Is It Worth Getting An Autism & ADHD Diagnosis
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.พ. 2021
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Is it worth getting an autism or ADHD diagnosis (or both)? It can be really difficult and time consuming to get assessed for autism or ADHD and in this video I'm discussing those challenges and whether ultimately it's worth the effort required to get assessed and diagnosed.
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Hi I'm Purple Ella and my family is an autism family with three out of five of us on the autistic spectrum. I also have ADHD and connective tissue disorder (hypermobile Ehlers-danlos syndrome). So life can be a challenge but also a lot of fun.
07:24 Being denied an assessment because you "have [a few] friends and a [full-time?] job" is like denying a wheelchair user prosthetics because they're a paralympic gold-medallist. Or being denied an MRI/CAT-scan because your cancer tumour isn't obviously visible yet. 🙃🤦♂️
Whoever came up with that decision should be sacked.
Unfortunately insurance companies deny stuff like that all the time here in the US. They have been denying almost every test my doctor orders lately. I've been trying to get a MRI with contrast since last July because my neurologist thinks I have a CSF leak caused by brain surgery I had 4 years ago. I finally got the insurance to cover an MRI last month, but they refused to pay for contrast. The doctors weren't able to see anything so it was a complete waste of money and time.
@@Wolverineeeeeeee check out YAI
@@Wolverineeeeeeee i agree
True
✋🏻
I’m at that weird limbo point where everyone around me agrees that I’m autistic, my therapist agrees I’m autistic, and I know I’m autistic. But people around me have been asking “but why do you need a diagnosis? You seem to be doing fine?” And the money to do it so much and everyone that can diagnose me is so far away. I’m not sure what to do
That's why I'm not pursuing a diagnosis. 4 years worth of personal research went into the conclusion that I went undiagnosed as autistic, but it would cost far more than I can afford and require a great deal of travel and time off work to actually get seen and tested. For me though, I actually went over exactly what I would net if I did get a diagnosis, and I didn't see enough personal benefit in going forward with it. Do what you will, it is ultimately your decision, just make sure to look at the "what happens after" so you'll know if it will be worth it for you. Best wishes :)
Its better to get diagnosed and have the treatment then to keep masking for others who view it as “fine n normal ” masking something like this can be bad for once self and could lead to more psychological stress and problems
@@Cara657 I went ahead and got an informal diagnosis for the time being. I’m keeping it that way so I have an easier time escaping america when and if the time should arise. My wife and I have agreed to a certain dynamic that helps me a lot, but I’m still really struggling. If you’re not American and there’s not going to be harsh consequences in your life, get a diagnosis and use whatever resource you can get your hands on. Look up the laws surrounding autism diagnosis where you live and see how it will effect your life, then go from there. I wish you the best luck. Don’t forget to give yourself the compassion and love the world refuses to give you, even when it’s hard.
I've had friends point it out before but I now learned bc autism became a special interest that it's real. And I keep going back and forth because I'm always having imposter syndrome and I don't even have a regular doctor. Because I avoid people. But it's occasionally affected my relationships and friends. I often wanna do friend things and as soon as it happens my body and mind go leave this is uncomfortable. So i think it'll be helpful to develop ways to communicate better when I'm feeling like that.
I was diagnosed in September 2020 at the age of 30, Now I look back at life and think that would have been useful to know earlier
I'm a female adult in the USA. This hit so hard! I was so overwhelmed at the truth here I kept pausing to compose myself. I've always had physical and mental issues. What you explained here was my experience with all diagnosis that are even slightly subjective.
unfortunately, a doctor ignoring signs is something that my family is quite familiar with. I am 33, and am of the strong belief in my point in life that I am on the autism spectrum. growing up, it was not too uncommon for, when my parents brought up an issue that they had concerns over about me or one of my brothers and the doctor saying something along the lines of "that's normal, he'll grow out of it" or something like that... One issue for me in particular that the doctors ignored was that as a child, when I finally did start walking (my mother tells me I was a late walker) I did so a lot on the tips of my toes. The doctor said I would grow out of that, 3 decades later, I still walk like that, especially in the home setting. it's actually my experience that they ignore as much as they can
That doctor payed his grades
I’m going through the same thing I highly suspect having it but my family Denys is because they dont believe they have it and don’t believe I show signs but most people their age were showed autism in a different light than what autism truly is, I 100% believe my dad has it he’s just in such denial about anything being wrong with him besides ptsd which gets him paid bc he’s a retired vet
Every quiz I have taken to see if I adhd (inattentive) shows I tick most if not all of the boxes. Then, why do I feel ashamed, and like I would be lying if I ever pursued a diagnosis? 😅 My family will just laugh at me if I raise the issue, and I worry if I managed to even get an assessment they would dismiss me. Ohhhh it's not easy! 😄 Love your videos, they're super informative and easy to understand 💕
That's how I'm scoring with the ASD AND ADHD boxes. I'd always known my ADHD, but never checked. I tried to ignore it out of being dismissed by my family a few months back, but I ended up getting gradually worse w/ meltdowns & miscommunications/misunderstandings. My therapist even saw me having a meltdown 2 weeks ago & asked me if I'd ever been assesed for ASD. The family came around after that, they talked it over & we all discussed signs since childhood. I'm now on a wait list for a wait list lol.
