Adult autism assessment

[Honeybuzzard]

Hi everyone,

just posting this really for a vent and hopefully a hand hold. I am very sure I am autistic, in my 30s. Until a few years ago I always thought the things I struggle with were down to anxiety, but actually now I see it’s quite different to that. I’ve been quietly identifying with autism during this time and the more I read the more things make sense.

I think a formal diagnosis would be helpful, especially for work, as there’s so many little things that make being in the workplace more stressful than necessary for me and I think having a diagnosis would make me feel more confident in asking for reasonable adjustments / flexibility. I’d also just like to keep understanding myself better. My issue is that I’m too scared to try to go down the nhs pathway, as I worry my GP won’t even refer me - this has happened to a few friends of mine who then went on to be diagnosed privately. I am also very aware of the painfully long wait times. I’m in Scotland.

I have been looking at private clinics but I just don’t have the money. I can maybe save £200 a month from my wages, currently only have £100 savings. But that could mean around a years wait, given no doubt I’ll need to use money for other life things in that time. I thought, well I’ll just take out a loan, but I’ve just checked different websites and they’ve all come back to say it’s unlikely I’ll be accepted for what I need.

I just feel upset, impatient, and I suppose hurt, thinking of how this has been missed for 30+ years, which I know a lot of late diagnosed women will identify with :(

I was diagnosed at 35. 3 years ago. I was shocked that my parents / school / co workers / doctors hadn't suggested it. I was on the waiting list 3 years.

Definitely see your doctor to go onto the list.

I was diagnosed in my 50s. It wasn't really that useful but I did feel angry that it would have been far more useful if I'd found out much earlier.

It is what it is though. We can't get angry about not being diagnosed much earlier because the whole understanding of the condition is really still in its infancy.

And we mask the condition of course, so it's often not correctly diagnosed until we work it out for ourselves. As I said - it is what it is.

For what it's worth I had a diagnosis within 10 months of mentioning to my GP that I suspected ASD. By

The waiting list will probably take as long as it takes you to save, so you may as well go on it! I'm on a waiting list, been a year so far with another year to wait. I get what you are saying about things making sense, and I'm 20 years older than you. Good luck OP.

Thanks everyone. I suppose trying to get on the NHS list may be worth it as I could try and save at the same time. I am just anxious about even asking due to experiences of my friends, both of who were flat out refused even referral to the appropriate services for various reasons such as being “successful” / married / appearing well “functioning” (using genuine examples here). I know I can only try but I feel so sensitive about it all just now I worry about that potential rejection.

I do think when the pieces start to finally click it’s easy to get very impatient and want definite answers immediately, isn’t It?

Being 'successful' really isn't an indicator against autism. I'm fact being outwardly 'successful' but privately a bit 'lost' is possibly an indicator towards it.

I'm afraid I've nothing really positive to say to you but I found the book 'Neurotribes' (available on Audible if you don't like reading) very useful in understanding the wide spectrum of the condition and losing the anger over not being diagnosed as a child.

I know that personally about being successful, it was my friend’s GP who said that to her when she asked to be referred, he was very dismissive. it’s sad that I have heard of a few doctors / other healthcare providers having attitudes like that which is a barrier in itself.

thanks for the book recommendation, I will check it out

Nowadays you can probably self-refer to your local mental health service and have them refer you for diagnosis - miss out the obstructive GP completely.