Just Been Diagnosed

Megan said:

Hi everyone,

Hi Megan, and welcome to the forum.

Megan said:

After having my suspicions for a long time, I have finally been properly diagnosed as autistic. I turn 24 tomorrow, so it certainly is a big week to be finding out things about myself.

Well belated happy having been diagnosed day, and happy having been born date ~ unless you were born on the same day of course; and it’s happy having been born day too! Congratulations either way and every way most applicable!

Megan said:

As I have a lot of issues with executive dysfunction, lack of focus and impulse spending amongst other things, I decided to also get assessed for ADHD. It was agreed that I do have some traits of ADHD, but ultimately not enough to get a diagnosis. Whilst this is what I was expecting, ultimately I wanted to be able to take medication to deal with these things, so now I feel like I just have to deal with it on my own and I don't know what to do.

That's the general feeling about all this, to be honest. I struggle so much with so many things, so what do I do?

With executive functioning difficulties, it is because the autistic mind-set is in a consistent state of freeze, fight or flight ~ and is therefore primarily focused in the hear and now; involving a narrower and extended range of focusing towards a single state of being (i.e., staying alive), a single outcome (i.e., being successful) or a single objective (i.e., exit and safety) ~ to lesser or greater proportions in terms of percentiles; depending upon the circumstances.

Planning for the future and dealing with a broad spectrum of probabilities or also possibilities can therefore be disorienting or directionally overwhelming ~ particular if one’s sensibilities are not compatible with or not as yet adapted to the functional environment in question, hence autistic professionals having found their particular position with the most befitting employers ~ or else having become self employed in their most befitting field of specialisation.

Another difficulty that is often overlooked ~ is that autistic people can have great difficulties in respect of using the short term memory; but much greater capacity in respect of using their long term memory ~ so making sure one has got the practical side of things well accounted for; the theory of which therefore gets carried much more effectively.

Megan said:

I have a retail job that is only part-time but it drains me so much that I can't bring myself to do anything outside of it - I am trying to look at other jobs, but none of them want to hire me.

I am being referred for CBT but I have heard really bad things about it and worry that it won't do anything.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) can be very effective with the right therapists, such as those who have a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics and mechanics of autistic mind-sets, or can appropriately facilitate, identify and affirm their patient’s developmental individuation.

One thing that could be pointed out for instance ~ regarding your search for more befitting employment, is not to state that ‘none’ of them in the present tense ‘want’ to hire you ~ because such thinking can become or may already be self defeating in the long-term.

One might better state for instance something along the lines of ‘despite not getting hired as yet; I am making applications for more befitting employment’ ~ so despite obstacles, they are being overcome, rather than involving an unsuccessful full stop, as it were.

Megan said:

If others, particularly those who aren't men, could share their experiences with me that would be great.

Generally I just feel so stuck right now and wanted to vent a little to people who would understand, I hope that's okay.

Well in terms of wanting to vent to like-minded people ~ that’s totally okay, and the community membership will certainly advise or accompany you on your journey in whatever way they are able.

Megan said:

I'd really appreciate some advice or things I can actually do, too. Does it ever get easier?

It certainly can be easier once you understand yourself better and can as such apply yourself in more befitting and efficient ways, such as living much less as a non-autistic person and much more as an autistic person in the most accommodating ways ~ which will of course depend upon you as being a particularly unique individual (in the most complimentary sense).

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope I can figure things out soon.

Maybe learn to progressively figure things out in the time that you do ~ rather than perhaps going so much for hop, skip, jump and thud moments ~ which can seriously hinder one in both the shorter and the longer terms, whereas going heel to toe step by step along the path of life ~ without missing a step ~ can really lead to being way more adept and proficient over the longer term.

Anyway, I hope you had a wonderful birthday, and you really enjoy being a community member here!

Megan said:

Hi everyone,

Hi Megan, and welcome to the forum.

Megan said:

After having my suspicions for a long time, I have finally been properly diagnosed as autistic. I turn 24 tomorrow, so it certainly is a big week to be finding out things about myself.

Well belated happy having been diagnosed day, and happy having been born date ~ unless you were born on the same day of course; and it’s happy having been born day too! Congratulations either way and every way most applicable!

Megan said:

As I have a lot of issues with executive dysfunction, lack of focus and impulse spending amongst other things, I decided to also get assessed for ADHD. It was agreed that I do have some traits of ADHD, but ultimately not enough to get a diagnosis. Whilst this is what I was expecting, ultimately I wanted to be able to take medication to deal with these things, so now I feel like I just have to deal with it on my own and I don't know what to do.

That's the general feeling about all this, to be honest. I struggle so much with so many things, so what do I do?

With executive functioning difficulties, it is because the autistic mind-set is in a consistent state of freeze, fight or flight ~ and is therefore primarily focused in the hear and now; involving a narrower and extended range of focusing towards a single state of being (i.e., staying alive), a single outcome (i.e., being successful) or a single objective (i.e., exit and safety) ~ to lesser or greater proportions in terms of percentiles; depending upon the circumstances.

Planning for the future and dealing with a broad spectrum of probabilities or also possibilities can therefore be disorienting or directionally overwhelming ~ particular if one’s sensibilities are not compatible with or not as yet adapted to the functional environment in question, hence autistic professionals having found their particular position with the most befitting employers ~ or else having become self employed in their most befitting field of specialisation.

Another difficulty that is often overlooked ~ is that autistic people can have great difficulties in respect of using the short term memory; but much greater capacity in respect of using their long term memory ~ so making sure one has got the practical side of things well accounted for; the theory of which therefore gets carried much more effectively.

Megan said:

I have a retail job that is only part-time but it drains me so much that I can't bring myself to do anything outside of it - I am trying to look at other jobs, but none of them want to hire me.

I am being referred for CBT but I have heard really bad things about it and worry that it won't do anything.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) can be very effective with the right therapists, such as those who have a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics and mechanics of autistic mind-sets, or can appropriately facilitate, identify and affirm their patient’s developmental individuation.

One thing that could be pointed out for instance ~ regarding your search for more befitting employment, is not to state that ‘none’ of them in the present tense ‘want’ to hire you ~ because such thinking can become or may already be self defeating in the long-term.

One might better state for instance something along the lines of ‘despite not getting hired as yet; I am making applications for more befitting employment’ ~ so despite obstacles, they are being overcome, rather than involving an unsuccessful full stop, as it were.

Megan said:

If others, particularly those who aren't men, could share their experiences with me that would be great.

Generally I just feel so stuck right now and wanted to vent a little to people who would understand, I hope that's okay.

Well in terms of wanting to vent to like-minded people ~ that’s totally okay, and the community membership will certainly advise or accompany you on your journey in whatever way they are able.

Megan said:

I'd really appreciate some advice or things I can actually do, too. Does it ever get easier?

It certainly can be easier once you understand yourself better and can as such apply yourself in more befitting and efficient ways, such as living much less as a non-autistic person and much more as an autistic person in the most accommodating ways ~ which will of course depend upon you as being a particularly unique individual (in the most complimentary sense).

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope I can figure things out soon.

Maybe learn to progressively figure things out in the time that you do ~ rather than perhaps going so much for hop, skip, jump and thud moments ~ which can seriously hinder one in both the shorter and the longer terms, whereas going heel to toe step by step along the path of life ~ without missing a step ~ can really lead to being way more adept and proficient over the longer term.

Anyway, I hope you had a wonderful birthday, and you really enjoy being a community member here!