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Hello to you from me

Sparkey077

Hi, thought I would try to introduce myself. I am recently diagnosed autistic and adhd at 50yrs old. Joined here to speak to fellow ND people and find some community. I am trying to learn to navigate this world and find out how to advocate for myself since being given a massive piece of the puzzle that’s been missing my whole life. I am finding society harder than ever to manage.

I am quite solitary nowadays and enjoy a peaceful existence, finding most comfort in nature and under a tree canopy. 
Life has been a constant struggle and while growing up I found lots of quite unhealthy coping mechanism's to deal with what I now know was undiagnosed autism and ADHD. Thankfully today I don’t turn to them as been in recovery for around 10 years. 

Recently really struggling with being misunderstood and I have found myself in conflict with people while trying to stand up for myself and not be bullied. It’s really hard to advocate for yourself when having a meltdown I now know. I hope someone can relate. Experience welcomed. 

Parents

  • Hi - congratulations on your diagnoses and welcome to the community! Slight smile

    In respect of autism, you might find the resources here helpful:

    NAS - After diagnosis

    I'd encourage you to give yourself plenty of 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 instant 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

Reply

  • Hi - congratulations on your diagnoses and welcome to the community! Slight smile

    In respect of autism, you might find the resources here helpful:

    NAS - After diagnosis

    I'd encourage you to give yourself plenty of 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 instant 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

Children
  • in reply to Bunny

    Hi  thank you for the message and the links. I will check them out. I do feel some therapy will be helpful now but the costs are a bit prohibitive for me currently and the NHS are so backed up and under resourced that it feels pointless asking. This all sounds so negative, but actually it’s been so good to get the diagnosis, as it’s given me a new understanding that has been missing my whole life.