Recently late-diagnosed woman wanting to join the community

Thanks for your really kind reply. It’s been very hard feeling sort of lost for so long and not able to explain how it is to be me. Coming here and finding people who have similar experiences is amazing. If I think of any questions I will ask you for sure. 

 Orangegnome I totally understand your feelings because I felt similar. The assessor takes you back to childhood to discuss your development experiences and it is not only based on how you present on the day (they are aware of anxiety, masking habits etc). Be yourself, absolutely relax into the process if you can - my assessor was so supportive and I felt so at ease that I started to unmask anyway. The not knowing what it will be like is always the worst, so you can ask me any questions if you need to? Or others you know on this forum? You are absolutely not wasting anyone’s time, the service is there for you. It can actually be the opposite - I’ve been misdiagnosed so much in the past that you could consider those experiences a waste of professionals time when all along it was autism and ADHD! Btw I have now started some ADHD medication so I’m unsure how this will affect my autism!! Such a learning process all the way

I put in my forms through right to choose at the beginning of September and the waiting list is 5 months approximately. I am very anxious about the assessment, like, if I’m not being autistic enough for the assessor to notice, I will feel I wasted so many people’s time. My GP receptionist helped me the most. I was struggling with some of the forms and with choosing who to go with, she helped me on the phone to get everything done and reassured me, it was very kind. So I have read so much information and it’s pretty clear I am autistic. 

Hi Orangegnome  how long have you been waiting for your assessment? I went through Right to Choose and only waited 5 months from seeing GP to getting both my diagnoses. I was very lucky because my GP was really supportive. 

Hey welcome here and congratulations on getting a diagnosis. I am awaiting assessment but currently self diagnosing as autistic. This is an amazing forum to read about other people’s experiences. 

Aaah that sounds great TheCatWoman that this community helps you so much, I think it will for me when I get used to it!

Welcome, it does take a while to get your head around things and look at your past through an autistic lens, but it's worth doing, I was diagnosed at 50, I'm 63 now and find this place a Godessessend

Thank you Lonehare12 I appreciate your comments and I am finding this forum very helpful, it makes me feel less alone x

Hi Pootalfun and welcome.

Congratulations on your diagnosis. 

I was diagnosed earlier this year, I'm 55.

I hope you enjoy your time here. 

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 Katrina Mod thank you, I will certainly take a look, kind regards back to you

Hi Lotus thank you for welcoming me, I am finding reading all of the posts interesting. I am spending time processing this recent diagnosis, it took a while when I got my ADHD diagnosis so I expect similar this time. I am unravelling 50 years of confusion, misunderstandings, misdiagnoses, gas-lighting, trauma and being dismissed so there’s a lot! It’s very exhausting but I’ll get there in time. It helps to read about other’s similar experiences. Best wishes to you

Hi and welcome to the community. I'm a woman in my mid sixties, and I discovered that I was on the spectrum when I was in my fifties. I'm retired and enjoy reading and playing video games. 

I hope you find the forum to be a source of support.

Hi Pootalfun, 

Congratulations on getting your diagnosis! It can be an experience that brings up lots of mixed emotions. I hope you find connection and understanding from other users here, many of whom will be very familiar with what you have described.

You may find the following page on our website useful:  

www.autism.org.uk/.../post-diagnosis-support  

Kind Regards, 

Katrina Mod