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Late diagnosis

animalrant

I've noticed a pattern recently for autistic people that seems to consist of -

no diagnosis in childhood - leading to mental health problems starting around 11 years old (depression, anxiety, eating disorders, ocd) - lack of hygiene such as not washing etc - feeling isolated, alone, different - sensory issues getting worse - then receiving ASD diagnosis between 16-19 possibly earlier if lucky. 

is it possible this pattern is because of massive changes at 11 years old such as starting secondary school, puberty, etc? which if you're undiagnosed you won't get the right support to cope with these changes therefore leading to mental health issues? 

I know this was the pattern for me, i stopped eating at the end of year 6, become very anxious, depressed, developed ocd. i had always had additional support at school since age 4 but never picked up i was autistic and ADHD, maybe because it was only seen as a boys condition? i also never spoke at all at school or to family outside my house, i was very shy. 

Just quite an interesting pattern that I would like to look more in to

Parents

  • There does seem to be a bit of a pattern...

    I'm 36 and currently seeking a diagnosis. I struggled with a few things in primary school, but nothing that needed major intervention, but the real fun started not long after I moved to high school, with depression and anxiety that I couldn't talk to people about, problems keeping friendships going, etc.

    Looking back I have come up with my own theory that things got worse with each successive change. Moving to high school is a massive change on its own, but then as you progress through high school you also get increasingly more pressure in the form of decisions making and having to organise yourself instead of relying on adults to do it for you. I know that I struggled with this, and still do.

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  • There does seem to be a bit of a pattern...

    I'm 36 and currently seeking a diagnosis. I struggled with a few things in primary school, but nothing that needed major intervention, but the real fun started not long after I moved to high school, with depression and anxiety that I couldn't talk to people about, problems keeping friendships going, etc.

    Looking back I have come up with my own theory that things got worse with each successive change. Moving to high school is a massive change on its own, but then as you progress through high school you also get increasingly more pressure in the form of decisions making and having to organise yourself instead of relying on adults to do it for you. I know that I struggled with this, and still do.

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