I tried to tell my dad a few days ago, and he laughed and asked me "who put THAT in your head-", even though IIIIIII came to the initial conclusion myself in October.
It can go EITHER WAY, or perhaps even BOTH like mine did. You've got to just stand your ground with it, and TRY to ignore them,, or at least give SOME of them time to come around, while pursing answers ANYWAY.
I STILL feel ashamed of it, but that's because society literally TRAINS us to feel that way, and to hide what makes us unique. We can't let them. If we already know, then it's because it's true and real. Gotta focus on how these traits make us strong, rather than how they make us weak. 🙌🏻💕🔥💫
I wish you the best of luck, (and sorry this is so long, I struggle w/ paraphrasing 🤦🏻😭😂)
@@FrankieUtka I feel this too. It feels difficult telling family or close friends that I'm finally pursuing a diagnosis because they all seem to have a certain image of what ADHD is and don't think I fit into it, even though they don't know what I'm experiencing on a daily basis. Like I've been considering this for well over a year now and I've already been doubting myself for too long, I don't need the extra seeds of doubt from other people who aren't professionals and don't know the whole story. You're not alone!! Sending good luck and positive vibes your way!
I am in a similar situation, I am 21 and have know I was neurodivergent for a long time, For a long time I had been going back and forth between believing myself and “just getting in with it”, “just soldiering on” or “keep pushing myself”. These are words from not only my family who are negligent to mental health issues and conditions, my life has been me barely living because I have struggled to stay in work. It has taken one person(my partner) to take me away from my family and give me freedom to realise and research into it to help myself. Finding I could have ADHD or Autism, I am pursuing a diagnosis through my GP(UK), I’m still unsure as to what my issues are stemming from and the fact doctors and GPs can be just as negligent scares me and I feel will shake my confidence again. We are not alone in the struggle guys, these comments show you aren’t the only people who are having these problems. So don’t feel ashamed to accept yourself with whatever you think you may struggle with and hope you can get a diagnosis but if you can’t and can self diagnose and be content with that. I honestly think that’s an amazing thing to have. Be confident and don’t let the b@$¥Ards pull you down!!
As an adult it seems like the main advantage is for access to medications. At least for me, I've done the work of creating coping mechanisms, figuring out social skills, and can read up on these topics myself. A diagnosis would relieve some self-doubt, but I don't know that that alone would be worth the time, effort, and cost of pursuing a diagnosis.
it could make all the difference chasing this dianosis is agrovation it could reay help you be proud of your difference and celibrate your worth
I think you are correct people like to say that your creation of coping mechanisms and social skills you are masking but we all need to learn to live in society. We all have personality disorders we need to work with some harder then others. Good for you!
The ADHD diagnosis was helpful for me since it also turns out that I have hypermobile type Ehlers Danlos syndrome - the ADHD medications Guanfacine and Clonidine are actually two of the top medications for treating EDS dysautonomia/POTS, anxiety, sleep issues, and migraines.
Becks do you see these?
Even after an assessment in ireland there's no support
This is happening all over the world, it's incredibly frustrating that ASD is still so misunderstood by health professionals and schools. It is good that people like yourself are doing things to try and help create awareness. 💚
I read a lot of books by neurodivergent women who did not seek a diagnosis. However, I have had trouble in school, work, and life. With a diagnosis (whenever that comes), I can get the help I need in therapy (my Generalized Anxiety Disorder is treatment-resistant due to an underlying neurodivergent condition) and I can get accommodations at work.
My therapist only works with neuropsychologists who are aware of the differences women and girls have in their presentation and masking, and evaluation centers are starting to open up again. Here's hoping I get a diagnosis this year!
i truly hope you persist in your quest dont give up it will set you free you are not broken you are different and thats ok the paper that states your diagnosis will make you proud it will validate you well done for being so brave
did u ever get the diagnosis?
We are going through all this with my youngest brother - ever since he was very little he was always a little 'different' and at primary school would often have huge meltdowns, wouldn't talk or listen to anyone during them, hide under tables etc... Every day he came home, there was never a positive word about his day, usually saying someone hit/kicked/threw something at him, poked him etc.. even if it was the most minor thing or little accidental thing someone else did or he did himself. He struggles to keep any friends at all, he would always end up falling out with them as he likes to do things his way and is very 'black and white' in his thinking. The teachers never raised concerns over his behaviours.
By the time he reached year 10, things took a major downturn. We were getting calls EVERY day about problems he was causing at school, having to bring him home multiple times a week, him not attending lessons, being rude to staff and other children, getting in fights, and getting in with the wrong crowd, which was especially concerning as he is someone who can be very easily manipulated and therefore vulnerable. The vaping and smoking (drugs) started. Everything was spiralling out of control and NOTHING was being done, despite the amount of times we had meetings, emailed and called and were pushing for ANY help we could get (By this point my mum, and myself, were at our wits end and were struggling ourselves with the situation, we were even saying how we wish someone could just take him away at one point, as awful as that sounds).
They sent the same form to fill in multiple times over a year and the SEN team was non-existent at the school (This was all during and after Covid times too which made it worse). He did have a long phone call from Younited, who asked him lots of different questions and the result was that they believed he does have neurodivergencies. This was all passed on to the school and doctors etc..
