how did you react when u found out you had autism?

Post Reply New Topic

I was 7. I was disappointed, because I wanted to be normal and didn't want to feel like there was something wrong with me.

It's only a friendly one

It was a relief when I found out I had Asperger's.

Growing up, it was always quite obvious that something wasn't quite right about myself, and my family knew that and were aware of it due to my behavior. The Asperger's was first fully suspected when I was age 14 but I wasn't professionally diagnosed until I was 22 years of age.

"Oh, that explains everything." I was 46 when I found out.

Never been given the full formal diagnosis as it's expensive and pointless at this stage but when I knew for sure I felt a combination of relief because it wasn't my fault I was teased, bullied and excluded my whole life but also sadness because there was no life changing revelation. I also found out what I experience day to day is not 'normal' and is called anxiety and depression.

I think I had 2 "finding out" moments - the first moment I saw a documentary on girls with autism and recognised so much of myself in it. I felt so surprised but also like a light had been switched on - from that moment on things have slotted into place in my head a lot more. I felt interested and determined to find out more and basically started a spree of research (which hasn't stopped in the last 7 months!)
I guess the official "finding out" was when I got my diagnosis. I felt so relieved, and like it confirmed everything I'd thought. Generally finding out has been a really positive thing for me as it's helped me understand myself and my difficulties way more, whereas before I couldn't improve because I didn't actually know what was wrong.

I was actually surprised, in fact doubly surprised.

After discussing the possibility of ADHD, I was referred for an assessment. I wasn't expecting a diagnosis for ADHD, but I was expecting to discuss ways to manage ADHD like symptoms. Autism hadn't even entered crossed my mind at all.

At the ADHD assessment, the specialist diagnosed me with ADHD, recommended prescription drugs to manage the symptoms and said he was "pretty sure" I was on the autism spectrum. He referred me for autism assessment and I was diagnosed. He also introduced me to the word "comorbidity".

18 months ago, I was not on any medication and had no diagnosis for anything. Of course, I had some troublesome symptoms, which I somehow either ignored or coped with.

Now, doctor's have diagnosed me as ASD/ADHD comborbid. I take 3 sets of pills to manage the symptoms. My GP has referred me to see a psychologist. I'm in the UK and all of this has been provided by the NHS, which is our free universal healthcare system.

I was diagnosed in my forties. I was also expecting it because the team which assessed me told me they thought I might be on the Spectrum quite early into the process. However, after they told me I felt kind of sad and broken and like I was suddenly less than I had been before. It took a few months for it to sink in and then I began to get a better and more accurate picture of myself from knowing my diagnosis which I found helped me manage my life better. So in the end it was very positive but at first I felt like a broken toy.

i was 55. my reaction was satisfaction about a new understanding.

I went through stages with my reactions.

First was when I first suspected I was ASD. An old friend reconnected with me on Facebook after several years. She now as a daughter with Asperger's. I used to chuckle over some of the things my friend would mention, thinking, "Yeah, I did that when I was her age!" but I just thought it was because we were both science geek girls. Then my friend posted a list of symptoms of ASD on her Facebook feed for other mothers to look out for. I read the list, and was totally STUNNED. It explained all the things that had puzzled me for my whole life. It was like discovering the Rosetta stone--it translated all the mysteries of my life into something that finally made sense.

My second big moment was when I got diagnosed. It took several months to find a psychologist who knew something about ASD and was covered by insurance. I had misinterpreted something she said to mean she didn't think I had it, but she wound up diagnosing me with autism, moderate. It was a RELIEF--I didn't have to blame myself for not being like everybody else, and maybe I could get some kind of help that was actually effective.

Gradually I've been feeling more frustrated and sad, and have been feeling a lot more stressed out in public. It's been hard to locate professionals who know something about ASD and are covered by my insurance, and are willing to work with adults (many are not). I've finally scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist and a social skills class, and I think I've found an occupational therapist. I sure hope this works

I was never told anything about it till after I graduated high-school. I looked it up alittle online & thought it kind of fit but didn't really dwell on it much.

Before I was diagnosed, I already felt there's something else, but I ignored it and insist it was nothing.

When I found out, no one actually told me, I overheard it. I have this mixed feeling between "That sort of makes sense" and "What the he-- I'm NOT".
A dilemma between my naive trusting self who appreciates the truth, and my already bottled hate of a betrayed child due to what I see and heard in my life so far. I end up listening to the latter. So yes, I was more of a whinner first

But that changed over time. That was before I reached high school AND before I found out that internet exists.

Gained Number Post Count (1).
Lose Time (n).

Lose more time here - Updates at least once a week.

I was ten. I began to cry. I'd spent my life sure that I was "okay" and, honestly, looking down on those with "special needs". A bit of a slap in the face, realizing that I was "one of them".

I wish that I'd had some time to process it, but my parents insisted on "coddling" me.

(As for ten-year old me, I sucked. Plain and simple.)

I remember my parents telling me when i was 14 after i had been to numerous doctor and psychologists and when they told me i was thinking "well no s**t, i was figuring i wasnt normal" lol.

When the shrink told me, I shot back at him one of my most epic death-stare/you-are-a-moron faces yet (unfortunately, my laser beam emitting eyes were malfunctioning that day).
I was around 13.
It turns out he was right...lucky guess doc.