Newly diagnosed at 51

Hi everyone. I was late-diagnosed as autistic earlier this year and am still figuring out what that means for me and getting to know myself a bit better with this new information.

I've spent a lot of my life feeling like I'm on the outside looking in. I find social interactions really difficult, and although I've got a few people in my life, I'm struggling with a growing sense of isolation that's come about with age and a lack of energy for what I need to fit in with people. I'm high-masking but that's gotten harder, especially now I'm perimenopausal.

But! I had a post-diagnosis session yesterday and have decided to do the scary thing and try to connect with other autistic people and hopefully find a little more of that sense of belonging. I've got a lot to learn still about autism and what that means for me, so I'd love to hear from others who have been on a similar journey, particularly anyone who's been diagnosed later in life (I'm early 50s).

I'm not always the best at knowing how to start conversations, but I'd genuinely like to get to know people here. So, hello and thanks for reading Slight smile

Parents
  • Hi and welcome!

    I'm another late diagnosed - a couple of months ago, in my early 70s, though I've suspected for a few years. I've spent my whole life being an outsider, but found ways to minimise that until I retired, a few years ago. Diagnosis has made me realise that the life I'm living since retirement is much more the real me, and now I'm trying to work out how and when to shed the masking I have left. 

    This is a safe and interesting community for people like us. Slight smile

Reply
  • Hi and welcome!

    I'm another late diagnosed - a couple of months ago, in my early 70s, though I've suspected for a few years. I've spent my whole life being an outsider, but found ways to minimise that until I retired, a few years ago. Diagnosis has made me realise that the life I'm living since retirement is much more the real me, and now I'm trying to work out how and when to shed the masking I have left. 

    This is a safe and interesting community for people like us. Slight smile

Children
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