New here

Aww thank you! Considering I had a hard time elsewhere online

Hi I am 50 and recently come to the conclusion that I am autistic, not diagnosed but I have applied to be assessed. The thing that I don’t get is how have I lived so long and neither myself or other people have noticed. Except I have noticed in the way I find things so stressful and my anxiety has always been so high and the things that make me feel calmer and grounded are a little unusual and I have always felt different. Here you will find many people like you, I have been here a very short time but love reading the threads and joining in. It’s a very welcoming place

Hi and welcome to the community! 

Please don't worry - it's absolutely fine to have used AI to help compose your post; it's a wonderful aid for that purpose.

I'm late diagnosed (almost two years ago), having first gone through the process of research and self-realisation, spending over two years on an NHS waiting list, and finally a re-referral and diagnosis via Right to Choose (more on that below).   

These NAS resources explain the main signs / symptoms / characteristics of autism:

NAS - What is autism?

NAS - Signs that a child or adult may be autistic

If you'd then like to learn more about getting assessed, this article is a good place to start:

NAS - How to request an autism assessment

It's from the NAS's diagnosis hub, which covers all stages of the process.

For those who live in England, it also includes information about requesting an assessment via Right to Choose (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).

The NAS articles include links to some screening questionnaires that you can complete, to get a better idea of whether your suspicions are correct. But you might prefer to use the website below for this. It provides a useful commentary for each questionnaire, and enables them to be completed online (with scores calculated for you), saved as PDFs and - if the results support your suspicions and you decide to seek a formal diagnosis - printed off to take with you to the GP.

The AQ-10 or AQ-50 seem to be the most frequently used / required by GPs in support of NHS referrals. (RAADS-R might also be helpful, but recent research has thrown doubt on its validity as a screening tool).

Embrace Autism - screening tests

Sending you a virtual hug, I'm pleased joining here has helped you.

Hi and welcome to the community, I’m 57 and was diagnosed last month. I had always known I’m different, just didn’t know why. I now feel like I’ve finally come home.

Your welcome.

Im pleased you have found someplace where you can share your experiences! 

Hi, thank you for your support. I can understand joining a forum can be nerve wrecking. I joined earlier this month but I was undecided whether to join or not but I decided to go for it and I’m glad I did

Thanks so much for sharing that with me. I feel so lucky to be connecting here 

Welcome. I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago after having challenges all my life so far. I’m 50 and I have a 10yr old who is diagnosed autistic also.

Totally relate to the masking and likewise have done it unknowingly.

Elfilis thanks so much for your reply. It's taken me days to get the courage to write on here so I really appreciate it. I'm sorry to hear about your PTSD. I hope your diagnosis gets you some help

Hello and welcome here. I’m a girl in my 20s and I got diagnosed with autism recently but I have also been diagnosed with C-PTSD on Monday so I’m still coming to terms with that. I am also awaiting a general assessment too. I hope you find this forum helpful