Diagnosed with autism last week

I’m in my early 30’s and was diagnosed with autism last week following a diagnosis of ADHD several weeks before.

If I’m honest I expected ADHD but autism not so much, I wouldn’t say I am very different from ordinary but I have struggled since a child with fitting in with people and keeping conversations going. My wife who has a lot of experience run the area isn’t surprised but I’m not sure how to take it. 

I’ve also informed my work but I’m not sure what to do with this information they ask me if there’s anything I need but being put on the spot like that is just difficult and I don’t really know what to say. I have gradually struggled as I’ve got older with certain things, concentration, patience, anxiety, social situations. I let small things completely change my mood - just people not responding to a text or being blunt completely puts me in a spiral. 

I’m not really sure what I’m asking, I’m just struggling. 

Parents
  • Hi. I'm in my early 40s and was diagnosed with autism in the last few weeks and ADHD last year. It makes sense of a lot of struggles I've had in life. I'm going through similar things (though I've been 90% sure the past couple of years that I'm autistic). My immediate reaction was to book an occupational health appointment at work, but then decided to sit with it for a couple of weeks and think about what I need first. I've ended up being signed off work - I think I'm going to speak to occupational health when I go back, and ask them what they might suggest (I'm guessing they will have had other neurodivergent employees approach them in the past). In the meantime I'm reading up a bit more on autism and unmasking, but trying not absorb too much at once, as it's overwhelming. It's a tricky time - good luck with everything!

Reply
  • Hi. I'm in my early 40s and was diagnosed with autism in the last few weeks and ADHD last year. It makes sense of a lot of struggles I've had in life. I'm going through similar things (though I've been 90% sure the past couple of years that I'm autistic). My immediate reaction was to book an occupational health appointment at work, but then decided to sit with it for a couple of weeks and think about what I need first. I've ended up being signed off work - I think I'm going to speak to occupational health when I go back, and ask them what they might suggest (I'm guessing they will have had other neurodivergent employees approach them in the past). In the meantime I'm reading up a bit more on autism and unmasking, but trying not absorb too much at once, as it's overwhelming. It's a tricky time - good luck with everything!

Children
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