Scared of going for a diagnosis

Hi All,

I'm new to community and looking for general support and advise...

I have been slowly coming to realisation that I'm likely Autistic and it has taken a lot of time piecing things together to come to this point.

The issue I'm now having is going for a diagnosis scares me silly. I worry about not being authentic and it all being in my head. Being a woman and learning to mask to survive to a level that I'm not even aware of scares me that I might not get the diagnosis. Having no-one from my childhood years that can provide information, very little of my own memory as a child and evidence as a child also means I worry I can't get diagnosis.  

These doubts stop my going ahead as it become too overwhelming for me, but I also need help to then start the unmasking process and get help getting to know people. I feel quite lonely at the moment and don't really have friends or family I can open up to.

Bit of a ramble above, but looking to see have others had this same experience of emotions and feeling of the process? Some confirmation from others of similar experiences to my own could really help alleviate the anxiety.

Also, any advise on your experience as a woman going through process would be gladly received.

Thank, Alice

Parents
  • Hi Alice I an awaiting assessment in UK, via right to choose. My therapist brought it to my attention that I am certainly neurodivergent and through reading books  and talking to her I realise I am really very autistic!! So my advise would be to read lots, follow autistic social media people, spend time here reading other people’s experiences. I don’t have a parent to share my childhood milestones and habits etc, only have the information I can remember. I have been trying to unmask but as you say it’s not easy, I have been described as quirky as I freely stim in public but I never realised! Hopefully some other women will be able to comment.

  • That is so funny about your experience with therapist as I have had the exact same experience. They made me realise I am likely Autistic. I have also been called quirky! What books have you read? I will have a read through forum items as that will help too I'm sure. Thanks for replying

  • Therapists have seen people like us before, and I do imagine many of their clients are neurodivergent. We are hidden in plain sight! 

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