By year 11 and on the run up to GCSE's, he was missing weeks of school at a time. 2 Christmases he kicked off and didn't come home, one involved police. He felt he was so behind in learning that going in to school was pointless and had given up on the fact he was going to get any GCSE's. We just needed to get him through this last part at least and get him out of the school. Eventually it was decided that the school would pay for a tutor and he would study at home for a few hours every weekday. During this time he did also have a weekly counselling session and had to do several weeks speaking with a youth caution guy that came.
The home tutor was literally the best thing that they did for him. He was so much calmer and he got on well with her. He practiced only for his maths and English, which he managed to pass.
During the summer holiday after finishing, he's been keeping busy going to work with his dad and he has been very happy doing that, keeping busy and he just likes that fact that the people he works with actually like him (a struggle he's had when in school).
We had applied for him to go to college early in the year. We were also STILL going through the process of getting him assessed (taking months of not hearing anything). He had a number of TAF meetings and help in trying to get an idea of what he wanted to do, but he had no idea. So we ended up applying for a course that covered lots of different things. He went for the interview for that. Then we heard nothing from the college till about a month before the start of the course. They then told us they didn't think that course was suitable for him as he didn't have an EHCP, and gave us an alternative course to apply for.
So we did, and were told he would have to do another interview for that one. Then weeks went by and no-one contacted us.
As we got to when the course would be starting, both mum and myself phoned and messaged the college a number of times to chase them up. Every time we were told it had to go through the SEN department and this certain member of staff would be in touch soon. She never did. A month went by and still nothing. By this point, it was so late into the course already that we all felt it would not be a good idea anyway for him to go and have to start so late, when others have already made friend groups and started work. It would likely cause my brother a lot of anxiety and cause him to kick off eventually, or just not want to go in full stop.
So now he is just continuing to work (we call it "gaining work experience") as that is where he seems to be happiest currently, and we will rethink college or something else next year.
The doctor regarding his assessment finally rang (been about 7 months) and apologised saying he doesn't know why he's been left so long and that things are a bit awkward as he was just a few days from his 17th birthday, which is when they consider him as an adult... so then basically only if he has some mental crisis or issue will anyone do anything further(!) BUT, as this had been going on for SOoooo long, he would still continue with him under the child assessment as the process has already been started and is ongoing.
We've had copies of statements sent from teachers and councillors about him and finally we got sent the YES / NO tickbox form to fill in. (I took a peak at the scoring inside and I worked out he will score about 23 I think). Filled in and sent of the same day.
So that is were we are currently at. It's been incredibly difficult and both myself and mum feel the whole system is just horrendously inadequate and slow and that many people just don't want to actually deal with him/us. We feel the whole education system has failed him (also the words of the county council lady that has been doing the TAF meetings with us) and if this was all caught and sorted sooner, perhaps there could have been faster intervention before things got so out of control and would have been able to put things put in place to help him through.
Sorry for such a long rambley post, but if others are in a similar situation, then please know you are not alone, you are not making things up, it's not only happening to you/your child and that things can get better, or at least calmer, in the end. Keep pushing and don't accept being fobbed off.
I’ve been asking myself this question a lot lately, can’t wait to watch this video! 🤗
Love your username!! ^°^
Awesome username
Same
I’m 40 years old and was diagnosed with ASD on Sunday. My entire life now makes sense! Thank you for your videos.
Thank you! I don’t think I have the fortitude to pursue diagnosis. Two adult children are dx’d ... and I’m managing okay with help from people like you😘 My alcoholism, under control now for five years, made things so much worse 😞 and predator “people” are partly to blame. Yes, knowing earlier in life would’ve made a difference! Again, Thanks Ella!
My GP agreed to a referral, told wait time is 2-3 years and to expect that to increase due to Covid delays. And good chance that as an independent adult, they'll reject moving forward to assessment. But at least I now have a GP letter which while not a formal diagnosis, should help me to start accessing workplace support which was the main reason why I wanted assessment.
I’ve been thinking that there’s a chance I might be ADD, but I’ve been hesitant about seeing a doctor for assessment because I feel like I’ll be told it’s in my head. The biggest flaw a doctor can have is not believing in the patient and telling them that they’re imagining it. I do know that some people really do make things up, but some of us don’t and NEED help!
I’ve had experience where doctors would tell me basically “it’s in your head bc I don’t see anything wrong” for something that was a physical issue. For years I had really bad and progressive knee pain and swelling which gave me chronic back and hip pain. I would be in tears. But for 4 years I was told, “you’re too young to be having these kind of problems (15-19y/o) and the x rays don’t show anything, so you’re physically fine.” THEN WHY HAVE I BEEN IN AGONY IF IM “FINE?!”
Wether it be physical or mental/emotional, if you’re seeking help sometimes you HAVE to be annoyingly persistent to get what you need. That’s what I had to do. Last doc shook his head saying he didn’t see the need for it since I looked fine, but that he could order me an MRI. I said HELL YES. Two weeks later he calls, “please call back ASAP. We need to discuss your results and corrective surgery as you’re wearing down the cartilage in you knees.”
Don’t ever back down from a doctor’s declaration if you KNOW it’s not right. You may not know the problem exactly, but you’re the one who lives with it, so you know it’s not you’re imagination.
