Anyone who has been diagnosed with autism as an adult?

[hottchocolate]

I really think I am autistic. I am interested to speak with others who have made this a realisation as adult although I realise I cannot diagnose myself. I wonder if I approach a gp what would they even do? I don't think I need support but I think I could also have adhd and it does impact my work so there could be something I could do to address this.

[Itsrainingoverhere]

Hi there
I wondered if you could approach your occupational health regarding work adjustments, sometimes a diagnoses is t necessary.
maybe you could look on the National autistic society website for further information
The GP can discuss with you and highly likely put in a referral for an assessment if that’s what you wanted to achieve.
I would also suggest following some people who are autistic / adhd to get a sense of neurodiversity and celebration of difference.

[halfpasteleven]

I'm in Ireland but I highly recommend following Stephanie Preissner on Instagram.
She is autistic, a journalist and a screen writer. Also a busy mum of two very young children!
Has lots of tips for understanding and living with autism, including ways to get a diagnosis.

Best of luck- sometimes I think we are all on a spectrum of some sorts!

[MsCrawford]

My DH had a bit of a realisation about this when school spoke to us about DD and autism. When we filled in assessments for her we could see a lot of it described him, and he contacted the GP to refer for diagnosis. This was purely to help our DD so with her diagnosis, she knows she is not alone- she is like her dad. So you can contact the Gp for help with this

[Punxsutawney]

I was diagnosed privately a couple of years ago. My autistic traits have always and still continue to impact my life significantly and I do need support. The NHS have accepted my diagnosis without question.
The GP can refer you, but it could be a long wait.

I think we are all on a spectrum of some sorts!
Not everyone is on the autistic spectrum.

[colourblindrainbow]

Yes I have, just a couple of years ago.
I had suspected for some time that I have “high functioning autism” and my children are neurodivergent too.
I spoke to my gp who listened, said he agreed and referred me on and then I got my diagnosis about 18 months later I think it was, may have been slightly less, the last few years have been a blur.
It helps to know for sure as it helps me understand myself and accept myself more but I wish there was more support.
From the outside I am “high functioning” but the inside of my brain is a daily battle!
I would suggest to speak to the gp as a first step. You can tell them what your concerns are, the traits you notice in yourself and how it impacts your life. It helped me to have a list ready of everything I wanted to say.

[colourblindrainbow]

In fact I think I am even fooling myself there. I probably don’t seem as high functioning as I did when I was working. I’m currently not and don’t know how to get myself back into it either. I guess I just mean from an “everything is well” kind of perspective I probably seem high functioning.

[hottchocolate]

Thanks everyone and @colourblindrainbow

what you say really resonated with me: "It helps to know for sure as it helps me understand myself and accept myself more but I wish there was more support. 
From the outside I am “high functioning” but the inside of my brain is a daily battle!"

I am noticing in it everyday things at work like really struggling with interruptions. I'm in a senior role and if people approach me to ask questions I often cannot unwrap my head around what I was doing and then digest what they are saying to me. I must have always been like this but I am noticing it now.

I often do not understand what people are asking for unless they spell it out.

The usual awkwardness with people, not knowing how to respond to things, being too blunt or black and white.

Struggling with noise, people being too close, even smells. I have to have certain bowls, cutlery, cups even at home.

I think I will seek a diagnosis as I believe it will help me manage myself better. I'm not sure whether to share with my employer but I suppose it should not hurt. I worry about being judged.

