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What do you wish you'd known about autism right after diagnosis?

Aiden

Hello! I'm Aidan and new to the community, I was diagnosed about four days ago.

I'm trying to learn as much as possible to try and adjust to it as quickly as possible. So I'm just interested about what knowledge or support services that you may have now but wished you'd had right after diagnosis?

I'm just trying to get it all understood quite quickly.

Thanks for any responses and it's nice to be fully diagnosed and here!

  • I wish I'd known I could have a needs assessement, I was diagnosed and just left to get on with it, the thought seemed to be that I'd gone 50 years managing and that I could manage for the rest of my life, there was no consideration that I had needs that might have been part of the reason I sought diagnosis in the first place.

  • You ask "what do you wish you'd known about autism right after diagnosis?"........and for me, the best answer is that......

    "Diagnosis actually changes virtually nothing at all."

    I am sorry if this sounds like a negative answer, because it is not intended to be anything other than an honest answer to the question you asked.

  • Hi Aiden - welcome, am another later diagnosed , Jan this year.

    What I have done - is joined a few online workshops by a local Autism support group - so good to meet (see and hear others), much like being on this forum.

    I'm had therapy mainly for my anxiety - this is covered by my health insurance - but have limited sessions left, but this has been helpful so far

    I'm now reaching out to my NHS Talking Therapies - not sure what to expect from that, but will see have an appointment in May so hopefully one Therapy will end and another begin.

    I've not disclosed to many including close family , I did my first friend (well someone I see once a year) disclosure last weekend - if I do that again, I think I need to be better prepared for some of the standard replies we're likely to face.

  • Welcome. I was diagnosed just before Christmas so I'm relatively new to this as well.

    I think research is the key along with self exploration, I found talking to a psychologist helpful, thankfully I have Bupa insurance as waiting for the NHS is desperately frustrating.

    I wish there was more specific ASD help within the mainstream NHS as accessing it seems a bit of a lottery. I was using a NHS mental health clinic as I have issues with low mood and anxiety, as soon as I told them of my assessment they discharged me as I have a neurological development condition and not a mental health condition, obviously I'd been magically cured by my assessment.

    Be kind to yourself, try and find time to understand what impact autism has had on your life. 

    For me, I'm trying to separate myself from my diagnosis, I am autistic person, it is what I am but not who I am. (If that makes sense)

    Good luck and take care.