Adult Autism Diagnosis?

Smodlet

elsien wrote: »

I think there's more recognition now that autism has been underdiagnosed in girls/women. Girls have the same difficulties but it may present differently, or they may be more socialised with learned behaviour in order to fit in better which can make the trigger for diagnosis less obvious.
There was a documentary a while back, but I can't remember what it was called.

Could it have been "Are You Autistic" shown on Channel 4 on 28/03/18? There was a link to a test at the end of that programme which I did at the time; it said I was borderline (on that test it was 6 or above)

I have googled and given the link I found, which I am sure is the same test but scores differently. I just did it again and scored 34... Guess I am on the spectrum, then. It does not surprise me: I can't stand bright lights, chit chat is a waste of time but I love really good dramas and do empathise with the characters. Maybe I am just weird.

What the heck difference does it make at my time of life? Had I known and been diagnosed back in the day, when no employer would have given a crap, all it would have done would be to label me even more what? Difficult, awkward than I was already labelled? As far as I am concerned, it is all moot now but, if diagnosis can help anyone, I really hope they get the support they need from everyone, including their employers and colleagues.

I would like to thank you, Fireflyaway, for raising this issue. This has been a really interesting read.

elsien

This is an interesting read about women on the spectrum.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/women_late_diagnosis_autism

-taff

Personally, I can't be bothered to get diagnosed, as I'm not at the far end of the spectrum, it's not going to make a difference to me now, my friends taught me how to be normal so I just follow that example mostly.
I think if it were to make a difference, such as, I hadn't leared coping strategies, or I had difficulty processing some things that mattered to my life, then I would go for it, just to get some help with those things.

Good luck with whatever you decide and whatever the results are.


@Aylesbury Duck - I also have a very high pain threshold, never thought of that as being a marker, interesting....

Smodlet

I think my pain threshold is very low. I always had hell with my periods and could not understand how other girls at my school made nothing of them; I just thought they were lucky.

You all have me wondering now whether my mother may have been on the spectrum; she never understood jokes and was really intense about things that just did not matter to anyone else.

Savvy_Sue

-taff wrote: »

Personally, I can't be bothered to get diagnosed, as I'm not at the far end of the spectrum, it's not going to make a difference to me now, my friends taught me how to be normal so I just follow that example mostly.

at this. This is what happened to DH, he was really quite strange as a teenager but went to Uni and came back radically different. And in secondary school, DS1 picked up friends who made him look NT. Socially, you probably wouldn't know now, but then he moves mostly in non-NT circles. (NT = Neurotypical)

Smodlet

elsien wrote: »

This is an interesting read about women on the spectrum.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/women_late_diagnosis_autism

I totally relate to the whole obsessing with TV dramas but only if they are well written and acted. Not that anyone cares.

dreaming

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

Are you sure you really want a positive diagnosis? How will it change your life going forward? Only you know what you will do with that information.

For example, I am sure I could get a diagnosis but I don't want one.
I am certain it would negatively impact me because I know myself too well. I would take the path of least resistance.
I would stop trying, I would stop learning, I would stop putting myself out there. I would say to myself: the world has to change itself to fit me. But it won't. I would just cut myself off.

.

I have seen this with my DD to a certain extent. Previous to diagnosis she would come to certain family functions because, as she puts it, she knew it was expected of her and she was trying to appear "normal". Now she only leaves her home for necessity and if I say anything about it then she has the ready-made answer of her diagnosis. On the one hand I am a bit sad about that and how cut-off she seems, because family relationships are very important to me, but she has explained how excruciating she used to find social occasions and it was those feelings that led her to drugs (and drink) to keep her calm. So in that sense I am relieved that she has been diagnosed (and is now drug-free) because she doesn't have that pressure of covering up. Also, as I said, she actually does have quite an understanding of her condition and she has explained that although she understands that I feel sad , she doesn't experience that sort of emotional connect with them. She does live with a partner who also has ASD and they seem to get on well enough in their self-contained world so I am (slowly) adapting my expectations and realising that her lack of contact is not a deliberate snub to me (which I did often feel previously). The diagnosis was positive in that sense.
Good luck.

NaughtiusMaximus

Fireflyaway wrote: »

With previous colleagues though I've never really got on well. I've been told I keep repeating myself and I really struggle to maintain eye contact. I never get invited to social occasions ( I wouldn't go if I did) and I'm the one sat in silence whilst they do the banter stuff. I've always found work stressful. I definitely identify with the masking thing. Until 2 years back i never asked colleagues if they had a good weekend etc. Then I thought I should try it as that's what people do! The school run was stressful. Fortunately I don't do it now my daughter goes by bus. Even as a child I felt the odd one out.

I didn't realise repeating yourself was a symptom of autism, that's another I can add to the list of reasons I think I'm probably somewhere towards the milder end of the spectrum. I know exactly where you're coming from re asking people if they've had a good weekend, I have zero interest in office small talk but as I've got older I've learnt it's advantageous to pretend I do. I also loathe social gatherings like parties and large work nights out (small ones with just a handful of people I don't mind), if possible I make up an excuse not to attend but of course you can't do that too often without it becoming obvious.

Smodlet

Agree totally with the above. For me, office parties were the absolute pits though I did meet OH at one.

beverley1471

I did the link to the autism questions, and my score was 38, I scored in the autistic spectrum which doesnt surprise me at all. If I was young now I am sure I would be diagnosed. At infant school they thought I was weird and even referred me to social services, so I decided then I would adapt to appear normal and fit in. And I think I have been successful overall, I still find making friends and social interactions difficult, but by observing and noticing when I went wrong over the years I have learnt how to appear normal.

I dont think I would want to be diagnosed now, I think being forced to adapt myself to fit in has helped me lots overall, and I wouldnt have had the career I have had if I had not learnt this skill.

I may not even be autistic, but lots of people over the years with autistic family members have told me they think I am. But whatever suits you best is the way to go!