[colourblindrainbow]

I think all of these things you have listed are traits worth mentioning.
As far as interruptions go, I hate being interrupted but I am also awful at interrupting. I have had to teach myself to really pause before talking as I HATE being rude but I was coming across that way by interrupting unintentionally so much.
I would make a list including things that affect you in different categories. Social, emotional, behavioural, sensory, physical (anything you may do such as rocking, other self stimulatory? things you do that help you regulate etc). One I get really embarrassed about is hitting myself in the head when everything gets too overwhelming. I manage to mask it around others and tend to shut down more than explode but when I am alone it happens and it’s really hard to control, it’s so draining.
I would think about how others would describe you also. I don’t have many people close to me but the people who are usually just describe me as unique, eccentric, different etc etc.
I thought I was just really weird and awkward until I learned more about autism and things started making sense!
I wish I knew from being young but I didn’t and it has probably been detrimental to not get support but I am learning now.
I don’t have great emotional regulation but I do mask allot. I would love for there to be specific therapy on the nhs once you receive a diagnosis as an adult but there is not. You get your diagnosis and that is it. I suppose it depends on what you hope to get out of it.
Good luck!

[Psychoticbreak]

The only thing a diagnosis will do is confirm things for you to be honest. I am in Ireland and diagnosed last year as an adult and all it really has done is make me realise why I am the way I am. I initially went for adhd diagnosis which was confirmed and now on medication for that but the asd did surprise me but now I have read books and listened to audibles and understand things that bit more but you are who you are and all you need to do is reconcile that with yourself.

[hottchocolate]

@colourblindrainbow I do this too. I have a natural inclination for interrupting people when they are speaking and have to make a conscious effort not to do it.

i hate when people interrupt me when I'm talking or if I'm working.

Thinking of symptoms in different settings is a good idea. I definitely mask a lot.

@Psychoticbreak I think just knowing for myself will help a lot.

[MorrisZapp]

My brother had an adult diagnosis, following on from his teenage son being diagnosed.

Brother is very glad of the diagnosis, it's helped him to unravel lots of issues in his childhood and adult life.

Takes absolutely ages but every girlfriend he ever had told him he was autistic. I say told, they were probably shouting 🤣

[Barbarachicken]

I was diagnosed last year as both autistic and combined type ADHD. It has explained decades of difficulty & mental health problems. I am now much kinder to myself in general, & try not to compare myself unfavourably to NT peers. It is still quite early days since the diagnosis & it's a lot to come to terms with (even though I had worked it out for myself approx 2 years leading up to my assessment). I would recommend any adult woman to seek diagnosis as lots of us have been missed. Edited to add that I also now don't hesitate to seek clarification / repetition particularly when being given verbal instructions. Before I would not always understand or retain what had been said! I also say 'no' to things, and factor in way more alone time than ever before. I understand that this is now vital for me to cope with day to day life and challenges.

[whatisforteamum]

Following with interest.
Awaiting an ADHD assessment but I have little quirks.
Can't stand loud TV and wear earplugs at night.
Same dishes or cups at home
Don't understand team sports or socialising with colleagues
Been told I'm rude or blunt not meaning to be..
Lots of severe anxiety.
Depression
Eating disorder and need for control
I don't like people in my house
Can be clumsy and uncoordinated
Like work as it provides structure.
I think I have ASD

[LoveSandbanks]

I don't like people in my house

are there people that DO like people in their house? This is utterly incomprehensible to me. But I have an adhd assessment next week and am seeking an autism diagnosis after that 🤣

why would you not have a favourite mug?

[whatisforteamum]

I have morning coffee mugs and herbal tea ones for eve.😆😆

[colourblindrainbow]

I also had an eating disorder for a few years…. Now I’m just fat! Well actually, I’m not sure I’m huge but in comparison to how I was (size 6-8) I am now a 12-14 and I don’t carry my weight well around my stomach and bingo wings but I like food way too much now to do that to myself again! I do however struggle with the right nutrition sometimes as I really can’t put some textures in my mouth because I will gag and be sick! And I also tend to get into patterns of eating the exact same thing for ages!
And I HATE people in my house! Except for me and my children. I have ONE other person who is a friend who I feel comfortable with being here but only when it’s been planned and I know what time she’s coming and leaving. I love my home and would love to be able to be more welcoming but it makes me not ok levels of anxious!

[colourblindrainbow]

I have 2 mugs that I like to use and I have a coffee and tea rule…. If the day starts with a coffee, I can only have coffee all day and if the day starts with tea, I can only have tea all day. I’m about 80/20 coffee to tea!

