Published on 12, July, 2020
Just wanted to check in as I've just joined and say hello to everyone. I'm a 51 year old male who is awaiting a diagnosis. My first assessment (NHS) is due in 3 weeks but have been waiting since October last year although it feels like forever. The wait has been particularly hard especially as during that time my mother passed away. I hadn't told her about me suspecting that I am Aspie but would have done if I was diagnosed as it would have explained so much about the past for both of us. I suspect that both she and my Dad (who died back in 2013) were also on the spectrum but I'll never know now. My biggest worry is that I'm not diagnosed... even though from everything that I've read on Aspergers the 'fit seems so right'... as having gone though life not fitting in and being excluded from so many groups it would be typical for me to also be barred from the 'Aspie club' too. I'm hoping the NHS has improved since I had my first breakdown aged 14 when I was 'diagnosed' if you can call it that with School Phobia and put on Diazepam for 18 months... not a great experience and even worse coming off them! Since then I've tried to fix myself or gone to private therapists as I lost faith in the NHS, but its only in the last couple of years since I have become aware of Aspergers that I've wondered if I was actually just different and didn't need fixing at all. It would be nice to hear back from anyone else who is going through or has gone through something similar.
Hello,
Your post really struck me mate, I'm 48 and after 18 months of trying to get a diagnosis I had Aspergers confirmed yesterday.
I suppose everyones experience is different, for me I've got some understanding and some real closure on issues that go back 40 years from social difficulties, to obsessions, to my alcoholism and to the biggest issue i had during 2015 & 2016 which was a huge routine change in my job which dropped me slowly and painfully into a deep depression as a consequence of which I lost my job.
I always knew I felt different, even growing up, lots of different quirks and routines and meltdowns and tantrums, some serioudissues, some just plain hilarious I've lost count of the number of times we all had a good laugh yesterday it was surreal.
Yesterday for me was hugely emotional it was life God just explained my entire life to me - took long enough !
I hope you find what you are looking for.
Peace and love.
Thanks