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Newly diagnosed and now feel more lost!

DanFee

Hi all, 

Not sure if this is the right place to post, the psychiatrist recommended I join here. I am 34 and newly diagnosed with Autism level 1 (new being lunchtime today!) I am sat at work and cannot focus, I felt this would give me some clarify and some relief, but feeling more lost than I was trying to find answers. 

I keep getting a feeling that, maybe they got it wrong and I don't really have it, it fits, in so many ways it explains a lot but cannot help my brain telling me that maybe I answered wrong and got the diagnosis, even though I just answered truthfully. 

But my question is, what happens after? they have diagnosed me and will write a report and that is it, so although I now have an answer as to why I feel and think in a certain way, but no way to help myself lol

anyone felt the same after diagnosis? I mask a lot and it is exhausting, I just want to be able to be myself and I don't know how 

thank you for reading! :) 

Parents

  • I feel you. I was just recently at 40 diagnosed. So within the past 3 months, and I’m still struggling to understand everything. I had asked prior providers if there was a possibility of me being ASD, and I was completely dismissed. Fast forward 3 years and I have a nervous breakdown while working as a front line supervisor for the second largest employer in the United States. That was August of 2024. Since then I see 3 mental health professionals a week, and it took me asking one of them for a blanket on a hot day for them to start asking ASD related questions, and it turns out I’m ASD 1 as well. It’s a bittersweet feeling because it makes a lot of my past make sense, however, moving forward has been extremely difficult. Also, I wouldn’t disclose your diagnosis with anyone unless you KNOW you’ll get the feedback you need. I learned this the hard way. They’ll term you that you don’t look autistic, or there’s absolutely no way that’s possible, and this just caused me to isolate myself even further. Unless you need accommodations at work, I wouldn’t say anything either. Good luck! 

  • in reply to Haleyjane84

    thank you for your comment, in regards to telling people, I feel I already experienced that somewhat with my manager! But hoping she was just busy and in supervision it can be discussed further, as I feel  it is important for her to know as it effects my day to day, mainly at work! 

    I am glad you finally got listened to, just a shame it has to take so long and for you to go into crisis before it was picked up, but hope you are feeling somewhat better now and able to make sense of things a little better 

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  • in reply to Haleyjane84

    thank you for your comment, in regards to telling people, I feel I already experienced that somewhat with my manager! But hoping she was just busy and in supervision it can be discussed further, as I feel  it is important for her to know as it effects my day to day, mainly at work! 

    I am glad you finally got listened to, just a shame it has to take so long and for you to go into crisis before it was picked up, but hope you are feeling somewhat better now and able to make sense of things a little better 

Children
  • in reply to DanFee

    I’m waiting for that day to come still. I’ll get there. I actually have a pending lawsuit over my mental health with my employer and with the government shutdown it’s only escalated the situation within my own mind. We were getting close to being seen by the judge and now everything is on pause and that is extremely stressful and my anxiety has been ridiculous. I do appreciate the sentiment. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS under RAC, do not let your employer play games with you and document anything they say regarding your disclosure. You have protections.