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Late Autism Diagnosis: Experiences with Assessment Process?

Betterdaysahead

245d

I'm currently on the waiting list for an autism assessment, I'm 30 now so it would be quite a late diagnosis if they decide I am on the spectrum. The question I have is that it's been causing me a lot of anxiety lately and I just wondered if anyone has any experiences of the assessment process they could share?

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12

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Anxiety (Including GAD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

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    • Betterdaysahead

      241d

      @HauntedHarlequin yeah I get that it's something I'd considered as an option for a while now but what I didn't expect was when I stopped trying to mask my depression and anxiety as much that more obvious autistic traits would show up. I get the feeling broken thing I always feel broken and that's part of the reason I want the assessment because if they say I am it might help me be less harsh and critical of myself. I'm honestly not sure if I want them to say I do have it or I don't. I'm genuinely not sure which is better

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    • HauntedHarlequin

      243d

      Good luck. I got diagnosed at 34 (I'm 36 now) and it helped me quite a bit to get the diagnosis, mostly because I don't feel as "broken" as I used to. I had to do a phone interview first and then I went in to see a specialist who gave me many question forms, skills assessments, and some audio/video tests. They also spoke with my husband about my daily habits and generally observed me. The best advice I can give is to be as open and honest as you can. Being a late diagnosed autistic I have spent most of my life trying to pretend to be normal to the point where it can be very hard to be myself around strangers. Just remember they are there to help and feel. free to message me if you ever need anything.

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      • Betterdaysahead

        241d

        @HauntedHarlequin yeah I get that it's something I'd considered as an option for a while now but what I didn't expect was when I stopped trying to mask my depression and anxiety as much that more obvious autistic traits would show up. I get the feeling broken thing I always feel broken and that's part of the reason I want the assessment because if they say I am it might help me be less harsh and critical of myself. I'm honestly not sure if I want them to say I do have it or I don't. I'm genuinely not sure which is better

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    • Bre19

      244d

      I hope everything goes ok for you

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    • MzHyde

      244d

      thank you, and if you have any questions, please send me a msg and I will try and help out 😊😊 There's a few online tools you can use to self-diagnose (not sure if you have yet) so maybe if you do fit the criteria of ASD, could help reduce the anxiety... I can't see your profile or any other disorders, few things to add: Not sure if you are F or M, however, if you're a female, ASD is a lot harder to diagnose You may or may not also have ADHD on top of ASD. The ADHD can actually mask the ASD! (I have a strong feeling that you really get what I mean with the masking) There's a lot of videos on YouTube about the combination of ASD & ADHD... This will also hopefully help you more, and reduce some anxiety before the appointment 🙂

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      • Betterdaysahead

        244d

        @MzHyde thanks for the info. Not sure how to change what you can see but have messaged you ☺️

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    • MzHyde

      244d

      I'm 36, and in the process of being diagnosed. I had so much anxiety before the appointment, but the way I tried to see it was that as anxious as I feel about this, in the long run, it is going to help me. Do you know what to expect from the appointment? That could possibly help reduce some anxiety

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      • Betterdaysahead

        244d

        @MzHyde you sum up my situation quite well there with yours. I did it because of the anxiety it's been causing me. The only thing I know to expect is a video call and talking about my childhood. Feel free to message me if you want to support eachother through the assessment etc. I do try to remind myself that in the long run it'll help but I'm not sure if I'm more scared of them saying I am or saying I'm not autistic

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    • Alyss

      245d

      I was diagnosed at 33 and specifically looked for a specialist in adult diagnoses and afab diagnoses because I didn't want a primary care to dismiss me like they dismissed all my other illnesses. That said, it wasn't that bad for me. It was during covid, so all or it was done from home, and it was like 90% multiple choice testing. They didn't talk to my family as I'm not in contact with them, but they made it pretty chill to answer questions. It seemed like any other intake therapy appt except for the tests, so I'd you're comfortable with therapy, you should do fine.

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    • tinker22

      245d

      I just had to fill out questions about myself. I was 42 when I was diagnosed. Changed my life completely but for the better!

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      • Betterdaysahead

        245d

        @tinker22 I've done 2 forms for them now and next thing is meant to be a video appointment but I haven't got a date for that yet.

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    • RitaMarie

      245d

      I got diagnosed at 25, and the people doing my interview were absolutely lovely. They were completely understanding and just asked questions. Mine did take a better part of a day, and it was a bit nerve wracking when they were doing an interview with my mother. But in the end, I can't complain and I'm happy to understand myself a bit better

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      • Betterdaysahead

        245d

        @RitaMarie Thank you for sharing. I'm not sure whether I would rather they confirm I do have it or I don't but that's exactly why I asked for the assessment. I need to better understand myself in the hopes I can learn to stop being so very hard and critical of myself.

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☝ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision

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One user shared their experience, saying they talked to their therapist about their suspicion of being autistic, and the therapist agreed it could be true. However, the therapist couldn't diagnose them because they were an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), and only psychologists or psychiatrists can diagnose autism. The user mentioned that they applied for an autism assessment through their university's psych center, but the waitlist was very long, taking several months or even a year.

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