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AJK

Hi I am new here, I have been told by my Psychiatrist that I have got autistic traits. I asked if I could be referred for a diagnosis and was told that I am in the system, whatever that means. Should I push for a diagnosis? I struggle to get on in society I do try and fit in but find it really difficult mixing with people, do you think I would get support if I had a diagnosis as at the moment I feel very alone. 

  • Hi! Good to have to you here! 
    I don’t know about support systems in the UK so I can’t say anything about that. But getting a diagnosis or even just realising for yourself that you might be autistic can be of great value nonetheless. It gives you the ability to learn a bit more about yourself and to maybe find coping strategies. You say that you’re getting on in society by trying to fit in. Although this might be a temporary fix, “masking” can lead to serious issues such as autistic burnout. You should assess how much energy this “fitting in” is taking from you to avoid breaking down and falling in to the deep hole of burnout.

  • Welcome to the forum.

    You will find lots of people here like you, who also struggle with "fitting in".

    Whether you would get support if you had a diagnosis depends on the outcome, but it seems it's very hard to get. I managed to get adjustments to my working environment before I retired without a formal diagnosis, but it depends on the employer.

    It takes a while to process the realisation that you are on the spectrum, so give it time and read about it before deciding whether to chase up a diagnosis. Even if you are already on the waiting list it can take years. In the meantime, ask us any questions you have.

  • Hi and welcome to the community!

    You might find it helpful to read through the various resources in the NAS's recently revamped diagnosis hub:

    NAS - diagnosis hub

    They cover all stages of the process, with each section containing several articles relating to that stage:

    • Before diagnosis
    • Assessment and diagnosis 
    • After diagnosis 

    For example, these articles (from "Before diagnosis") might make for a particularly timely read:

    NAS - Signs that a child or adult may be autistic

    NAS - Deciding whether to seek an autism assessment

    If you live in England, you might also like to consider requesting that assessment be routed via the Right to Choose pathway (which enables access to private providers who might have shorter waiting lists than the NHS, but with your referral and assessment still fully funded by the NHS).

    Some examples of Right to Choose providers are listed here, for example:

    ADHD and ASD assessment – Right To Choose