Hi, about 3 years ago I posted on here. I had recently been given a promotion at work that had a led to a lot of struggles. I moved from a role that was primarily data focused to a more stakeholder engagement and management role. Within a few months I had burnt out and was experiencing several health issues, physical and mental.
After discussion with my family, work, and a few other close acquaintances I sought a referral from my GP and was successful. The 2 year waitlist kicked in.
During the wait I completely burnt out leading me to be signed off world for 8 weeks for an unspecified mental health issue, stress. I was prescribed anti-depressants and back to work. On my return all the same issues arose surrounding misunderstanding and failure to ‘influence’ people. I ended up being demoted to my previous role.
I had 3 2 hour interviews. The assessor would frequently get me talking about special interests; politics, society, computing, myself. I explained my issues with being misunderstood all through childhood, my inability to maintain friendship groups, my strong preference towards other neurodivergent persons (other half has ADHD, family members are diagnosed with ADHD & Borderline personality disorder). My routine of having to wear the same clothes, struggles with executive function, early developmental issues (did not talk until I was 3 and then started with full sentences), I was a space cadet, would walk backwards a lot, and was quite late developing personal hygiene (wiping bum etc). Alongside my struggles with social groups, preferences to partake in solo activities, struggle with conversation and knowing when to speak and interrupting and talking over.
Every single test points towards high probability. AQ10, RAARD, Aspie quiz, masking quotient, etc.
I don’t have my report yet. Just a 10 minute meeting where I was told no, but wouldn’t discuss the reasoning. Just that I didn’t meet a single criteria. I have friends, and a partner and autistic people can’t have those (disabalist and a myth), I can talk and hold conversation (about my self, and my interests), and I have a job (who support my self diagnosis and agree with it due to certain struggles in the workplace).
4 days after the diagnosis it has just started to sink in. I don’t know what emotions I am feeling, just that I am. I feel a shutdown coming on but have no option but to push through.
Not really sure what to do or where to go next. They could only recommend anxiety or depression. Which, ironically, has been ruled out by the mental health team on the same building a number of months ago.
any advice would be greatly appreciated.
