just been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at 69 years old

Hi gus c,

I've just edited your comment as with your post on other thread. We try to avoid naming specific services, thanks 

Sofie Mod

I want to thank the people who replied to my post . The replies seemed to say that i may be doing some of the right things but it is a very long learning curve and educating myself in how to come to terms with my problems seems to be what to do . I have found over the years other illness or injuries or mental health problems have masked what was really wrong with me . I feel that life has passed me by and i have had no close relationships . The Prostate Cancer was real alright and i had an operation and 32 sessions of radiotherapy and it was after that that i started with councelling but they said to relax and visualise a babbling brook in a beautiful forest but i couldn't visualise anything ever in all my therapies and i dont dream either or i cant remember if i do . I was due to go to my sisters for a boxing day lunch but i didn't really want to go . Anyway she just rang me and put it off as she isn't well . I went with her her daughter and granddaughter for a pub Christmas Meal yesterday and food drink and company were fine .I just feel lousy this morning with Blocked Nose ,headache and lethargic . I feel like this the day after a really successful meeting when i have been full of adrenalin and doing really well with presenting and talking always have a really low low day next day . Anyway thanks for the replies .Gus C

Hi there

I was diagnosed two year ago at 45 with Autism. I found CBT worked whilst a good Psychologist was working with me through it but I coudn't, I can't do it for myself. They used all that material toward the referall for the assessments.

I find being occupied helps too. Though not as busy as you. I still can't really work out what is an autism thing happening and what just me. I have relearned to accept it don't matter that I don't know so long as people around me are there to help me when I need that help and not see it as being whatever and realise that some things I find harder to do and one person in particular is good at making inforamtion accessible for me where as before I knew what it meant but it was nothing to do with me as such. (If you know what I mean) And sometimes I don't know but able to say to me in a way that I don't feel small for not knowing.

Hi Gus,

It is good to see you make use of volunteer opportunities because it does give more opportunity for social interfacing to be tried and explored, and reduces isolation. People seem to be more forgiving to the foibles of volunteers.

I'm another very late diagnosis a decade ago at 55. Fortunately one of the things I had long before got involved in was committee work. Provided the committees followed formal rules and people spoke one at a time I was fine, but noisy meeting with people talking across are bad for me.

Because they are structured, and manageable environments, it means I get plenty of practice at interaction, which I would otherwise have avoided. I have also been a chair person and am a chair person currently, which is something I seem able to do.

I do a lot of committee work across health sector, social services and disability as a volunteer member of the public, including committees attended by representatives like yourself.

It is very easy to become a recluse with autism because of the risk of getting hurt or having bad sensory experiences makes it preferable.

However voluntary roles can get round that and help people get out and about more

Hi Gus, welcome to the forum, I wish you a good christmas. I was diagnosed earlier this year at 49. I have found that I have been able to join up some of the dots in the picture since. Understanding it a bit better isn't a solution, but I think gives you a better standing to move forward. I don't know how  many cousuellors you have spoken to. I have had four or five at various stages in my life, the one I saw last year really made a big difference to me, and have been fighting to try and see him again.

Its great you have found help from voluntary work, and can understand that. I have been working in IT most of my adult life, and now begining to realise that my life in work and out of work are different, and my work life has been a support for my difficulties in my personal life. 

Hi Gus and Welcome (again!)

There isn't a treatment for Asperger's as such - there is a lot to learn about it though and life can be much better if you understand how it affects you. It often leads to mental health issues though as we are often battling with a world that doesn't think on the same wavelength as us. Untangling the MH issues from the ASD from what else is in our personality is not simple - plenty of patience and discussion helps and this forum is a good place to talk about things and work things out.

There are a few of us who have been diagnosed later in life (I was diagnosed at 56) and this often comes after many years of conflict and misunderstanding. Diagnosis has helped me understand myself and how I interact with other people and I am learning to be more patient and to study people more before jumping in and stirring things up.

You may get some help from your local mental health trust - I don't know what services there are in Manchester but some areas have specific teams for helping people like us. Otherwise, there are lots of books to read.

Merry Xmas!