Just diagnosed at 57

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

Parents
  • 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

Reply
  • 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

Children
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