Unexpected Autism diagnosis

[Bayleaftree63]

Has anyone had an unexpected Autism diagnosis, specifically in their 30s? If so, did it help in your day to day?

Sorry, but I am curious as to how an autism diagnosis can be unexpected late in life?.
People tend to approach their GP and end up on waiting lists for years because they already suspect they are autistic. It is never a surprise. It is not like it comes up during an appointment for something else.

It was a surprise to me. I was in therapy for years and my therapist pushed me to look into it.

I was 100% against it, but persued it just to say "see?" However, I was diagnosed in 5 weeks through Right to Choose and it absolutely floored me. That was February this year, and I am 47.

I am still very confused about it all and haven't had any of this amazing "support" people go on about.

If anything, life is worse because I've come across a hell of a lot of prejudice and ignorance when disclosing my diagnosis.

I am normal. It is everyone else who is weird! But that is my perspective because that is what I've been used to.

Although it does explain all the abuse, my honesty, my over sharing, my struggles... I've been told at times I'm weak/too much/strong/naive/confident!!

Confusing

Why not? OP night have had an appointment about her mental health, not realising that the symptoms pointed that way.

My family member on her 30s just thought she had anxiety. Came away with, if not an official diagnosis, a very strong suggestion that she might well be autistic

A lot of parents get diagnosed after the children. The reason things are normal within families is it's normal for them. It's their normal experience of family life. It's often not until school pick up issues with the children that further down the line the parents get diagnosed or at least have more insight into what might be.

So yes it can be later for adults. My daughter wasn't diagnosed until 14 and I had her at 35 years.

@saraclara this is exactly what happened, you could have written that on my behalf :)

Thank you for replying. I could have written the above myself, it’s nice to know someone else understands :)

Also nice to know I'm not alone in this. If it weren't for my therapist, I would have gone through my whole life thinking PTSD and my weird coping mechanisms/break downs/exhaustion waste cause.

PTSD is a symptom of trying to navigate through a world that is insane to me, trying to fit in when I simply don't!

So I'm learning to stop trying to fit in and fully be the stone cold, awesome weirdo I've always knew I was.

Today I'm wearing a witch's hat which I've decorated with ivy and clay mushrooms that I made myself.