In the US Autistic people and those with other disabilities can be denied life saving things like organ transplants. This is one, huge, barrier I rarely see being discussed.
I also wonder if anyone has heard of similar problems in the countries where they live?
I heard a diagnosis might prevent you from becoming a civil servant like a teacher or policeperson in Germany. And to be honest, I was hoping the video would address the effect a diagnosis could have on one's career. It's a massive responsibility to decide if you want support to get your child through school at the cost of jeopardising their career later in life.
@@petraw9792 and I thought the being paid under minimum wage was bad jfc
I was literally, "I don't think you have ADHD, it seems more like autism, but you paid for the ADHD test, and I don't want you to have to pay another $2000 for the autism one, and you did technically meet the criteria, I just think your ADHD traits are actually chronic fatigue mixed with autism." She also said not to take meds unless nothing else works, but I'm glad I tried meds, even if it was a few years later
But I'm pretty sure I have the whole suite of ADHD, autism, POTS and EDS (waiting on EDS for a specialist, but I have hypermobility and joint pain), on top of allergies and food intolerance. I'm really glad Moo Free exists and supports autistic and disabled people, while making the best dairy free chocolate, but getting help in my day to day life is hard because I have to explain all my symptoms rather than having a term to say what I'm dealing with. I have to list my sensitivities and sensory needs, my physical access needs, and executive dysfunction all separately to profs when getting extra time, and it's exhausting just to self advocate to make it through university. Thankfully I did have some help from an amazing advisor. I never had that in grade school since I went to a tiny private school where half my class was in some way, neurodivergent, disabled, or chronically ill, so the teachers had to deal with all of us regardless of diagnosis, so basically they gave everyone accommodations. It was nice, but didn't prepare me for the chaos that is having new profs form almost each class, some of them being extremely ableist.
I got diagnosed this week. I'm 38. Knowing this means I can get support at work is good, but I'm not sure what I can ask for that would be considered "reasonable". Any ideas about the types of things other people have been able to get in the past so I have some options?
Love this and keep up the good work 🥰
Having my wife diagnosed was very helpful to both of us
Thanks, Ella! 💖 Yeah, I've read that book where people tore out a bunch of pages... I was in my early 30s when I got my diagnosis and we've dealt with a bunch of the same kinds of hurdles getting my kids' autism diagnoses. My oldest daughter, Alex, still doesn't have one but definitely should. When we tried to get the school to assess her, the school psychologist was retiring and literally taking her as his last task and came back and said "nope, she makes eye ccontact", like, I MAKE EYE CONTACT AND HAVE A DIAGNOSIS.
Diagnosed at 35, in France. It was worth the fight.
i'm so thankful to hear that you support self-diagnosis; a lot of professionally diagnosed people tend to think self-diagnosis isn't valid, and it's very frustrating. i have known that i have adhd for most of my life, and then discovered i am autistic as well with a lot of supporting evidence coming from my documents of my childhood, and i am trying to pursue an adhd diagnosis to get medication because it's just so frustrating living like this.
i wasn't planning on telling the guy about my autism, but then it got brought up and i'm really hoping it doesn't interfere with my chances of getting diagnosed with adhd because i wasn't really planning on having my autism diagnosed, at least not yet. and then there's the nightmare that is insurance. i'm hoping things go well and that all my anxieties aren't going to end up being true.
For me this was actually brought on by watching reviews for the “Music” movie and TH-cam suddenly suggesting a bunch of autism-related things to me. I started suspecting about 3 years ago, after reading one of those checklists and not being able to say a definitive “no” to any single one of them. But after watching SOOOO many videos about traits I have that are problematic in everyday life or are simply not as normal as I thought they were, I’m more inclined to take it seriously. I just don’t want this to be another case of the internet telling me my headache is AIDS. I keep thinking more videos will give me the answer, but at the end of the day, I have no idea if these things really describe me as well as I think they do, or if these things ARE found in some neurotypical people and it’s only the degree to which it affects me verses others that’s the determining factor. So yes, I’m seriously considering an assessment, if for no other reason than to stop trying to change certain things about myself that could possibly be unchangable.
This is exactly how I feel but with ADHD. I keep wondering if it's just me relating to other people's experiences or wanting to find an answer to why I struggle so much everyday. But when I watch the videos and read about the criteria, I feel like it could be possible. I already know I struggle with depression and anxiety, so I'm not sure if it's just my long-term mental health issues or if it could be down to something else like ADHD. Regardless of whether I get a diagnosis or not, I hope I can receive some support for my mental health and find ways to make things better for myself.
The beginning of this video describes our recent experiences in remarkable detail. We're in New Zealand.
