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Hello and Thanks For Having Me

Galaxy42

Hello everyone, I'm Stu.

I received my official diagnosis for autism just before Xmas, but it's been expected for quite some time. I have also been advised to be assesed for ADHD & OCD too.

I'm a 50 year old male who probably should have seen the signs 40 years ago.

Over the years I have been diagnosed with several things. Depression, Anxiety, Fibromyalgia amongst others.

Looking back, it seems so obvious and how others didn't spot the clues along the way is beyond belief.

I'm glad to to finally have an answer, but now feel compelled to find out everything I possibly can and any help, advice or direction would be greatfully accepted.

Parents

  • Hi Stu - congratulations on your diagnosis and welcome to the community!

    During the period following a diagnosis, it can be common for us - especially as late-diagnosed adults - to experience emotional dysregulation. Besides feeling relief about getting our diagnosis, this can also include working through a phase where we experience (backward-focused) anger, frustration, grieving and more. So please don't worry if you experience this - it's normal! 

    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:

    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

    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.  

    Therapy is often recommended after a diagnosis, as a follow up action for your GP to arrange. 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

  • in reply to Bunny

    Thank you, I appreciate this & will dive right in.

    This hasn't come as a shock, I've been expecting the diagnosis for 18 months or so. If anything, it's come as a relief, although I must say there is some rage over nobody spotting this earlier, the 80 you weren't autistic, you were just weird and naughty woman shrugging: light skin tone

    A lot makes sense now, but there's lots of learning ahead.

Reply
  • in reply to Bunny

    Thank you, I appreciate this & will dive right in.

    This hasn't come as a shock, I've been expecting the diagnosis for 18 months or so. If anything, it's come as a relief, although I must say there is some rage over nobody spotting this earlier, the 80 you weren't autistic, you were just weird and naughty woman shrugging: light skin tone

    A lot makes sense now, but there's lots of learning ahead.

Children