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Hi ! Is being diagnosis worth it as an adult?

Jabberwocky

Hello,

I'm 30yrs old and I'm pretty sure I've been on the spectrum since I was 18 when I first found out about it (I'm dyslexic and eye contact made my eyes water uncontrollably among other things). The problem is I'm not sure if being diagnosed is worth it? I've grown accustom to my masking and I'm generally uncomfortable but I don't understand what the benefits of being diagnosed would bring to me? I'm also worried about people finding out I'm REALLY different instead of just being odd. I'm not sure if this diagnosis would reflect poorly on me or make my life difficult?

What as this been like for you?

Parents

  • Hi, I’m going through diagnosis at the moment, the first step is to go and see your GP. It is an uncomfortable task but it has to be done. Make an appointment and then make some notes of what affects you. The waiting list is about 2 years for diagnosis so don’t leave it.

    The dsm-5 does require some evidence that you are autistic from a developmental age. You did mention that you felt on the spectrum from the age of 18, think about your earlier life and how you felt about making friends or some social occasions. I’m in my 50’s and I know that I started masking in pre school. It is different for everyone, maybe ask a parent about your early years.

    To me a diagnosis will bring closure, once you start piecing it all together you then realise that your not odd, your just different.

    I restore classic cars, I get very behind with work, I’ve had a customer badgering me for the last couple of weeks. It got to the point of me hiding from him. My anxiety was going through the roof, I hate personal contact, I finally sent him a text and explained that I’m autistic and my work is apparently brilliant but takes me twice as long and every day is a struggle for me.

    I got a message back with an apology for pushing me, he then told me that his son is autistic and he knows what the struggle is like. Knowing why you are different does help.

    Good luck.

Reply

  • Hi, I’m going through diagnosis at the moment, the first step is to go and see your GP. It is an uncomfortable task but it has to be done. Make an appointment and then make some notes of what affects you. The waiting list is about 2 years for diagnosis so don’t leave it.

    The dsm-5 does require some evidence that you are autistic from a developmental age. You did mention that you felt on the spectrum from the age of 18, think about your earlier life and how you felt about making friends or some social occasions. I’m in my 50’s and I know that I started masking in pre school. It is different for everyone, maybe ask a parent about your early years.

    To me a diagnosis will bring closure, once you start piecing it all together you then realise that your not odd, your just different.

    I restore classic cars, I get very behind with work, I’ve had a customer badgering me for the last couple of weeks. It got to the point of me hiding from him. My anxiety was going through the roof, I hate personal contact, I finally sent him a text and explained that I’m autistic and my work is apparently brilliant but takes me twice as long and every day is a struggle for me.

    I got a message back with an apology for pushing me, he then told me that his son is autistic and he knows what the struggle is like. Knowing why you are different does help.

    Good luck.

Children
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