I am actually extremely lucky and this video cemented that. While I wasn't diagnosed until recently (20) I didn't have to push or fight. My psychologist (also a newuropsychologist) actually questioned in my first session if I was on the spectrum and when I said I was never tested recommended testing. Ultimately diagnosed in about 8 weeks of work/meeting and has really helped me understand why I react in certain ways (I.e. why change freaks me out so much, sensory issues etc). Very grateful 🙏
I often think back to school and how there was one child who was autistic, how many pupils were holding it all in or struggling with no help or support. We have come a long way but those old beliefs still linger it’s so sad. Because the people in control can put so many roadblocks in the way. I just keep thinking how much better it will be in a couple of generations you doing videos like this can help so much xx
my autism diagnosis was a monumental relief for me, my whole life has been bad, because of autism, but i was not diagnosed, everyone just called me a bad kid, a bad person, a jerk, selfish, etc, i no self esteem, no self worth, i have severe difficulties thinking positively about anything because of going though life without a diagnosis, how i got a diagnosis is pretty interesting actually, my wifes son was doing a thing in high school about mental health and in his research he came across some books about autism and noticed i had every single sign or symptom in the book so he told his mom about it and she started looking up things and we didnt have money or insurance so finding a diagnostician like that is basically impossible but i randomly came across this advert for a new medication trial for helping people regain social skills somehow, one of the things was they had a diagnostician to diagnosis each person in the drug trial to make sure it was accurate and it was free so i went there and actually my autism is so bad i had 3 different diagnosticians diagnose me. it's not a "label" to me, it's a reason, an explanation of why my life went so wrong why i'm 42 years old and totally isolated from everyone, why people abandoned me after they stay around me for to long, knowing all these things really lifted a weight off me, even though i still cant change much, just knowing it's not all my fault helped me not want to die all the time as much. but if your not suffering through life, utterly alone, and so sad because nobody you meet wants to tolerate your existence, if friends dont come into your life and then leave constantly, if every human being doesnt think your an asshole, or a jerk, or racist etc, then you probably dont need a diagnosis really. if your doing okay without one then your doing okay and dont need it probably, i was not okay though, i'm still not but having a reason for being the way i am took a lot of weight off me.
I think for many people, today (I'm writing this in 2022), the more relevant question is: do I even have a chance to _get_ a diagnosis? From what I've heard (plus my personal experience), many countries don't realistically offer a diagnostic process to adults at all, some countries make you pay out of pocket, some countries have waiting lists of up to 6 years. And this doesn't even take into account the fact that many diagnostic places are badly qualified for diagnosis of adults, let alone women. So much to be done still all over the world.
The more important your work in educating people and giving us confidence and helpful advice for everyday life! Thank you so much Ella!
I actually also believe I have quite a lot of Autistic traits myself - mostly sensory issues, which I have become even more aware of now (I'm nearly 35) as I feel others do not react the same way to many things I do. Just a quick list of a few things for me:
- Mud phobia - I can get real anxiety / stress / panic / fear response if I have to walk through (sloppy) mud and having muddy footwear.
- Overly sensitive to sounds and smells that are not usually around.
- Overly sensitive to temperature fluctuations and especially can't cope when it's too hot.
- Overly sensitive to bright lights (I hate ceiling lights on).
- Clattering/bashing/banging items, such as plates, cutlery, glasses and if people are heavy handed shutting cupboards/drawers/slamming doors etc...
- Change - My mum likes to move the furniture around a lot and it can really make me feel stressed/upset/annoyed/angry as I'm not used to it. Can take a few days to get over it.
Also feeling lost/annoyed/upset/ if a plan that had been set for the day suddenly gets changed or doesn't happen for no real/good reason.
- Clothes - I have what I would say is a BIG issue with clothing, I find it very difficult to wear different things. I keep buying the same items and when no longer available, scour the internet for people selling them second hand. I will wear them until they literally fall apart and even then try to patch them up and continue to wear them. I don't enjoy washing them either as they don't feel the same on straight away after being washed.
Just a few of the things, but I feel they are not very 'stereotypically normal' (?)
This! This is what my son and I are struggling with right now in the UK. My son was assessed two years ago for ADHD, my push. The schools assessment said he didn't, but me and the pediatrician believed it was obvious he did, but they couldn't diagnose him without the school agreeing. They said they would do another assessment in 6 months. I never heard another peep until this year when the ped asked me if I thought he was still having issues so now they're finally assessing him again, but with the same parameters 🙄. So they school has to agree again and at every parent conference I've brought it up only to be told he's fantastic, no issues at all. I'm so worried he'll be told he's not, again, when he clearly struggles with it. He even told the Ped two years ago, in his very own words, that it "Feels like so many thoughts are running through my head and I can't keep up with them."
I'm 25 and I feel like the lack of evidence or supporting information from my childhood will probably be what stops me from getting a diagnosis for ADHD. Like I don't remember if I was particularly day-dreamy as a child, but I often felt sad or alone and I felt like the weird one or the odd one out, even though I did have friends. I was always thinking, be it anxious or in a creative way, and I've always been sensitive. But I enjoyed lessons and learning, I was well-behaved and homework was easy in primary school (I was the only girl from my year to get into a grammar school, which is where I started actually experiencing difficulties with the academic side in year 7). Because of the stereotypes of ADHD, when I brought it up to my mum, she seemed to be dismissive of the idea. I'm glad you're doing what you can for your son; I really hope he receives the support he needs.
That's spot on regarding how professionals are sometimes a bit blind to symptoms. When you try to call them out on it or keep them honest, they seem to dig in. Infuriating!
Keep fighting the good fight folks! Professionals do not know it all!
I was dignosed with high functioning autism in May last year at 36. My Mum was asked when I was around 3 or 4 if I was autistic and she said I was under a pediatrician who hadn't said anything about me being autistic so it was left.
