Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some support. I have a private autism assessment coming up soon after being rejected by the NHS (ANDS). They felt I didn't fit some of the more "classic" traits, particularly rigid routines, and many of my difficulties were attributed to anxiety based on my GP records.
This has left me with a lot of doubts about whether I'm actually autistic. While I do experience anxiety, I don't feel it fully explains my lifelong sensory issues, social difficulties, executive functioning struggles, and difficulties coping with change.
I'm also a woman, and I've wondered whether female presentations of autism were fully considered, as I've read that autism in women can sometimes present differently from traditional stereotypes.
A few questions:
• Has anyone been diagnosed without obvious rigid routines or stereotypical special interests?
• If you're a woman diagnosed later in life, were your traits ever mistaken for anxiety or something else?
• What should I expect during an adult autism assessment, and is there anything you wish you'd known beforehand?
Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
