Hi - Self - Diagnosed and unsure what to do next...

Hi and welcome. There are quite a few of us on here in our fifties and sixties - both self diagnosed and formally diagnosed - so you're not alone.

There are lots of books and videos available to help you understand yourself, and you can post any questions you have on here. Hope you find this forum useful.

Decent IQ and lots of mental effort. Like the way you put it. I'm still knackered post diagnosis, but I hope that will improve (age 54)

Welcome, by the way!

Book ordered. Should be here tomorrow. Good old Amazon.

P

Many thanks for this. I will take a look.

I think it is going to take time to take this all onboard...

Thanks again

P

Paul in Sussex said:

no wonder I have been knackered my whole life :

No wonder indeed! :)

Autistic fatigue - a guide for autistic adults

As advised (many thanks) I went to Embrace Autism - I took a couple of tests:

AQ: I achieved 37 / 50, apparently over 26 makes autism likely (I forget the exact terminology).

Aspie Quiz: 132 / 200. which equates to a 97% likelihood of being autistic.

Not exactly marginal results eh? It makes me wonder how I get out of bed in a morning... I guess a decent IQ and lots of mental effort - no wonder I have been knackered my whole life :- (

Regards

P

Hi Paul and welcome to the community!

Paul in Sussex said:

Are there reputable online tests for autism that I could take to have a better picture of where I am with this

I second Sphynx's suggestion of looking into the tests that are available on the Embrace Autism website. Notably, that website very helpfully enables you to complete the tests online and to save or print off the results (which could be useful for your therapist to see - and perhaps also your GP, if you ever decide to pursue a formal diagnosis).

The tests that are most commonly used in autism referral screening are AQ-10 and AQ-50. RAADS-R can also be useful.

Paul in Sussex said:

could anyone recomend a therapist?

Before embarking on therapy (or counselling), I recommend borrowing or buying this book, which several members here (myself included) have found very helpful:

The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy

This practical guide can help you to focus on finding both the right kind of therapist or counsellor and the right type of therapy or counselling for your needs.

The NAS's Autism Services Directory might help you with finding someone. For example: a search for "counselling" within a 20-mile radius of Newhaven generates four results:

NAS Autism Services Directory

Finally, you might also find it helpful to read the resources in the NAS's recently revamped diagnosis hub, which includes sets of articles covering before diagnosis, assessment and diagnosis, and after diagnosis. 

Hi Paul 

self diagnosis is valid, you know yourself better than anyone ever will, I was self diagnosed for 1 year and 6 months, 

I then began a official diagnosis process 1 year ago and recently got  my diagnosis of autism on the 18th September 

while I was as self diagnosed I read and listened to quite a few podcasts relating to being autistic and everything made sense to me

Hi Sphynx

Thanks for your input. I will take a look at the Embrace Autism website.

Regards

Paul

Hi Paul, 

Welcome to the community. That sounds like a disorientating experience with the ADD diagnosis and refutal... For online Autism tests the AQ (Autism Quotient) is one of the most commonly used in diagnostic assessments. The Embrace Autism website also has lots of others, some of which take into account masking and other autistic experiences not always considered in mainstream, neurocentric assessment processes. 

The Neurodivergent Therapists Directory is where I found my therapist, great range of practitioners there in different regions and with different presentations and specialisms.

I hope you find what you're looking for, and in the meantime (as well as afterwards) that this community can be a welcoming space for exploration too.