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Low mood after diagnosis

Eyes

Hi All,

I've just posted a few hours ago but have one more thing to ask others. Following my recent diagnosis of Autism I initially felt elated and vindicated. It was as good a piece of news I think I had ever had as it made so much of my life make sense.

However more and more it feels hopeless, like it means nothing. I have dyslexia too and I feel I'm just collecting definitions. I have understanding now but does that matter?

I don't feel shame or stigma at all, the most positive feeling I have is renewed pride in being very different and a determination not to hide anymore, I just wondered if anyone else felt very low in the weeks following diagnosis?

Cheers.

Parents

  • I actually didn't get that happy, elated, relief feeling even initially. I had a meltdown the evening of my diagnosis because it'd all just been such a lot to handle and process, and I didn't know what it meant or what to do with it. 

    As for whether it matters, as others have said, definitely yes. I was diagnosed in 2020 and the processing and working out what it meant and how to change things was delayed somewhat by a huge bloody pandemic in the middle, but honestly I'm so glad I got my diagnosis. It's made me view myself and situations differently, be able to look back at past traumatic situations through a different lens, and work out strategies I never would have even discovered or considered beforehand. It took me the best part of a year to work out that I even have meltdowns post-diagnosis, never mind how to deal with them (that's a work in progress, but I can sometimes now manage them much more effectively!). 

    I'd also recommend possibly going through The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills at some point, if you feel it might be helpful. It might be good to do this with a therapist or someone close to you in case it brings up difficult emotions, but I've done the majority of it in therapy and that might be a nice place to start. 

    Don't lose hope - it's a long journey but one which does get better the more you try to reflect and learn and grow with the help of others and resources from fellow autistics. You've got this. 

Reply

  • I actually didn't get that happy, elated, relief feeling even initially. I had a meltdown the evening of my diagnosis because it'd all just been such a lot to handle and process, and I didn't know what it meant or what to do with it. 

    As for whether it matters, as others have said, definitely yes. I was diagnosed in 2020 and the processing and working out what it meant and how to change things was delayed somewhat by a huge bloody pandemic in the middle, but honestly I'm so glad I got my diagnosis. It's made me view myself and situations differently, be able to look back at past traumatic situations through a different lens, and work out strategies I never would have even discovered or considered beforehand. It took me the best part of a year to work out that I even have meltdowns post-diagnosis, never mind how to deal with them (that's a work in progress, but I can sometimes now manage them much more effectively!). 

    I'd also recommend possibly going through The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills at some point, if you feel it might be helpful. It might be good to do this with a therapist or someone close to you in case it brings up difficult emotions, but I've done the majority of it in therapy and that might be a nice place to start. 

    Don't lose hope - it's a long journey but one which does get better the more you try to reflect and learn and grow with the help of others and resources from fellow autistics. You've got this. 

Children