Has anyone been diagnosed with autism as an adult? I’ve never thought Much into it however the more I watch my daughter who is diagnosed the more I see myself in her. The more I research the more I’m like wow that sounds like me.
So many things sound like me the more research I do for my daughter.
I was always bright however I never felt like I fitted in and always said the wrong thing. I never got hidden meanings and still done. I either pretend or laugh along. Some things I know because I’ve heard and asked what they’ve meant and I’ve remembered.
Where do you start to get a diagnosis?
My social life and work like is affected because people get offended because I’m straight to the point and don’t soften things. I don’t do this on purpose and it’s something I’ve always struggled with.
Anyone have any tips? Is it worth being diagnosed?
5 Replies
Yes, I was diagnosed as an adult. It took me a long time to work up the effort and face the process. Mainly because at the time I had to go interstate because back then there were very few clinics doing adults.
It’s improved now. It’s relatively expensive but I have found the knowledge gained worth while in therapy. I didn’t bother getting a formal report written because I felt it wasn’t needed in my case.
I’ve personally found the mental health care plan is enough therapy for me to reach my goals.
I was diagnosed as an adult. I was 38 and I’m 46 now.
I’ve also got inattentive ADHD. It’s worth the diagnosis, just to know why you are the way you are, that you’re not defective or as my ex husband said, retarded 😭
I'm considering seeking a diagnosis at the moment. I suspect autism and potentially inattentive ADHD. I describe it as feeling like Mork from Ork (Mork and Mindy with Robin Williams - perhaps showing my age!) I always felt like I was an alien or there was some big secret to life that everyone else knew and I didn't: I always struggled socially, with appropriate behaviour, with anxiety, with executive function, with sensory issues but like many girls/ladies who go undiagnosed, I've been able to pick up social skills and mimic people *enough* to get by. I have special interests that I get super into, I tend to hyperfocus on certain things, or I struggle to focus on a task and end up with a bunch of half done tasks as I move about my day.
I have a friend who's around my age (40ish) who had her kids both diagnosed with ADHD and then sought diagnosis for herself after realising she displayed a lot of the same behaviours as her kids and she said getting treatment specific to her ADHD after having treatment for anxiety, depression, PMDD (all comorbids of autism and ADHD) has been life changing.
Hannah Gatsby explains it exactly "it's like being drunk in a room full of sober people, or the only sober person in a room full of drunks"
If you suspect it, I think having a diagnosis won’t change things dramatically for you, but it will help you understand a lot of situations better
I believe my partner is on the spectrum. His sister, dad and nephew have it. He was never tested though
We use to argue so much over stupid things. Now I’m not always right, but he can never be wrong. If it’s not in his world, it can’t be true. Things I’ve experienced first hand that he hasn’t, would never happen so I’m obviously lying/wrong.
Once I came to the conclusion he has it, I did my research, spoke to a professional and have been given strategies on dealing with certain things. We nearly made it 2 years without having a “big” fight because I changed my tactics and learn which battles to forfeit
Last one was because I was getting over a 3 week sickness, 3 children with it and a teething baby. It felt So drained it was like my soul was exhausted. But because he wasn’t feeling it too (because he didn’t get it as bad) I should have been able to continue with normal life.
I don’t know if him knowing will make such a difference, but maybe when I say ‘this is how I feel’ he might acknowledge it differently instead of assuming what he thinks I feel 🤷🏻♀️
Could help you from that point of view, or your partners?