 daughters be better, 2 of which are autistic?  The list is endless. 

Does the anger pass?  My GP has been brilliant but I'm cross with him. I've had numerous chats with him over the years.  Why didn't he pick up on it?  

What difference will the diagnosis make?  I feel too old for it to matter anymore.  My mind feels scrambled and if I'm honest I'm scared for the future. How do I know if my symptoms are due to depression, anxiety, autism, ocd or the menopause?

I just feel very alone.

Thank you

Parents

  • I was 60 when I was diagnosed. Instead of being angry, I was quite relieved because it was good to know why I was the way I was. 

    Why are you angry? Your post would suggest that you are struggling with regrets. I myself regret thte fact that I wasn't diagnosed with autism much earlier in life. Intead of being diagnosed with autism, I was initialy diagnosed with depression and water later diagnosed with social anxiety disorder.

    Since I have a literal mindset, I lost these regrets fairly quickly. 

    It seems to me as though you have a choice. You may choose to be angry and to wonder what might have been or you can accept what is and move on. While you cannot change the past, you can change the present and the future. The choice is entirely yours. 

  • in reply to Retired Teacher (NAS96182)

    Sorry to hear you are struggling. I am 55 and still waiting for an assessment. I am certain I am autistic though. I have gone through a feeling of mourning and regret but now I’m just trying to readjust. I was diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder in my 20s and told to ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’. I did but it didn’t stop me being anxious and now I know why. On the one hand it would have been nice to know why I struggled but on the other maybe I wouldn’t have done so much if I’d known earlier? I pushed myself through many sensory difficulties and terrifying for me social situations and met some great friends as a result of doing that. Also there wasnt as much understanding of autism around when we were younger so I doubt we’d have been met with much compassion. 

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  • in reply to Retired Teacher (NAS96182)

    Sorry to hear you are struggling. I am 55 and still waiting for an assessment. I am certain I am autistic though. I have gone through a feeling of mourning and regret but now I’m just trying to readjust. I was diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder in my 20s and told to ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’. I did but it didn’t stop me being anxious and now I know why. On the one hand it would have been nice to know why I struggled but on the other maybe I wouldn’t have done so much if I’d known earlier? I pushed myself through many sensory difficulties and terrifying for me social situations and met some great friends as a result of doing that. Also there wasnt as much understanding of autism around when we were younger so I doubt we’d have been met with much compassion. 

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