Hello NAS community
I’m a “new kid in town” and wanted to introduce myself and ask about what support should be available from my GP surgery once diagnosed.
I’m a woman nearing 60. I have known I was different all my adult life. But I guess on the surface I appear “normal”.
As a result of friends (in the medical profession) joking with me about my autistic tendencies, I started reading on the topic about ten years ago, and knew then I was Autistic. I spoke to my then therapist who confirmed it. Last year I chose to privately have an assessment by a provider recommended by my GP which confirmed everything. I can see from my NHS online record that my GP has added this to my NHS record, but despite having consultations with her since for anxiety (which has plagued me throughout my life) she has not mentioned my Autism diagnosis. I wanted to ask if this is standard, or whether my GP should be offering any specialist help now.
Whilst I wanted a diagnosis primarily for the future - the idea of being elderly and being propped up in front of a TV (which I never watch) in a room with loads of other elderly folk terrifies me - I am conscious how much more problematic my Autism has become post-menopause. It’s as if everyone one of my senses is on hyper-alert. In some ways this has benefits - my pattern and facial recognition helps in my work, but crowds, noises etc are making me increasingly agoraphobic and my hypochondria habit is getting worse by the day.
I’m hoping that joining this community will help me chat with others who feel like me, as I feel very lonely at present, but also gain an idea of what help I can reasonably ask from my GP.
Thanks for reading.
The Overthinker
