Newly diagnosed at 56

Hello all

I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago.  I felt validated and seen initially, also relieved, but now I am having to reframe a whole life of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. I'd had no idea until it was suggested a few months ago. At 15, after relentless physical assaults at school I became, what I was told was agoraphobic, with depression, and anxiety. I wasn't able to go to school from then on as I couldn't leave home. I now believe it was autism burnout after going through the events with my therapist. My parents were threatened with court action: I was then admitted to an adolescent mental health unit for 6 months, some way from home, where they treated me with exposure methods to overcome agorophobia. It The whole experience was traumatic.  Now, it seems apparent it was all down to autism, and I never had agoraphobia, in fact they don't seem to have diagnosed anything correctly and missed a neurological disease that  caused vertigo instead telling me it was caused by anxiety.

I feel cheated and all the trauma, mis labelling makes me feel so angry. It feels like my whole life has been a lie I didn't know about. I have no hope of getting any justice for what happened to me, I was neglected whilst in the unit. I have cPTSD and chronic health conditions.It's likely I am also ADHD.

Does anyone share similar experiences? Will I ever come to terms with it? I feel like I won't have enough time to.

  • Hi and welcome!!

    That sounds really intense. I can relate a bit.

    I’ve had a late diagnosis too and felt like so much of my life was misunderstood.

    It’s completely normal to feel angry and overwhelmed.

    I understand especially the part where it almost feels like it's all to late.

    You’re not alone. I am grateful for my diagnosis because now I can be much kinder to myself and know there are reasons for my behavior.

    Hope you find lots of hope and encouragement here.