I got a diagnosis. What now?

[Ifixfastjets]

I got the results from my autism assessment today.
I scored very high on each of the sections.

What can I expect to happen now?
I am female, 40 something, england. If that makes any difference?

Hi, OP! I am sorry, you do seem upset. What would you like to happen? In what ways is it affecting your life? Can therapy help?

HI OP, I was diagnosed three years ago and tbh not much has changed in my life apart from acknowledgment that I am autistic.

Have they given you any info at all.

My psychologist gave me a book called "Glimpses of Autism" written by someone diagnosed later in life.

Well, you're still the same person.

No info yet.
Waiting for my next appt. I guess I should get info then?
I'm not upset. Quite pleased actually. I think I knew it was coming.
What do I want to happen? No idea!
And to PP, yes, I would love a goodie bag with noise cancelling headphones!

Thanks whisky. I will try and find that book

@Ohnomoreno

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

What's wrong with you?

Nothing would really happen from the diagnosis, what sort of things were you thinking?

If you work and choose to disclose your diagnosis to your workplace then you may now be able to have some reasonable adjustments made (if you require any).

@Ifixfastjets

I took a member of staff through assessment via occupational health
It enabled us to put in place a number of reasonable adjustments.

We looked at the things which caused him particular stress at work, eg giving him a fixed desk, instead of hot desking. We did think carefully about how his workload was managed, his work pattern etc.

I do believe we did in fact get him a pair of noise cancelling headphones.

As a mum to a teenager with ASD, I think the value of the diagnosis in adulthood is being able to understand your own behaviours and reactions to things and to find strategies to help you.

When my son was going through the assessment, we were told that a diagnosis won't actually change anything - the most it will do is open doors, and that's been true. So although we could have applied for an EHCP without the diagnosis, having that did help the process along definitely. It also means for him that it gives us options for different schools, and his school recognises the difficulties he faces, but on a day to day basis, nothing is that different really, he is still him.

And I imagine as an adult, there will be even fewer changes. Like a PP said, if you work, your workplace will be obliged to make adjustments for you, which if you hadn't had the diagnosis I think they could have got away with not doing.

Is there anything day today that you struggle with and that you could do with help with? You may be able to apply for assistance in that respect.

Yes, I work.
I have had my job for well over 10 years!
There are a couple of adjustments I think I could ask for.
I will talk to our "mental health team"(how posh are we??) Tomorrow.

Why all the deleted messages?

Glad you got a diagnosis OP, it should help you be able to access tailored support and hopefully understand yourself a little better. My MH improved massively once I had an ADHD diagnosis as I stopped beating myself up over things I couldn't control, and didn't compare myself to others as much.

I think things just gradually feel like they make sense. I suppose the older you are when you get diagnosed, the longer it takes to fully integrate the information into your self-image (basing this on family members, so not fully scientific study ).

I think women and older girls sometimes just suddenly give up “masking” on diagnosis and relax a bit. Feel that coming on?

I think @babbaloushka has nailed it.

I can now say NO to things and leave it. I no longer feel the need to explain why I couldn't cope. That in itself has seriously reduced my stress levels.

Can I ask how easy it was to obtain the diagnosis? Since my 2 children were diagnosed I have questioned myself and difficulty in early life.

Please can I ask how it came about that you got a diagnosis - did you go to your GP and ask for an assessment?

To those asking..

1. See your gp. Tell them you think you could be autistic.
2. While you are with the gp, they ask (about?) 10 questions.

Nothing too bad. Along the lines of- do you feel different, do you struggle with phone/eye contact etc

1. They score your answers on the mini-test and if appropriate, refer you to the assessment team.

3 the assessment team contact you and offer you an appointment.

1. You have a longer "interview " with the team, asking more about your history, as well as any current issues/struggles.
2. They disect all your info and give you a 'result'

Or something along those lines. Obviously covid is making it hard to see a gp now. Which has made me realise how long I was waiting! Need my adhd one next Will ask about that at my next appointment.

Not the same thing but in uni was diagnosed with Irlens syndrome for me it made me understand myself better.

That’s the biggest thing

To anybody thinking about following this path, they do prefer it if you can have a parent with you for the assessment

If not, make notes about significant things you remember about your childhood.
Eg I hated dolls. I would not play with a doll. My parents tried to get me to play dolls with other local small girls. No. I would not change my game just to fit in with the other kids.
I was much happier away from other kids in general. In fact, i was happiest at the pub with my dad. Playing cards. Mini rain-man at 6 years old. Beating all the men at black jack or rummy.

for me it made me understand myself better

I am going to echo thefishthatcouldwish and is incredibly important for both children and adults who receive an ASD diagnosis (probably any other). It has made a huge, huge change in how my children perceive themselves, life-changing and very positive. I have seen the same in adults. There can be some grief, of how life could have been lived differently, perspectives changing but ultimately all good. Good luck!

Happy Autieday! What happens now is that you come to accept (if you haven't already done so) the fabulous neurodivergant person that you are and drop any notion that you are in some way broken!

Regarding reasonable adjustments - you may or may not actually get them, but you have every right to expect them, and you've the paperwork to prove it.

Now you do whatever you want to do - just be yourself!