When I was 19 I started reacting to loud noises, but I put that down to anxiety I have not knowing anything about autism. Then when I was 36 I had alot of trouble how to take others I thought they meant sometbing entirely different to what they actually meant and became frightened in busy malls. For example, just after Christmas I had a meltdown at my public library. When I recovered and got over the embarrassment , I thank the staff who helped me only to be told "you need to work on that." This really upset me and I explained it was a very recent diagnosis ,I'm still working out how to help myself. She was really good and suggested which I have done, I make like a card with how to help me which I can show. Before the diagnosis I would of burst into tears feeling not understood.
When I finally got the results of being assessed last year after a slight delay with covid-19 , I was so relieved I burst into tears. I finally 36 years later had a answer!
Hello thanks for this. This happened to my son, but he did got early intervention for sensory, feeding, and speech. I changed his pediatrician several times before I found a knowledgeable 1 and with the help of the 2nd grade teacher who agreed with me to get an appointment to get him assessed. By the time it was finalized he was already 8🙄. My son barely met the criteria with a very low adaptive skills score. We have a very big problem. We have very few well trained professionals in this area here. The reason I did believed “these professionals” was because I have researched this matter for years where I came to realize my struggles have a name. My 1st son was never diagnosed with Autism because, although was recommended to get him assessed for “clarification” due to many issues he has.. I didn’t understand any of these... I was a very young mother... but he was diagnosed with “LD” yet graduated with honors and went on to earn scholarships in great universities. Also, my older son speech was extremely advanced for his age and was confusing for the team. Fast forward years later, my son came along with many issues (2nd son), I’m afraid he isn’t gonna achieve as much as his older brother and he has been neglected for many years by the school system. Then my daughter came along with both ASD and ADHD and I knew it right from the start. They all have different dads and I have many issues so I knew they inherited this from me.we need policy changes this is why I went back to college for public health. I’m exhausted. I also taking adhd medication but I just got diagnosed at 41 and looking forward for my assessment appointment for ASD.
my mom is still pushing for an autism or ADHD assessment they did the screening for me with my mom and I scored high but when the school did it my therapist said the scores dont align and need tofind more evidence (ive been truanting a lot, escaping crowds, dont like noises, unable to concentrate in class, barely completed work, unable to stay in class for long, I do have a lot of friends tho, would get irratated so easily and during what some call meltdowns I start pulling my hair rocking and if im near walls I start smacking them, have anxiety attacks at times, I use fidgets in school so its fine) and yet I still havent been given the assessment hopefully when its September that we can find out if I do actually have those conditions. they say that in primary I was a brilliant girl but they dont know I lost friends and that I acted different compared to everyone else or that in mosque I use to get made fun of and couldnt understand social cues which made everyone hate me. however I was pretty smart and would score no less than high marks but in secondary that changed I now score low (im a 2023 leaver so im starting college in a week) I need a label to understand everything about me im sick of this I feel so confused and dont know why I am the way I am I have been masking everything like in class in my head I would tell myself to stop tapping my foot, make eye contact even tho it makes me so uncomfortable, focus and look at the board even tho nothing is going in, I cannot work fast no matter how hard I try, and if I cant do any of this anymore I would truant class cuz im extremely tired and would run away from everyone and climb things I just have little awareness of danger. I have only passed 1 GCSE and failed everything else I might have done better if I got the help I needed in secondary but glad I have a support teacher, a mentor and a safeguarding woman to support me in college I know ill probably thrive better with the help I got. but still I want to be able to have a label that explains everything so I can get the correct treatment for it (currently I do art therapy bc my therapist diagnosed me with anxiety and every teacher knows I have it). well hopefully I get the answers in college.
Ooo love your new intro sequence (not sure of the proper name for it)
@@HarrietFitzgerald580 ❤️
im from canada and im a 21 year old woman. I finally got testing done in february after waiting since june. I had good grades in elementary school so the psychologist told me I couldnt be neurodivergent, despite scoring high on all the asd/adhd assessment forms. he told me I just have an avoidant personality style and am assigning my own current emotions to childhood memories and thats why i “think” ive had issues my whole life. everyone close to me in my life says im a very clear & honest communicator but thats only because im constantly being misunderstood if i dont know the person really well. my testing did show that i have higher than average verbal skills but an average
IQ. I think thats part of why people think I’m better at life than I am. I can articulate and get my point across but it causes me unbelievable amounts of stress and anxiety. since i scored high enough on the assessments for asd & adhd they sent more to my mom, dad, and stepmom. that scares me because none of them want to accept that they may have missed any troubles i had growing up, and im afraid the assessment forms they fill out will reflect that. that being said, im meeting with the psychiatrist who i have a much better relationship with next week to follow up post-testing, so theres still some level of hope. thank you for making this video. I’m getting my BEd to become an elementary teacher rn and knowing about all of this is something im prioritizing for my future working with kids.
omg whatta rant oops
Superb. So well put. I've seen it written that we should only seek a diagnosis if we are "suffering" - hmmm autistic with no experience of suffering because of it. I'm an adult waiting for a diagnosis, expecting it to be two years (UK). Elementary (primary) school in the UK are also waiting two years, at a life stage which you would expect to be more critical, so in my opinion they should be first. I've looked into the training for diagnosticians and it hasn't really built my confidence. I threw away my school reports (bad times for me). Decades on are they important? It's like being on trial and I don't what any support back. If it never happens, so be it.
