I am new here. Looking for advice

Hey welcome! Yeah at the start I went through a big research phase, trying to find out more and wanting to make sure I wasn't making it up, but the more I found out, the more my experiences were reflected back at me from what other people had said. It's amazingly validating to discover that you aren't alone with all the quirky traits, but other people are talking about those same things too.

Steps forward depend on where you are from. I think England has some sort of right to choose pathways through the GP, and someone with more knowledge can probably relate more to what they did. But there are folk from all over the UK and the wider world, so you can ask for what is relevant to you!

Good luck!

Hi Cinnabar_wing,

 It sure had been amazing how much I did not know. But the validation that I am not alone in how I write, think, talk, act or dont act. All these and more are not something I alone do, see or feel. The relief and release I am feeling is the most amazing thing ever.. I now know and Feel I dont have to hide when out and about. Infact I never relized how much i watched myself and others around me and masked myself in to blend in. I never relized the energy I was waisting. I literally thought it was normal.

 Btw thank you for pointing out where I reside is not mentioned by me.. So let me correct that.. I reside in the state of Wisconsin in the USA.

 I did notice that this organization is based in the UK. I also noticed how inviting this place is to all from all walks of life. This is also the best resource I have been able to find, understand and relate to.  However I am open to similar resources nearer to me..

 Thank you for the warm welcome.

      JIM

I think it's great that we are so multinational here, autism is not something that's limited by location! 

I felt more prepared to talk about getting diagnosed by writing my experiences down first. It helped get my head in order and see where I was at -sometimes all the thoughts whirl around and I find it handy to put them down somewhere.

There is also a handy website a lot of people used, called embrace autism, they have the tests with scoring, so you can see if you fall in the range and it can give you confidence to take it forward to a health professional. I remember doing the AQ50, and was surprised that I was in the range. Aside from that, I watched videos, podcasts, read articles on it. The more I found out the more I read convinced it was me too. Eventually then, I got the courage to get tested. I found having that bit of paper with my experiences on it helped at I can forget what I want to say otherwise, and if you have your test scores, it can help convince them to get you tested. 

Wishing you good luck with your journey of discovery!

I think it's great that we are so multinational here, autism is not something that's limited by location! 

I felt more prepared to talk about getting diagnosed by writing my experiences down first. It helped get my head in order and see where I was at -sometimes all the thoughts whirl around and I find it handy to put them down somewhere.

There is also a handy website a lot of people used, called embrace autism, they have the tests with scoring, so you can see if you fall in the range and it can give you confidence to take it forward to a health professional. I remember doing the AQ50, and was surprised that I was in the range. Aside from that, I watched videos, podcasts, read articles on it. The more I found out the more I read convinced it was me too. Eventually then, I got the courage to get tested. I found having that bit of paper with my experiences on it helped at I can forget what I want to say otherwise, and if you have your test scores, it can help convince them to get you tested. 

Wishing you good luck with your journey of discovery!