just been diagnosed with autism and aspergers

I sympathise.  I was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago (aged 45).  I've been trying to tell folk about it, but somehow just keep crying every time I admit I am Asperger.  Clearly there's something not resolved for me and I'm hoping time will help.  It is almost as if it is a shock to realise your whole life has not been what you thought it was.  

And let's be honest, it's a bit of an ordeal going through the whole diagnosis proceedure... It is scarey to allow yourself to be psychoanalysed by others.

I was promised a follow up appointment and support so I have that to look forward to.  I'd love to meet others 'like me' locally too.  

How are you getting on at talking to your friends/family about your diagnosis Bambino?

Kitty

I suppose it's probably a bit of both. When I go on the 'find personalised resources' link and state that I'm an adult with ASD and input some other details, all I get is the Autism Helpline number. Not very personalised and not very helpful in the slightest. 

Is it that there is a bias towards children or that the website is just hard to navigate, or a bit of both? Even when I know that there is something here it takes me a while to find it again. For example, I didn't know that there is a local adult autism support service in Bristol until it was pointed out to me by someone else. Details were on this website I just hadn't managed to find it.

Does it really matter Debz?

Yes, unfortunately the website is mostly geared towards parents of children with autism. There are not a great deal of resources for adults on the spectrum - it's like people think we just stop being autistic once we reach 18 years of age.

My understanding is that Asperger's describes a type of autism, so you have autism and Asperger's, whereas someone could have autism and not have Asperger's - they would be in the lower functioning part of the spectrum.

I thought you only have one or the other? :S how can you have both 

[quote user="NAS17593"]

Hi eveyone, im 39 and I have been diagnosed with autism and aspergers today. At the end of the day its just a name . I am finding it hard to find anything on the website for adults to help cope with change etc.

I'm of a similar age, several years post diagnosis and still looking.....

Welcome,

There is a lot to be learnt by getting involved in the discussions here. Try the "search the community" search (up to the left), rather than the site search (top of this page) to find previous discussions.

Have you been provided with any post diagnosis support after your diagnosis?

Have you got any immediate questions? How much do you know about Aspergers already?