New but late diagnosis at 44 - Life turned upside down

Hello

I have recently been diagnosed with ASD at the age of 44, I am hoping to find people with similar experiences and hopefully get some advice with how to cope with this diagnosis.  I have no friends to talk to, social situations have always been a massive fear for me, no family that understand and my partner left me and moved out yesterday. 

I am struggling to see the point in carrying on, but I have to for my 2 children and dog.

I wish life didn't have to be so hard, I'd just like to feel more positive but am struggling to see a way through all of this.

Any advice to make this a little less miserable of an existence please?

Parents
  • I’m 46 I was diagnosed last year, I would say nothing has changed about who you are, but it can seem harder to feel calm enough to make sense of things. It all comes around, people who make life hard for others the weight comes back onto them. Learn to enjoy small things again

  • I know I am the same person, I have the same likes and dislikes and the same desire to be kind and a nice person. I am definitely far from calm at the moment pleading face I think I need to try and slow everything down and try to stop panicking, which sounds easy in my head, but it isn't at all.

  • Slowing down is part of not pressuring yourself. A lot of the pressure is self-imposed. Trying to get some control may help with the panic.

    Don't make big lists. More than 7 or so things and you won't do them. Try to do one thing at a time. Break it into smaller pieces. Don't set a time limit. Just start the first little thing when you feel calm. Don't overthink it first.

    Record your little wins. Try to focus on the important things first. Don't do too many in one go, even if you want to, you will struggle the next day. Try to limit it and spread things out. It will work better.

Reply
  • Slowing down is part of not pressuring yourself. A lot of the pressure is self-imposed. Trying to get some control may help with the panic.

    Don't make big lists. More than 7 or so things and you won't do them. Try to do one thing at a time. Break it into smaller pieces. Don't set a time limit. Just start the first little thing when you feel calm. Don't overthink it first.

    Record your little wins. Try to focus on the important things first. Don't do too many in one go, even if you want to, you will struggle the next day. Try to limit it and spread things out. It will work better.

Children
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