30yrs of mess to untangle

Hi,

Currently at 46yo being assessed for neurodiversity.

I've 32 years of complicated mental health history and at no point did anyone think to check for neurodiversity until now.

Now that they are, I'm realising that autism is potentially the elusive explanation for how the last 32 years have played out and I'm struggling to contain intense distress over everything that could have been avoided if they'd figured this out before.

I should clarify that I've not completed the autism assessment process yet but it's been presented to me more as a 'lets get a comprehensive understanding of your autistic traits' than there being any doubt that I am Autistic.

Is there anyone that has been through similar?

Parents
  • I found out at 56, following burnout and some sort of breakdown,  that I had an explanation for my behaviours. But it meant reframing my past and realising my life could have been very different.

    If only I'd taken a different path in 1996 and if today's knowledge had been available. It has been very hard grieving for what might have been.

    I've cried everyday for 8 months. It is getting better now though.

    It is hard to corral my thoughts, to find suitably powerful distractions and prevent myself thinking about things.

  • I'm so sorry to hear this. Grief is a good word for it I think, I hadn't thought of it like that.

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