Autism diagnosis as an adult

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2006
Posts
11,374
Location
Derbyshire
Evening all.
Yesterday I completed an NHS ASD assessment. At the end of a 3h 40 min review they diagnosed me with Autism. I am now also on the waiting list for ADHD.

Throughout my life I have found other people hard to understand, and I definitely lack empathy.
Over the years I have posted here about struggling with a PhD and in various jobs as a design engineer. In Sept 2020 I moved to a new role where I was working from home 24/7. Six months in this broke me.

It feels quite strange to be in my 30s and obtain some understanding on why I see the world the way I do.

I am very hard on myself, however I am doing well enough in life (own house, car etc.). I know I am very intelligent, but there is something that I feel is 'missing'.

This won't change who I am, but it will help with encouraging employers to be more understanding.
There is definitely a feeling of upset as throughout school, university and work this has without question greatly affected me. There is also a sense of relief though too.

I am posting as I bet there are many OcUKers who can share there experiences.
 
Bassmansam said:
What do you struggle with the most OP? Social interactions, making small talk?
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I struggle with aiming for perfection, work place deadlines, workplace politics, some OCD traits too but I hide those quite well. My biggest struggle is working with people who are lazy or incompetent. I also am not particularly sympathetic. I will help you solve the problem though.
 
DanTheMan said:
Obviously autism is a wide spectrum but I'd like to think if you're self aware enough to acknowledge your autistic traits and express how they affect you, then you're doing well.

What are the options from diagnosis? Is it a case of understanding your issues in more detail and learning to accommodate them into your life?
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The report will take around a month to come through. I'd like to understand the issues really. I'm in full time employment as an engineer at a large firm, however people have never been very understanding/accommodating about the way I see things.

It is very interesting to hear the experience of others :).
 
arknor said:
but do you just have whats basically a report/statement the same as I got or did you have proper tests/charts etc like my ex in another country?

Diagnosis via Video call seems weird they don't see all your body language and emotions/lack off in a call surely? your not worried about mis diagnosis or pretty much already knew you were autistic and just wanted confirmation? which is pretty much how I felt.

everything I read about autism made sense of my life basically, so it was kinda confirmed for me at that point.

was still a shock when they said it though
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I have to wait 4-6 weeks for a report, but I am not quite sure what format that will take.
Personally I would have preferred a real face to face assessment, but this is what I was offered at short notice. I'd been waiting >18 months and was lucky enough to be offered an appointment due to a cancellation.
I really was looking for confirmation. I had strong confidence that I had it.
 
Efour said:
So if you get diagnosed what is that actually gonna do to help you? Not being mean just genuinely curious.
Is it some form of conformation fallacy, so you can blame your crap lives on that diagnosis then move on or accept you got a genetically weak hand at life, also move on?
Get to go to some crap support group 1h a week and meet likeminded people that don't want to be there.....
Is this just not a severe case of "deal with it" or don't and stay as you are. Are you expecting medication to turn you into some kind of happy zombie. I've seen it, its fake and horrible.
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I don't for a second think it is an excuse not to succeed, I feel that in my 30s it can only help me. I have a photographic memory for one thing, which is likely why I came top of my engineering degree. Autistic people are usually highly intelligent.

I do think that a few people will blame their lack of success in life on Autism, but then those type of people are looking for anything to blame for their lack of success. Your life is a cumulative result of your actions/choices. I personally think that 75% of the public are morons.

I've got a well paid career with a decent house and a couple of cars. My only debt is the house. I passionately believe these things should permit help to succeed, not be used as a reason not to.

I find the diagnosis useful for a few reasons:
1) Employer is more understanding when I get frustrated.
2) Due to 1) it allows me to be even better at work. I can cope with more responsibility.
3) Due to 2) I now worry less about work at home and I am awake less at night worrying.
4) Allows me to not blame myself for all the times in the past I have struggled socially.

The below (at least to me) are not reasons for wanting a diagnosis:
1) Take some sick leave.
2) Dodge responsibility at work.
3) Avoid personal blame by pinning your life failings on a 'label'.
4) Stop working and get on the free cash.

As for medication, I haven't been offered anything as a result of an autism diagnosis.

LuckyBenski said:
You struggle with your energy levels and find yourself often sleepy, unable to perform at work, it affects your personal and social life. Either you're exhausted from your job or you're underperforming because you decided to see friends last night.

Sleep doesn't seem to help. Exercise isn't doing it. You just don't understand why you're unpredictably tired most days. Always been this way.
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This sounds very relevant to me.
 
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