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Newly Diagnosed after two years at 39

Marnee101

Hi all,

After first hearing my sisters (both in the psychology profession) discuss autism in 2024 and how they saw in schools, it was being picked up quickly. I went and researched the symptoms, then the realization struck, that I had nearly each one. At this point, I knew was autistic. Things finally made sense, I realised I wasn’t just a odd person, I had been like this since a child. The waiting game with NHS was a nightmare, I finally went private and completed part 2 of the ASD today, and the Doctor diagnosed me and said I met all the criteria. I found the assessment a struggle in itself the wait between each appointment, a certain questions I felt they were trying to align my symptoms to OCD or trauma. Therefore, I had to advocate and give thorough examples of how these symptoms differed.

My question now is what support is available out there? I am currently on sick leave due to burnout, and also have social anxiety. My work do not understand me and I feel they want me out.

Going into my 40’s I feel life will make so much sense now. I understand why I do certain things, such as masking, stimming and having sensitivities to noises.

How was everyone else’s post diagnosis experience, and what did everyone find useful sources/tools for support?

Parents

  • I was diagnosed in ‘middle age’ too - but as both my children had already been diagnosed (one at least ten years earlier) I was already fairly comfortable with the fact that I was autistic. I haven’t come across much support for someone like me locally - but I haven’t exactly been looking for support really. From my experience with my children I’d become a bit cynical about the kinds of support (and the lack of support) that’s around. We’re going to be moving house at some point over the next year though - and we’ve resolved to get a bit more involved with people and social stuff when we move to a new area. So that will be interesting to see what’s out there that myself and my family might be able to get involved in. Because of our natural tendency to avoid social stuff I feel we’ve become too isolated. 

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  • I was diagnosed in ‘middle age’ too - but as both my children had already been diagnosed (one at least ten years earlier) I was already fairly comfortable with the fact that I was autistic. I haven’t come across much support for someone like me locally - but I haven’t exactly been looking for support really. From my experience with my children I’d become a bit cynical about the kinds of support (and the lack of support) that’s around. We’re going to be moving house at some point over the next year though - and we’ve resolved to get a bit more involved with people and social stuff when we move to a new area. So that will be interesting to see what’s out there that myself and my family might be able to get involved in. Because of our natural tendency to avoid social stuff I feel we’ve become too isolated. 

Children