• Replies 3 replies
  • Subscribers 73 subscribers
  • Views 95 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

Just diagnosed at 57

LaraS

Hi. I'm so confused about everything at the moment. I was diagnosed yesterday with high functioning autism. All of my children are adults and have been diagnosed later in life, late teens early 20's all high functioning autism.

Now I've helped them all where I can through diagnosis and afterwards. But I sat and thought when the assessment was done, who helps me? Where do I turn? How do I process this?

I knew how to help with my children, still do. I studied everything I possibly could. 

Obviously high functioning autism has to come from somewhere. But although over the past year I've thought I could be? I was relieved them guilty them upset one straight after the other. I had time on holiday last year talking to my brother about childhood and started to look at my own life.

I feel like I need to take time away on my own just to try to process it all.

How do I process it all? I'm waiting for the ADHD assessment in November.

Thank you so much if you've read all this. I needed to write it down xx

  • I read as much as I could about autistic people, it’s one of my special interests still. Reflecting on the assessment and just thought about my life as things popped up in my mind. Spending time on here joining in as you feel able can also help. There is no right or wrong way to process it all, just trust your mind to take you where you need to be… also, you are still you Revolving hearts

  • Hi LaraS, 

    It may help a little to know that, for a while, people often feel a bit stunned and confused by their diagnosis. 

    I in my early 70s and was only diagnosed this year. Even though, I had been reconciled as being autistic for a few years prior to the my assessment, it still caused a period of emptiness and feeling a bit lost. However, gradually I came to and started to discover what this new self was like. It took me several months and I am still discovering things every day. However, for the very first time, I feel like the person I have always been. 

    You asked how do you process it all?  The general view is take your time learning about the "new" you and be kind to yourself. 

    I found reading other people's responses to their assessment, on this site, was really helpful. I found a surprising amount in common.

    Best wishes,
    Oscar

  • Hi and welcome to the community. I'm a woman in my sixties and I had no idea I could be on the spectrum until I was in my mid fifties.

    I'm not officially diagnosed, but I still found it took some time for me to come to terms with the idea that I could be autistic, having thought I was "normal" for decades. 

    Be kind to yourself, take time to process things, and chat to us on here when you need to.