AIBU autism hand hold please

[towonderifimnormal]

Sorry to post on here but posting for traffic really and wondering I'm unreasonable if I went to the GP over this.
For all my life I've never fit in. I've had friends but lost most of them from social anxiety and cancelling plans last second, to ignoring messages because I'm to anxious to reply incase I sound like a idiot. I've also had long periods in life where I've had no friends at all.
I don't like loud noises and I have melt downs at the littlest of things. If I get spooked I go from zero to 100 in seconds although I've calmed down in my adult life it still happens when I've not prepared myself for something happening. I don't like being out of routine and it makes me depressed. I don't like going out on my own incase I have to deal with people asking me questions or trying to have a conversation as I just can't do it. I have sensory issues to the point i destroyed my teeth from chewing things from aniexty.
I have very strong interests in cats and books and very little interest in anything else (bar my DC of course). I prefer animals to humans.
I'm beginning to wonder if I have autism, I have strong links to it in my family. Would I be unreasonable to go to the gp and ask for an assessment?
I've been diagnosed with mental health in the past of severe depression and anxiety and social anxiety but I'm really beginning to think I'm not depressed this is just how I am as a person as when things are going okay and routine is okay I am happy as anything. How do you even go about asking for an assessment does anyone know?

I just need some advice please mumsnet. This isn't something I can talk to family about but I recognise the signs in myself more and more as the years go on and I know I need to know deep down for my own sanity.

Go for it! My 13 year old ds has autism and severe learning disabilities and as a resultof us becoming much more knowledgeable about Autism my Dh has jyst been diagnosed age 49.

I would think you do. I realised I do when DS was diagnosed. I’ve never bothered with a diagnosis.

Here to hold your hand OP. A lot of what you’ve described sounds the same as my son who has autism. Go to the GP and hopefully you can begin down the path towards answers. Good on you for doing this op. X

Op, when you go to go it helps to have things written down . Most adult assessments ask you to ask your parents what you were like as a child as well as you questions. Write about your sensory issues as well. GP should refer you for assessment. Read about autism in women. Sometimes they need a push... good luck

I went for diagnosis in mid-40s and it’s been life changing. Now I know why I am.

So I’d recommend going for it (and I wrote a note for GP to read rather than try to talk about why I thought I was autistic - it was very helpful - and doctor said so too)

I found it really freeing to get diagnosed.

Just go to your gp and ask to be referred. I found it helpful to write down all the reasons I thought I was autistic and to print off one of those online assessments to take with me.

I am in a similar position, I have asked to get tested but I know there is a long wait. So I now assume I am ASD and treat everything I do as if I am. I think it would be good for you to get assessed too to help answer the questions you must have. I have so many - why did I behave like that, why did I upset someone at that wedding, all that stuff I otherwise have trouble understanding.