[colourblindrainbow]

Also forget to drink allot of the time. I don’t feel thirst I don’t think, just sore throat, dry mouth and dry lips remind me! If anyone else struggles with this and has a solution please share the information!

[hottchocolate]

I have specific bowls and plates I'll use, cutlery and cups / mugs. To the point that if DH gives my a different knife and fork I'll get up to swap them.

I don't mind people coming over in a way as I prefer that to going out but lately I have found it so draining. I don't like people interrupting my routine and seem to need a lot of downtime and after a while get tired and irritable l. I am only happy with people in the loving area, don't like it if someone sits in my spot on the sofa or too close to me and feel a bit intruded on if people follow me to the kitchen when I'm getting drinks although I think this is normal?

It is interesting to read others' experiences so thank you for sharing.

[hottchocolate]

Also forget to drink allot of the time. I don’t feel thirst I don’t think, just sore throat, dry mouth and dry lips remind me! If anyone else struggles with this and has a solution please share the information!

@colourblindrainbow i don't forget to drink but not sure I drink enough. I find it hard to concentrate for long periods so when I'm working from my home I set timers on my phone for an hour or less and then get up to go downstairs and have a drink. You could also have a bottle of water. I don't drink tea and coffee so mainly water.

[Bluefell]

I have autism. The doctor who diagnosed me called it “mild”. I rock back and forth when I’m upset or concentrating hard. I fidget. I struggle to make eye contact and have to fake it. I can’t separate speaking voices from background noise. My hearing switches off entirely when I’m focusing on something else. I don’t like bright lights or loud noises. I have all-consuming obsessions. I’ve never had a friend. I get told I’m rude because I’m blunt and factual. I have anxiety and depression. I talk to myself out loud without knowing I’m doing it, and spend hours rehearsing conversations. Sometimes I get stuck on one line like a broken record and just repeat it over and over.

This is what’s considered mild - virtually borderline to even get a diagnosis. Just to help you put your own issues in perspective. I was on the waiting list for four years and I’m not considered disabled enough to qualify for support.

[AceofPentacles]

Autism is usually diagnosed when it impacts daily living activities, such as not being able to navigate friendships or relationships, finding it difficult to get or stay in a job/having difficulties with colleagues or authority figures. Routines that would impact 'normal' things that others do eg travel, attend crowded places, eat food from an unknown menu etc . Not trying to trivialise anyone's experiences here by the way.

From my experience I knew I was autistic because of the struggles I had in childhood with friends, then leaving school early, having abusive relationships and so on. I used to ask my mum if I was adopted or if she had got the year of my birth wrong, as I felt something was not right about me or my life and I didn't fit in anywhere.

I also do have a routine and eat the same foods every day, do the same things at the same time etc too.

A great book to read is Autism in Women and Girls by Sarah Hendrickx- she also has some talks on YouTube

[sandgrown]

My son was recently diagnosed , as an adult, with ADHD and traits of autism . I realised a while ago that I often interrupt people. I don’t wish to be rude . It’s just that my brain works fast and wants to get my response out. I am consciously trying to stop myself now and apologise if I do .

[lul1]

I was diagnosed 5 years ago at 35.

My GP put me on the waiting list for an assessment. I waited either 2 or 3 years.

[pinkpuppy98]

I was diagnosed as autistic as an adult in my twenties. It arose because at that time I was undergoing a very stressful transition - moving away from home and starting a new job, and I suppose all the traits I'd been masking for years finally came to the surface.

I have read that late-diagnosed women in particular often get diagnosed following significant life events/transitions that disrupt their coping mechanisms - e.g. leaving school, starting uni, moving house, starting a new job, having children or menopause. I don't think it's a coincidence that I also had an eating disorder aged 11, during another time of transition for me (moving to a new town and starting a new school). In hindsight I imagine it was a means of regaining control and predictability during a time of chaos and uncertainty.