Just Diagnosed at 40 yrs old

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Well it's official, just received my diagnosis of high functioning autism. I am a 40-year-old female. I'm waiting on the full report, but spoke to the psychologist who confirmed it. It's a relief to have an answer even though I strongly suspected I was for some time. The doctor only seemed interested in testing me. I understand by now there is no autism treatment per se like there is with children, but when I asked about therapies for auditory sensitivity, speech, work issues, etc. he said to take the documents he's mailing me to my primary care doctor then they can refer me and prescribe antidepressants for my severe depression. I don't have a PCP but will try to find one as well as a psychologist I can see regularly, and maybe they can help me.

Anyway I'm gonna read up on what I can do from here, but any help or advice is appreciated. Being severely depressed and regressing with coping skills I previously had is what drove me to finally seek a diagnosis - had several deaths in my family and my pets in a short time so have progressively done downhill. I even had two negative reviews at work the last 6 months so that's stressing me out. I'd like to get my degree but college was difficult even online and even with a supposedly "above-average" IQ. I also have ADHD. This psychologist said my executive functioning was definitely an issue, also pretty high level of social deficits compared to others w/normal-high IQ, and difficulty conveying emotional needs/details. He was surprised I had kept a job and not been in therapy for 20 years.

Hopefully this diagnosis will somehow lead to help with what I struggle with especially that's unique to "HF" adults with autism, even if there's no "official" autism therapies for adults.

Welcome!

What I have been able to do is to change my environment to reduce stress.

Rather than take medication to deal with seasonal allergies caused by weeds, I'll go out into the yard and pull the weeds!

Similarly, while my office has an old fashioned wall clock with hands, it is a silent with no annoying ticking sound.
I work in an office, rather than a cubical or something even worse.

I enjoy movies like Hustlers, but only if I wear high fidelity earplugs to cut the theater sound system volume to more reasonable levels.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Thanks for the reply!

Funny I just watched Hustlers yesterday and wore earplugs, but not the high def ones. Thanks for the suggestions, I will try them.

Kudos to you for pursuing resources in this extremely difficult time!

I am recently self-diagnosed (in my late 40s). I had lots of personal loss and have been in therapy lots. Before I knew about my ASD, I used to say "I'm coping very well … considering". Which meant, I wasn't coping well but was doing my best. I look forward to coping in a way that's a better fit for me. I'll also be doing EMDR with an ASD therapist for my traumas.

Wishing you well during as you find your new norm.

Hi and welcome ! So good to have you with us.

Thank you Sharon and Juliette. My "new normal" is a good way to put it. Good luck to you also.

Don't wish struggles on anyone, but helps to know I'm not the only alien on this planet.

Welcome,

It sound like you should be awarded a PhD in masking as an NT. I can relate to you story on a few points. I only received my diagnosis at age 48 in March this year during a month long stay in a psychiatric hospital! My attempts to hide and camouflage my flaws drove a terrible unrelenting depression that lasted for decades until a full scale autistic burnout put me in hospital where my autism was identified.

There are plenty of HF types on wrong planet. It's true that there hasn't been the same research in treatments as there has for children but, that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of things you can do to make your life better. I've found wrong planet to be full of wisdom on how to be a first rate autistic, rather than a second rate neurotypical (A Tony Attwood quote). I've found that this principal been the secret to a better and more genuine life so far for me.

Hello, I'm also recently diagnosed at 58, going through an un-wanted divorce at the moment. Keep reading, keep trying to understand.

You're the only you you can be, but with knowledge you can adapt & thrive.

Aspies and those on ASD experience significantly more stress than NTs. It is almost our middle name. Stress energy is chemically stored in the muscles and nervous system in our bodies. If too much stress builds up it can throw our body into a state of distress. Anxiety and depression are signs that your body is in a distress or trauma state.

If you can learn tools to vent stress energy, you can bring your body back to its normal state. I would recommend two books that can lead you towards the right direction.

The Revolutionary Trauma Release Process by David Berceli
In an Unspoken Voice by Peter A. Levine