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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?

Parents

  • 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

Reply

  • 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

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