for those diagnosed as adults, what has helped since?

Post Reply New Topic

Since finding out, besides the relief of just finding out has there been anything that has genuinely improved your life? Books you have read, counselling, strategies that have benefited you, anything really.

Its been a couple of months for me know, and I am in the 'now what?' stage

Just knowing has been the biggest help. Nothing helps behavior modification more than knowing that some of my characteristics aren't just "me being me."

But, it is difficult to find many books written for and about adult Aspies. Most relevant books reflect the Autism Spectrum Disorder and that means diagnosed children younger than 11 years of age. I do like the one or two books written for adult Aspies by Tony Attwood. I want also to read a few of Temple Grandin's books for adults.

I have the complete guide. It is very good, but it follows the same pattern, beginning of each chapter describers things really well, second half gives strategies... for children. Think there is a big gap in the market book wise.

Knowing what I have has been the biggest help through out my childhood there's been labels based on assumptions some of which had nothing to do with what was going on in my life at the time Autism was hinted at and early age due to me not being able to talk at a "normal" age but that was in the early to mid 80's so "Autism" as it were was still a new diagnoses for children so I was placed in various programs more often with students whom were low functioning or some whom were EBD when I was about 11-12 I met with a shrink and the symptoms are more clearer that yes I did match some of the criteria's for Autism (not sure if it was more classic Autism or Aspergers) tho my mother was quick to challenge that again giving the time and lack of resources available at the time I don't fault her I did manage to get the best educational I needs at that time while I was in New Jersey tho it didn't last because my folks relocated to the metro Atlanta area and their special educational services were at the time substandard Anyways....Flash forward to the present I got a more formative and official diagnoses late last year which pretty much sums up what the shrink told my folks when I was around 11 or 12

Has it help YES I know more of who I am I know that my short falls are as a result from Autism and because of the diagnoses I can now get more services that would help improve my future thus overall improving my life

My first anniversary of my diagnosis is late next month.

Oddly enough finding out how socially naive I really am has made me a lot less anxious and paranoid, because I now know that the paranoia, anxiety, always expecting the worst were overcompensation for that social naivety. Letting a lot of that go makes for a much healthier attitude.

I have been able to help people be it here or at at support groups. Be it advice, helping somebody realize something about themselves or just letting someone understand there are other people going through what they are has been a help to my sense of self worth.

Disability insurance.

The best part was finally being able to accept my condition without the feeling that i was a freak that couldn't fit anywhere.
As time passed i could stop doing stuff that overwhelm me but i forced me to do just to look like a NT (or as a normal person, as i was used to think).

I self-diagnosed more than ten years ago, and I have found no help at all. I tried a few support groups, but because I was old, and extremely skilled at creating a good 'first impression', I was mostly regarded as a probable fraud. The NHS refused to talk to me - where did you get your diagnosis?

Since I stopped working, I have begun to find some coping mechanisms - I now have the ability to hide from the world whenever I feel the need.

I wish you well.

I agree with what the other posters have said,--finding out why I am the way I am has been a big relief and a psychological help. I was in my late 40s when I found out about Asperger's, and realized that this is what my problem is. In doing further research I learned that the coping methods I had already developed are part of the treatment. I prefer not to use drugs or therapy. As a child, I went to many docs and therapists for my misdiagnosed problems. Back then hardly anybody knew about autism spectrum conditions. People with these problems were misdiagnosed as having behavior problems, that could be fixed with the right combo of drugs, therapy, and discipline. Unfortunately, that's not so, but some people do get some help from these, so I'm not totally knocking them. However, I absolutely hated therapy, no matter whether group, family, or single, or whether it was a doc or therapist doing it. I still hate it, so it's still not an option for me. A few years ago I did go through depression therapy for a few months, but that was only to qualify for Medicaid. I have several more serious health conditions that were not considered enough to qualify me, but was told I would qualify at least temporarily, on the basis of my depression. So I went to the therapist and just went through the motions with a lady I never warmed up to. She felt like such a phony. During the months I went to therapy, I was able to use my temporary benefits to go to real docs for my serious problems, so I was eventually able to qualify on the basis of those conditions once I had enough medical records to back me up.

I avoid drugs when possible, because they often have dangerous side effects, and are often habit forming, so that's not an option, either.

Once I found out about my Asperger's, and that I had already been using some of the common coping methods for it, I was able to start using the coping methods better, to treat myself. I think it has helped. I also take B-complex and Niacin supplements with every meal to help with my chronic depression now, and that also helps. And knowing what is wrong with me has reduced my frustration levels, which has also helped me to cope better. So yes, finding out has been a big help.

All of my life I have had a compulsion for alleviating suffering in others. Since being diangosed this has mostly transferred into Autistic activism. And it was not instantaneous, but realizing that the people who deliberately made me feel lower than whale sperm rotting on the bottom of the ocean were wrong. And that it's okay for me to wish they were there so that they would unsderstand what it feels like, and stop hurting people.

honestly besides the disability benefits and finding out im not crazy e.g i related a lot to Dexter not the needing to kill bit before finding out i had asd there has been nothing that has helped me feel better really in fact even now telling people i have it i still get the same treatment from people when i do something wrong socially they don't even give me the benefit of the doubt im still looked at as a weirdo

Things that helped me

1. Weighted blanket
2. Exchanging my bed for a hammock
3. Learning to be ok with being different
4. Starting to share my diagnosis and being accepted and thought to have potential even with it.

Having the knowledge of what the hell was wrong with me was helpful...no more wondering what it was other people had I didn't or what I was doing wrong and should feel guilty about. Also it helped with getting on disability which provides me income, not sure I could have gotten it for AS alone though.

Just realised that I should check my own. I'm two months from my one year diagnosis anniversary. It feels like that was another lifetime ago.

The 'what now' stage: Life carries on regardless. That saying 'time waits for no man' (or woman) is very true. Diagnosis doesn't end the challenges we face.

The biggest change that I have experienced from diagnosis is that I felt free to release myself from a number of life goals that were not appropriate. Over many years of striving to achieve social acceptance I had unwittingly taken on a number of goals that were not in my own best interest. I had to actively discard the goals and change the habitual behaviours that I unthinkingly performed in the struggles to achieve those goals. I still find myself resorting to the old ways and I have to renew my self awareness and confirm again what I want for my life rather than what society expects. Anniversaries of diagnosis are a great milestone for flagging a renewed review of our personal life goals and purpose.

In some ways I still feel like a "newbie". It happens when I read here posters who were diagnosed as children or older adults who were diagnosed 10 years ago. It is particularly noticeable to me in the post DSM 5 debate about the word"Aspie". A lot of people including the late Lorna Wing are of the opinion the Aspergers diagnosis, and "Aspie" identity have served there purposes, it's great it's been thrown away and they are glad and ready to be moving on. If you were diagnosed in 2005 that makes sense, if you were diagnosed in 2013 in areas where the DSM5 manual dominates your diagnosis was declared officially gone immediately and I am dealing with an era of backlash against the concept instead of the wonder those earlier diagnosed experienced.

On the other hand when I read of the confusion, shock, pure joy of the newly diagnosed, when I know second hand the answers to the questions others are just figuring is a question I feel like a veteran.

Some actions I took after the diagnosis are still a "work in progress" far from a conclusion as to if they were good or bad.

My biggest issues still are trying to decipher which pre diagnosis coping actions are now learned skills or faking it Without knowing those answers I can't know if I am making a knowing compromise or fooling myself again.