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Life begins at 60

Philfrom30

Hi there everyone,  

I'm new on here

I got my diagnosis 18 months ago whilst age 60, and what a relief it was. Like a weight had been lifted. I finally knew why I'm like I am, and suddenly everything made sense.

I have been reading books/ audio books and attended a couple of post diagnostic  group sessions to try and find out as much as I could on the subject. I find it very exciting tbh and enjoy meeting/ talking with others.

What did hit me hardest was realising how much I'd actually struggled through life when I thought it was the same for everyone, and how much I'd been gas lighted by everyone.(I'm sure it wasn't  intentional) but I now know I was right all along.

I've not had chance to go to the post diagnosis meetings for a good while now due to work commitments so finally managed to get signed up on here.

Takes me a while to write anything as have to keep editing and starting again.(I do ramble on a bit at times).

Hoping to be of some use on here.

  • Hi  and welcome Blush

    It sounds like you are doing all the right stuff to come to some sort of understanding of yourself which is where the work really is.

    I hope we can be of use to you also!!

    Forget about the writing and re writing, I think a lot of us do it.

    I’ve just discovered a great way to combat this, I put a draft together in notes (if giving a long answer)then copy it over here. I use my IPhone to post on here. Ok hand

  • Hello, 

    I am in my mid 70s and was diagnosed about 5 months ago. 

    You wrote about many things I have experienced. Even to the need to re-edit documents!

    My diagnosis made me realise how much I have struggled; with burn outs nearly every 2 or 3 years and periods of depression. And I thought it was just me.   

    I had to look up gaslighting, its my age!  And Oh! people have used, at least, low or medium level gaslighting. And how exhausting it was to defend myself. 

    I am finding this site a very comfortable place to visit as there is so much information, honesty and autism. It is what I have always needed.  I hope you find the same is true for you.         

    Oscar

  • Hi and welcome to the community!

    If you haven't yet seen them, the NAS has some resources that you might find helpful - they also include perspectives from other autistic people:

    NAS - After diagnosis - including: 

    • How will I feel after receiving an autism diagnosis
    • Formal support following an autism diagnosis
    • What can I do if formal support is not offered or is not enough
    • Talking about and disclosing your autism diagnosis
    • Emotional support for family members after a diagnosis

    Therapy or counselling are often recommended after a diagnosis, as a follow up action for your GP to arrange - it might be worth checking your report to see whether this was mentioned. If you prefer, depending on where you are in the UK, you might instead be able to self refer for talking therapy on the NHS. 

    Before arranging anything, you might find it helpful to borrow or buy this book, which includes discussion of various types of therapy and counselling, together with advice on choosing the right therapist or counsellor - all from an autistic person's viewpoint. Several of us here have found it very helpful:

    The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy

    Finally, I'll just mention a couple of books that I and others have found helpful early on in our post-diagnosis journeys:

    Self-Care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask!

    How to Be Autistic (free download currently available via this page)