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Hi

NewuserHW070826

Hi. I've very recently been diagnosed with ASD. I was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety a couple of years ago but knew there was more to it. Now it turns out I'm autistic. I was hoping the diagnosis might help but I don't really feel any different. Maybe that will come later on?

I thought it'd be a good idea to join an autistic community to help me understand what's going on a bit better. So here I am! Slight smile

  • Congratulations on your diagnosis and welcome to the community!

    As for many others, my diagnosis turned out to be the start of a new journey of learning and adapting. I'd suggest taking extra care to be patient to, and kind with, yourself - and to take your time with processing everything. Your feelings might well change over time - one of the articles below discusses this.

    The NAS has a great set of articles focused on "after diagnosis". You might find them helpful as a starting point:

    NAS - How will I feel after receiving an autism diagnosis - includes perspectives from other autistic people

    NAS - Other advice covering post-diagnosis - including:

    • Talking about and disclosing your autism diagnosis
    • Formal support following an autism diagnosis
    • What can I do if formal support is not offered or is not enough

    Therapy or counselling are often recommended after a diagnosis, as a follow up action for your GP to arrange. 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)

  • Hello and welcome, 

    This is a very supportive environment with lots of people with autism or considering whether they have autism. 

    As you probably know, autism comes in a multitude of "colours". From what I have read people's reaction to their autism diagnosis vary considerably. Some people are very angry others are relieved, etc.

    For me, in my 70s, it was a revelation. My autism is very sensory. So, think in patterns and metaphors, I make things, I stitch, I cook, I garden, I play music and listen to music. So, very first time I could account/accept/justify/ I cannot actually find correct word, for why I do what I do. And therefore, account for who I am.  

    So, I could understand and the outcome was sense of relief, contentment and a dash of assertiveness
     
    Bare in mind if I was 20 years old, I might have had a very different response due to the ecology of my life, such as employment/unemployment, relationship/no relationship, friends/no friends, emotional level low/high, mental and physical health good/not so good, etc.   

    I mention all the above just as one, probably unique, response to a diagnosis.  It took me 5 months to come to terms with my diagnosis which was like a very friendly stranger living in my head. There isn't a time limit! 

    I wish you a happy journey.