MY AUTISM DIAGNOSIS STORY

I was diagnosed with severe ocd onset age 7 then bpd and now my GP thinks I may be on the spectrum and advised me to seek a private assessment. It's like a light bulb going off right now watching this, Thank you x

I can relate to you a lot, I was a very angry child and teen. My family thought I just had anger management issues and anxiety. However, at age 21, I am so glad to finally have an official diagnosis after years of intense struggle. Thank you for sharing your story, you are so brave and beautiful. This is such important work you're doing for the autism community!

I’m pleased for you that you got your diagnosis. I sat chuckling to myself at some things you said as I can relate. I’m a 45 year old male and only realised I may have ASD in March 2020. Finally plucked up the courage to speak to my GP around 8 weeks ago, gave her a list of issues I have that fits the DSM criteria and she agreed I should be assessed. However, my local clinic use a triage service to assess the applications for suitability, and mine was declined due to “Insufficient information to warrant a diagnosis” Having found my local clinics referral form online, I’ve seen that my GP had to state if I can initiate interaction, hold a 2 way conversation, and make eye contact. Of course I can, I’ve worked in a customer facing job for 30 years and am naturally much more comfortable with people now than when I was 16!! 😤 I can’t help but feel I’ve been turned down because I don’t fit the stereotype. I’m not leaving it there, I need to go back and ask to be referred to a service outside of my area under the NHS right to choose.

I was diagnosed at 35, and my past along with my memories of childhood make a lot more sense now. The last year has been a wild ride. It's only the last few weeks that I've realized I mimic a lot of behaviors and sayings of my social interactions to fit in with people and look "normal". It takes a lot of energy to socialize in a meaningful way and not just be on autopilot. Even when I try though, I lose a lot of the details coming from other people and focus on one or two things they said instead of understanding the bigger picture. Thank you for sharing. 🙂

Thank you for sharing your experiences- it helps so much to hear others’ diagnosis stories!!

'Youtube suggested' popped you up on my feed! Autism, travel and nature, Love your content 🙏🏼🌟

Loved listening thank you 😊 I have been diagnosed at age 54 with ASD Both my daughters now almost 23 & 19 were both diagnosed ages 14 & 12. CAMHS was a hard ride for sure as parents & for both my daughters. Glad you finally got your diagnosis 🙂

Thank you for sharing this valuable information. You are a brave young woman. Peace.

Later in life diagnosis here too.. I'm 36 now and was also diagnosed with aspergers around 32/33.. life-changing! X

Awesome presentation papers you made yourself 👌 interesting video as well. I'm currently waiting for my own ASD assessment ☺️

i was almost misdiagnosed with bpd but luckily i read about autism myself and brought it up. it made so much sense and i finally understood why i felt and behaved the way i do. great video, love hearing other people's autism diagnosis journeys! you're really pretty as well xx

Thank you so much!

I really have to talk about with my mother how I was as a child. I was pretty quiet. But I also was like you at some times ...

I was diagnosed at 5 & was highly stereotypical. Apparently my Nan read a newspaper article about another kid at 18 months, & it kicked the diagnostic process off (was very lucky, even though they tried diagnosing me with just Global Developmental Delay first). They mustn’t have changed the methodology in those 10 years, as I was doing this some of this back in 2001 at 4/5 (apparently in the mirror room, when all the other kids came in, I ran to a corner & spun the wheels of a toy car repetitively lol). I can remember the occupational therapist doing those imagination tasks post diagnosis too & instantly remember how uncomfortable I was at them writing EVERYTHING I did down, from speech to body language. It’s crazy as apparently ASD isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ condition, but the methodology to diagnose it sure is. This was a very good watch though, you’ve earned a sub 😊

I had assessments aged 8, 9, clearly dyspraxia and ADHD, one statement aged 9 Aspergers traits. I got a degree in 1999 aged 20, pgdip 2000.

I'm 52 and just figured out my ASD. When I was around 35 I was told I was ADHD, and treated for it but never with a formal assessment. I really don't think I do now. ADHD medication never really did for me what other ADHDers report it does for them. I love seeing everyone's story that posts it on YouTube, but I especially love this video because it has clips of you as a kid. THis helps me look back at my own childhood a little better, but more importantly look at my daughters. My youngest is almost assuredly on the spectrum. Thanks for putting yourself out there in this way!

Thank you for sharing you diagnosis journey. It is helpful ❤

I hate where it says "must have 'good' body language" when talking to others - who decides what that is? Whether body language is perceived as 'good' or 'bad' can vary depending on the situation, culture of the person you are talking to and whether they are neurotypical or not. Kind of reads like 'you should make yourself uncomfortable to make neurotypicals feel comfortable".

Thank you for sharing your experience. Could you make sure you flip the video horizontally in the future? The book spines in the background are distracting.

Just been diagnosed as an adult and, I agree, it is a long and painfull process