Newly diagnosed with autism at 56

[Blackcats7]

I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and ocd for the past 24 years but just today been told I have high functioning autism. I know it is frequently missed in women and most of the diagnostic tools and tests are based on male presentations.
I am a bit shocked but the more I think about it the more it makes sense of how I am.
Anybody else had this diagnosis late in life? And has anything helped you make sense of things?
Has it made any difference to your life now you know?

I was diagnosed at 24 so not quite so late in life. I came to the conclusion myself so the diagnosis was more the confirmation I was looking for- plenty of other potential diagnosis’s were floating around (EUPD or bi-polar) and autism was actually the one that felt the best fit but was also the most palatable! So for me the diagnosis was more a relief.

On the advice of my DH, I took a few months to just process and in some ways regressed a little bit as I learnt about parts of my “quirks” that were actually autism. It’s a big thing to come to terms with- a whole new identity. Once I felt comfortable with it, I started making some changes in my life- got reasonable adjustments at work, dropped a group of “friends” I realised weren’t actually friends, built in time in my schedule to recuperate after big social occasions. My DH is wonderful at helping me talk things through as I also had an awful lot of memories and experiences that I wanted to revisit knowing I was autistic. I realised in a lot of them I hadn’t been wrong or rude or weak- I just didn’t know I was autistic, or people were taking advantage of me or was doing the best I could with the brain I have!

I keep autism front and centre these days- making sure I don’t overdo things, understand my sensory triggers etc and also what sensory experiences are a positive for me. 8 years on from diagnosis and I’m now looking at my executive function challenges and using shared experiences on the internet to help me understand my challenges and what I could do to improve them.

It’s a constant balancing act but I am infinitely happier living my life this way, I’m no longer trying to fit into a world that doesn’t work for me and I understand that the way I am is exactly who I’m meant to be. I also have MUCH better relationships in all elements of life being able to explain to people that I’m autistic!

I was diagnosed with autism when I was pregnant with my now (almost) 2 and a half year old at 25 years old. I am 28 now and I am hopeful that when the time comes to try and get back into working I will be able to get some support/assistance/understanding. I was pretty much fired from my last job for not engaging in small talk and other unnecessary to the job conversations with the other members of staff which I don’t think is fair with or without a diagnosis but I’m hoping that having one will stop them from being able to bully/force me into such interactions. I think it will also help me to not feel so bad about being unable to work full time as I doubt that I ever will be able to.
As for right now, it is good to know as I don’t make friends with the other mums in baby/toddler classes as easily as most of the others and I know that is not my fault and it is okay!!
There’s nothing really out there in terms of support for autistic adults unless you can afford the expensive counselling ect. which is a shame as it would be nice to meet others like me I think 🤔

Yes just been disgnosed and more or less same age.
I feel the relief and robbed combined and shocked at people's responses who dismiss it.
Glad I have it though as now can process and understand.