Asd did your diagnosis help you ? How?

[cleo333]

Hi . Can I pick your brains as I'm worried about my stepson ?
He's 24 and a lovely lad but clearly struggling socially and unhappy with his life he can also fixate on things . . He says he doesn't know what to say when with others , doesn't fit in and gets overwhelmed . He talks a lot about wanting to get away , live off grid thinking that will solve all his problems but we think he will be v isolated and will get lower ( his partner says he v low and struggling socially also worried about him )
. We talked about a potential diagnosis before but would like to know what if any are the benefits you found having this ? We really want to help him be happier but don't know how and any ideas would be appreciated

[WeirdPookah]

It's helped me to be somewhat kinder to myself.
I now can tell myself it is not "being lazy" when after doing a horrible supermarket shop I am wiped out and can't do another task. It's that I really am worn out mentally and need to re-group.

I am TRYING to make me feel better about nasty adult bullies who never grew up and still harass people who are not their idea (thank god I'm not) of normal. I know it's their problem, that essentially they are the problem. Not me.

It's allowed me to use things like noise cancelling earphones when I take my family to karate, it's too loud for me and it was stressing me so much. These accommodations being "allowed" makes it better.

I also wore a sunflower lanyard when I had to take my child to the hospital and I am glad I did, as when they made us wait 2 hours beyond our appointment time, in 30'c+ room, and then said they wouldn't help, I broke down and cried and I felt I got better treatment than if I hadn't been wearing it. They understood I was utterly overwhelmed.
And when wearing it and being selected for a trolley check on self checkouts, he commented quietly and clearly and said he would make it as quick as possible. Slightly condescending perhaps, but I'm going to take it as a positive that he meant well, and was trying to do the right thing, whilst not knowing what my needs actually were.

And above all these practical things, it tells me I'm not broken. I'm autistic and that's me. To use something I read online, I'm not a rubbish racehorse, I'm a perfect zebra!

[Bluefell]

Firstly he can apply for PIP which might give him some financial support. Secondly it allows him to request reasonable adjustments for his disability in the workplace or elsewhere. Thirdly it just helps you understand why you are a certain way. Instead of thinking you’re a shit normal person, you can forgive yourself and realise you’re a perfectly normal autistic person. And knowing what your problems are allows you to develop workarounds and get help when needed.