• Replies 7 replies
  • Subscribers 75 subscribers
  • Views 91 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Diagnosed with autism last week

JMDA

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

  • Your situation sounds very similar to mine (also early 30s, got my diagnosis last week, though I was told I don't have ADHD when I took the assessment for that last year) I'm still trying to figure out what I need to make my work life easier too - the concentration and patience and anxiety issues do just creep up on you, don't they? I honestly hear you and I'm glad we're not alone in this. 

  • in reply to LauriR

    You are right it is comforting to hear that my experience is not mine alone. 

    My concentration is just non existent recently it feels I’ve been gradually deteriorating for years. I’ve been battling poor mental health for almost 10 years and I can pinpoint where I feel i couldn’t cope anymore and just started really hating myself and not enjoying anything. At the moment my kids feel like the only thing keeping me going. 

    Doing lots of reading, I’m going to try some techniques to become more myself and ‘unmask’ (feels wrong even saying it, feel like an imposter as I’ve gone this long without any help or diagnosis). 

    Bottom line is I am struggling a lot and hope that I can use the diagnosis to justify being myself (whoever that may be).

Reply
  • in reply to LauriR

    You are right it is comforting to hear that my experience is not mine alone. 

    My concentration is just non existent recently it feels I’ve been gradually deteriorating for years. I’ve been battling poor mental health for almost 10 years and I can pinpoint where I feel i couldn’t cope anymore and just started really hating myself and not enjoying anything. At the moment my kids feel like the only thing keeping me going. 

    Doing lots of reading, I’m going to try some techniques to become more myself and ‘unmask’ (feels wrong even saying it, feel like an imposter as I’ve gone this long without any help or diagnosis). 

    Bottom line is I am struggling a lot and hope that I can use the diagnosis to justify being myself (whoever that may be).

Children
No Data