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New Late Diagnose, new to the platform!

KuriouslyAutistic44

Bountiful Greetings everyone! I am 44 years of age; woman of color who just yesterday was told I am on the autistic spectrum as well as bipolar type 1. However, I am not sure about the second part when I relate more to being Autistic with ADHD. I am new to this platform and looking for people to learn from; educate myself with; and discover with. I am from the US and support systems here are kind blink especially in the Midwest.

I am super into Anime, wearing cozy fuzzy and colorful clothes, especially in the wintertime. I am highly creative so crafting; crocheting, doodling, artsy stuff I am ALL into. Nature is my jam and my sanctuary. The forest seems to be the only place I feel at ease, at home with myself and lovingly supported.

I have always felt alien or like I was adopted because my brain and being operated so differently. Life recently just have been super challenging to navigating and all the "falsehoods or mask" I've worn to survive this world has "worn out". So I am in the process of unbecoming in order to BE who I've always been. 

I would really like to hear your experiences with how you knew you were autistic, how did you cultivate healthy support systems, and what were some things you did right after you knew you were autistic?

  • I got diagnosed late in life . Always known I am different , people always told me am different.. it s nice to known why now but it does not help the feelings you have . It explains a lot . I think everyone different in their own way any way 

  • in reply to Emmalephant

    Hi Emmalephant! I'm 18 and love biology and animals too. People here are indeed wonderful! 

  • Hi! I've been here less time than you but I'm glad to see the people who has also joined recently. I'm an 18 year old girl and I can relate to nature being your place. You seem really nice. I hope we can all, newly diagnosed, get to healthy support systems, as you said. 

  • Congratulations on your diagnosis and welcome to the community!

    The NAS has a great set of articles focused on "after diagnosis", including one covering how you might feel during the subsequent days / weeks / months. You might find them of interest and/or helpful.

    With the NAS being a UK-based charity, their resources (including many of the included links for accessing further information and/or support) are, of course, UK-focused, but the principles are still universal :)

    NAS - How you might feel after a diagnosis

    NAS - Other advice covering post-diagnosis including:

    • Talking about and disclosing your autism diagnosis
    • Emotional support for family members after a diagnosis
    • Formal support following an autism diagnosis
    • What can I do if formal support is not offered or is not enough

    KuriouslyAutistic44 said:
    what were some things you did right after you knew you were autistic?

    In terms of what to do next, my advice at this point (ie soon after your diagnosis) would be to try and give yourself some time and breathing space to process and absorb everything that you've been through, and let your feelings settle down.

    For me, as for many others here, my diagnosis turned out to be much more of the start of a new journey, rather than a conclusion full of ready-made solutions for my various difficulties. 

    I began my own journey with this book:

    Self-Care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask! (link is to the US Amazon store)

    Therapy is often recommended after a diagnosis. You might find it helpful to borrow or buy this book, which includes discussion of various types of therapy and counselling, together with advice on choosing the right therapist or counsellor - all from an autistic person's viewpoint. Several of us here have found it very helpful, myself included:

    The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy

  • Hi and Welcome to the community! Congratulations on getting your diagnosis, your explanation why you always felt different. I’m on my way, but kinda also know or at least suspect the why. I’m also learning and I’m happy to be here and I wish you find here support and connections you need. I’m crazy about aliens, I also like graphic designing and currently that’s it. And I can say I’m also obsessing about autism itself. 
    Edit: have you ever seen ufo?

  • Welcome, we all trying to navigate our way the best we can. I think many of us have a sense of otherness, that we don't quite fit. Being told that a maybe autistic was a lightbulb moment, it just explains so much of my "disconnect".

    I also feel more settled in the great outdoors, walking with my dogs is the closest I get to a sense of peace.

  • in reply to Bluebird

    Hi Bluebird! Thank you for responding!  I have been doing my research and read about the misdiagnosis of bipolar as well. However, I strongly believe AuHD is more accurate for me. However, this is the journey, understanding myself and trusting who I am versus the lack of knowledge of some mental professionals.  

  • Hi! I'm from the US too. I have heard that bipolar is a common misdiagnosis given by mental health professionals who are unfamiliar with ASD (which should be an oxy moron but, sadly, is not).

  • Hello and welcome to the 'Latelings' club.

    I have found this place to be supportive and welcoming. Just remember that we are all different but the same, so you may agree or disagree with the answers given to your queries.

  • Hi and welcome to the forum. Although it's UK based, it's nice to hear from our American "cousins".

    I'm a woman in my sixties, and when I was in my mid fifties I was watching a TV documentary about autism which featured an autistic woman and I thought "I'm like that!" This prompted me to research autism and I found the AQ50 screening test (which is used by medical professionals) and when I took it and got a result of 42, to say I was shocked is maybe an understatement!

    Around that time I was suffering with depression and anxiety, and I mentioned to my doctor that I suspected I was on the autism spectrum. He advised what tests I should do and asked me to send him the results, and he then agreed with me but said he didn't see the point of referring me for a formal diagnosis as I wouldn't get any support, because I was able to work.

    I then found this forum and read about other people's experiences and asked for advice, after which I decided not to pursue the formal diagnosis and to stay self diagnosed, or as we sometimes call it - "self discovered". I don't need or want an official label - I'm just me - but everyone is different and for some it is reassuring and affirming.

    I'm retired now, but I was still working when I discovered I was on the spectrum. I reduced my working hours, and later I requested and was granted adjustments to my working environment, so that I didn't have too much noise or bright lighting to deal with.

    I started to realise why I sometimes had meltdowns or shutdowns, I explained to people I was close to why this happened, and I learned to schedule my days to include space and time to recuperate. I also did my best to stop masking and people pleasing.

    In your post you said:

    KuriouslyAutistic44 said:
    I have always felt alien or like I was adopted because my brain and being operated so differently.

    I can definitely identify with this sense of "difference" - when I was a child, I also wondered if I was adopted and once when observing other kids playing at school I wondered if I was the only real child there and they were all robots. (Most autistic people seem to view it that they are the "alien", but I seem to see it the other way around!)

    I hope you enjoy chatting with us.

  • Hi! Good to have you here! The people here are really helpful and welcoming. l’m 18, living in Germany and just joined a few days ago. I do not have a formal diagnosis, so I’m honestly not sure if I’m autistic, just relating to the diagnostic criteria.

    I’m really into elephants, whales, wildlife in general, medicine, biology, quite a number of books (especially fantasy e.g. Good Omens, Harry Potter, Dune) and a broad variety of shows (e.g. Good Omens again, Big Bang Theory, Modern family, BBC’s Sherlock).

  • in reply to SpikeyMark

    Thank you so much for responding back! This platform seemed pretty cool. What prompted you to get assessed for autism and what have been your experience since the diagnosis?

  • Welcome! it's nice to have you here. and congratulations on the diagnosis. I found out in early Summer aged 54. This place is pretty good but quiet at the moment.