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Scared of going for a diagnosis

Alice

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, your experience feels very similar to mine. I'm 37 and have wondered for years but finally got the courage to go to my GP about a diagnosis before Xmas. I've now been diagnosed but still struggle with thinking it's all in my head, or that I've somehow tricked everyone. I'm not sure if those thoughts will ever really go away but I try to focus on the fact that the assessor clearly saw something in me that made her very confident in her diagnosis.

    What I did was print off a list of autistic traits and highlighted the ones I saw in myself. I also listed some experiences from my life that I felt backed up my case. Then I just contacted my GP and requested a referral. That was the hardest part, but once you've done that you're 'in the system' and you'll know one way or another at the end. I took my husband with me to the Dr for support and my printed list in case I forgot what to say.

    I hope this helps but let me know if you have any questions.

  • in reply to SilmarilCritter

    Oh I should also point out that I didn't feel comfortable asking my parents to be my informants so I asked my husband who has known me for 18 years. I was worried they wouldn't accept that but they did. I mostly had to rely on my memories from childhood rather than any evidence but still got the diagnosis. Basically, don't feel like you can't try for a diagnosis without parents/historical evidence

  • in reply to SilmarilCritter

    Thanks and I'm of very similar age and situation to you. It gives me a little bit of peace of mind that it will be ok to go ahead based on where I am

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