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Wondering

Golf23

I am just wondering how it has taken until I am 27 for a referral to be made to my works Autism Network for assistance and a buddy which will lead to getting the help I need to cope.

I think with this and knowing there is a support network will help me with going through the referral process and hopefully the diagnosis stages and get it formally diagnosed.

I just don't understand how my schools never picked up on any of the traits in me?

At school I was told I had low self-esteem and given counselling, then I was told I had anger issues and had counselling. I was never angry just frustrated with everything, I didn't understand so much and it confused and scared me, and I would get frustrated at homework and there was never any help at home. 

Then whilst at University an incident happened which lead to me having, what I now realise was a meltdown, in a Police Station, whilst on duty as a Special Constable and I was referred to the Force Psychiatrist and told I had to complete 3 sessions with them before being allowed back on shift, they treated it as Trauma related to the incident, and they informed my University who gave me 12 weeks of counselling for Trauma as well.

Why is it that I am now looking back as I learn more about Autism and it all being obvious that there was more to it than all these people picked up on or said at the time?

Parents

  • The older you are, the less awareness there was. When I was at school I had selective mutism, but everyone just thought I was shy. I had a few meltdowns which were just ignored, as they were out of character for me, being so good and studious. Same with my teens.

    In my 20’s I had repeated bouts of depression, constant migraines, and was referred to occupational health because I appeared to be on drugs, with an expressionless face and monotone voice!

    In my 40’s I still had depression, and was diagnosed with social anxiety and generalised anxiety. They are enough pointers towards autism in my experience. 
    I didn’t realise until I was 47. I didn’t get myself diagnosed until 48. I’ll be 49 in 3 weeks.

  • in reply to Catlover
    Catlover said:
    The older you are, the less awareness there was.

    This is so true. Also, for those of us with less obvious traits that could be mistaken for other things, I guess it's easier to understand why we slipped under the radar. It came as a complete surprise to an ex-boyfriend from my past when I'd told him I was Autistic. It was only when he cast his mind back and thought long and hard that he was able to recollect occasions when my behaviour had stood out.

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  • in reply to Catlover
    Catlover said:
    The older you are, the less awareness there was.

    This is so true. Also, for those of us with less obvious traits that could be mistaken for other things, I guess it's easier to understand why we slipped under the radar. It came as a complete surprise to an ex-boyfriend from my past when I'd told him I was Autistic. It was only when he cast his mind back and thought long and hard that he was able to recollect occasions when my behaviour had stood out.

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