Not that I endorse shopping around for GP's until you get an answer you want, but I do feel like it's okay for me to find one that I felt would actually listen to me. That said, I went in for a mental health discussion and he put me through a preliminary assessment without my asking (and actually without telling me what the questions were for until after we finished the assessment). I suspected, but I felt glad that he recognised my concerns and gave me that diagnosis himself.
I love this video
It was totaly worth it to get my adhd medications. If i had not started them when i got diagnosed i would probably have a very big alcohol problem at the moment or maybe even worse.
After long days with lots of stimuli from my enviroment i could still feel/hear all the input in my head. At one point it felt like i could hear tortured souls from the beyond in my head...
That is just freakin scary:/. My meds realy help me alot in that regard but i think i might also be autistic so im looking for a place that can help me find out what other problems i have:).
I've tried to start pursing a diagnosis multiple times, but it gets so overwhelming. Not only do all the specialists in my area only focus on children, I don't even have a GP to talk to to get a referral. I was raised very naturopathic and didn't go to doctors much growing up, so now I feel intimidated and lost in the system (in CA, USA). I have terrible health insurance so would need to pay for it out of pocket too - on one sprint I found a place a couple hours away who would do the assessment proccess for around $2000, and if I wanted the official diagnosis after that closer to $5000 😨 it was at this point that every thing felt absurd. I would be paying a professional to validate something I was already certain of and had done extensive research on. It makes me angry. So I've let go of the thought of getting a diagnosis for now. I've taken to calling myself 'nuerodivergent' rather than a specific label, as there's some definite adhd traits I show as well, and without that professional 🤷♀️ all I know is that I'm 100% ND
"I would be paying a professional to validate something I was already certain of and had done extensive research on." this is exactly what i thought, said & felt! self diagnosis is completely valid. lovely to know another ND in the web, welcome Carissa, you are seen here :)
May I ask you what difference your wonderful support dog makes to your life. What role does It have and how does it support you?! I'm yet to be assessed for autism let alone get any assistance but just interested. Great video by the way. Lots to think about ❤️ take care and have a good weekend xx
i find it interesting how we sterio type ourselves a diagnosis is important if you can get one it allows you to avoid things to undo the train wrek and plan for life you will know you are not broken but that you are different it can give you self respect that you will stand up for yourself and be proud of who you are i for one dont want to learn to be just like them i was 58 when i got a diagnosis i cried it changed everything and allthough i realised that there is little or no support and that i would have to educate my counselors on what it is to be a spectrum being and that there was nothing they could say that would make me feel understood it was ok that i now represent my kind with this im happy one day this will all change but untill then dont be autistic just be i actually had a cousilor ask me what my super power was i said what on earth are you talking about you have been wathching to many movies i am nothing like you but i am i am be dont train me to be you and deminsh my worth
I was told I was normal and didn't need disability, and a therphist only spent 10 minutes to come to a conclusion I didn't need anything. We're still on a waiting list to get into another one and get tested. I know somethings wrong with me, but doctors just don't see it.
I got my adhd diagnosis as an adult last year, but wasn't giving the autism diagnosis with the excuse that although I HAVE all the traits, they blame my messed up childhood, plus they weren't able to see passed my masking/adjusting even though I told them that it was learned behaviour when I did the social tests... And now, at 35, living on my own (without a partner or anyone) for the first time, and seeing how I struggling managing all of it... It makes me sad sometimes, and wonder if I could get a second opinion.
I always have found myself not understanding things throughout life. I learned to understand them but in the process I've analyzed every figure of speech. I used to read the dictionary to find new words to use. I would read through the encyclopedia Britannica that we had in our house. I've been unreasonably gullible and only now I am thinking I'm autistic. I had to get ADHD handled but then I found myself having a lot of real autistic moments. It's just the gullibility and being taken advantage of my whole life that I regret. I also am not sure about working, ADHD was bad enough but I think both of these together made my adult life very difficult. I am highly PDA and it has made working totally impossible and everyone say "don't 6ou 5hink you're special?" It's like no, I just don't agree with the way everyone else accepts how to live and I am unable to just go to work every day without getting burned out, I don't think I recovered from my decade long burnout so yeah not sure. Plus I just get fired anyway and have literally never just been told anything positive. Work is always about punishment and no thanks
I start watching to convince myself I don't have ADHD but the amount of times I got distracted watching it takes my doubts away 🙃
Have struggled to get my daughter diagnosed since she was 6 & finally got dyslexia, autism and dyscalculia diagnoses in the past twelve months (in that order, the last 2 in the last month), she’s now 11.
My son (13) has autism and adhd and was diagnosed aged 10.
Doing the research for them, I’m increasingly looking at myself (both as I am now and as a child) and I’m pretty sure I’d also be diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.
Heading into an assessment in December of this year, and on a cancellation list, in case I can get in sooner. If in December, I will be 79.
I want to KNOW, so I can get help!!!
I'm pursuing a diagnosis now at 18- been thinking about it since I was 13/14, they got it all super wrong and sent the paper work to the wrong place as well as not doing it first time at all. sent all my paperwork off 6 weeks ago.
