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New here and waiting for ADHD and Autism assessments

Curious Panda

Hello,

I am new here. A 38 year old female who is waiting for assessment/diagnosis.

I have spent the best part of my late 20s and early 30s diagnosed with anxiety and varying levels of low mood / depression at different "blips" in my life.

I am on medication for the anxiety, but more and more I think it likely I have had neurodivergent burn-out from years of masking. My reading and research has led me to spotting similarities with my own experiences and traits with symptoms associated with neurodivergence. 

My biggest question is had I known or had just a clearer understanding of my neurodivergence, what could I have been/what could i have achieved? Anyone else experience these questions too?

I look forward to contributing to the community.

Best wishes,

Curious (one word that best describes me) Panda (my favourite animal)

Parents

  • Hi Curious Panda!

    I just wanted to say welcome to the community! You really wish professionals would actively look out for neurodivergence in people with a history of anxiety/depression. Instead it quite often seems to be the person finding out by chance which must be so hard for the missed opportunity. 

    I can't really complain as I had avoided help until it got too much later l last year, and then discovered about autism and suddenly it made sense and eventually diagnosis. But so many have had the chance for someone to spot it sooner and didn't. I think that must be really hard. I hope you can enjoy speaking hear about connecting to others with similar stories!

  • in reply to Cinnabar_wing

     

    Hello,

    Thank you for the welcome.

    I completely agree and resonate with your comment about clinical / health professionals considering or being more active in looking out for neurodivergence rather than the first line approach to be diagnosing anxiety or low mood. It is a missed opportunity both in time (not being aware to explore diagnosis and investigation) and in self-understanding. I do believe it somewhat creates a period of feeling "lost" or "something not quite right" because the strategies, tool kids, or treatments suitable for anxiety and low mood often felt not appropriate or simply not working. Now I know better, and I wish I had not lost all this time.

    I can understand what you describe as making sense - hopefully the understanding and clinical research around neurodivergence and related fields continues to grow and be embraced. 

    I am sure we may cross paths in other conversations and when sharing journeys.

    Best wishes, 

    Curious Panda

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  • in reply to Cinnabar_wing

     

    Hello,

    Thank you for the welcome.

    I completely agree and resonate with your comment about clinical / health professionals considering or being more active in looking out for neurodivergence rather than the first line approach to be diagnosing anxiety or low mood. It is a missed opportunity both in time (not being aware to explore diagnosis and investigation) and in self-understanding. I do believe it somewhat creates a period of feeling "lost" or "something not quite right" because the strategies, tool kids, or treatments suitable for anxiety and low mood often felt not appropriate or simply not working. Now I know better, and I wish I had not lost all this time.

    I can understand what you describe as making sense - hopefully the understanding and clinical research around neurodivergence and related fields continues to grow and be embraced. 

    I am sure we may cross paths in other conversations and when sharing journeys.

    Best wishes, 

    Curious Panda

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