Oh crap, my GP agreed straight away when I asked for assessment.
To be fair I worked out I had adhd last year so maybe he believes me. 🙌🏻
However, he told me to access IAS via my psychiatrist but they said just self refer.
The medical community doesn’t really know what to do with us does it.
Clearly, I will have an uphill battle to get an assessment. I struggle with taking initiative with these types of tasks. Oy!
I've been debating this for myself and my older son recently. My younger son was recently diagnosed autistic at age 4 after me pushing for the last 2 years. My older son displays very ND traits but I can't work out if it's ASD or ADHD or both and not sure how to ask or what to ask for. His school are also adamant that he's fine which isn't helpful. He's 10 now and I just wish I had an answer for what to do 🥴
I'm from the US (afab ftm) and I've been drafting an email to a psychiatrist specializing in autism for the last two weeks. My therapist even recommended this person and in fact brought up autism before me. I still don't know if I'll actually be able to get an assessment or if the assessment will even get me a diagnosis. There are various factors to that, the main one being that my parents cannot be involved in this (I'm trying to remove them from my life, and they wouldn't be helpful anyway, mind you I'm 21 years old so my word should absolutely be seen as valid). The dsm 5 says that testimony from a parent/guardian/adult person from childhood is helpful but that no one should be barred from diagnosis simply due to a lack of said testimony or lack of substance in that testimony. But when do they ever actually follow the dsm? I'm prepared for the reality that I will have to argue my case and quote the part of the dsm that says that just to be heard at all. Seeing as I'm paying for this out of pocket (so as not to bill my parents insurance) I'm not sure whether this is just wasting my time and money or not (even though diagnosis could really help me since I'm still a student). It's ridiculous that these are even things that have to be considered for so many people. An assessment and diagnosis for anything shouldn't be something people have to fight for.
I mask coping extremely well. I'm doing it right now actually. I'm not okay but I seem okay and look it.
I’m 45 and have come to believe I may be on the autistic spectrum, the current criteria is my childhood in a nutshell. I can also relate to a lot of the ADHD symptoms too. I just don’t think I’m going to be taken seriously by my GP. I have a few friends and have held my full time job for 30 years. Luckily enough my job I work on my own 90% of the time unless it comes to working in the office, in which case I start having problems. I have a nephew on the spectrum and my sister had to really fight for his diagnosis. She had her parenting skills questioned more than once.
Another country here. Truth is, that psychologists, if you go by yourself are very expensive. But healthcare in Europe(Czech) is free and I was sent to psychologist by my psychiatrist, so it was also free. I´ve had some major operations in the past and and visit tons of doctors for RA, astma, autism and ADHD, depressions and I am also in care of orthopedic and neurological ambulance, the only thing I pay, is the bus I need to take. I only copay small sum for my hormone treatment and sleeping pills. But the truth is, it´s hard for adults to get the diagnosis. I am lucky enough to have clinical depressions and heavy once and being in care of psychiatrist for two decades, so it wasn´t that hard.
i'm self-diagnosed autistic. i took the ADHD online self assessment and showed it to my doctor at the time. she said "yeah ok" and prescribed me medication. to this day, i am yet to be officially tested for ADHD even though i've been on my medicine and seen regularly for over a year 😂 healthcare is a joke in America. it shows how the system is so careless toward neurodivergence. i support self-diagnosis because i'm not going to let a neurotypical doctor assess me based on outdated and gendered diagnostic criteria. let's just hope the DSM 6 gets it right! right now, it's always just dismissal and exclusion from them. i believe we know ourselves better.
No it's not worth it because there's F*** all support out there!
The thing is that ASD and a better understanding of autism is very, so very recent. Just a few years ago it was seen as a horrible disease and only something that is visible (like non verbal) There was so much misinformation, misunderstanding and lost research that there are 1 or more entire generations of high functioning autistic people who have gone undiagnosed.
So...the idea of discouraging an adult assessment makes no freaking sense.
In the process of being formally diagnosed. I'm doing it mostly to prove a point to some Dr's, and a couple of our foster children are on the spectrum who are very fearful of the future, how they'll cope ect. I'm hoping by getting it in writing I can be sort of an inspiration to them I guess (hate that word) I've lived an amazing life so far, and I want the same for them and to realise its possible for them to achieve their hopes and dreams. Here in Ireland, its not possible to get an adult assessment through the hse, it just doesn't exist. I'm paying €2000 privately.
I've been waiting 3 years to be invited foradiagnosis, but it took me 8 years to get referred to the Autism service in the first place. It can be so difficult.
We think we’re the only ones always catching up, seems like there needs to be a lot more catchup on the professional end
I’m very in two minds at the moment half of me is like I got this far do I need the added stress of all the hurdles you have to jump through. When I tell people I think I’m Autistic on the most part they believe me or at the end of the day that’s just me and they love me so why would it matter! But I do have some extended family members who don’t believe me and put it all down to metal health issues which is just frustrating! I do wish it had been spotted when I was struggling at school then the decision would be out of my hands!
Great video sorry for the rambley comment x
I was only diagnosed as Autistic in January 2021 and it came about almost by accident due to an OHC referral after incidents at work, They also discovered I had Dyslexia and Dyscalculia and severe mental health issues. Sadly, very little has changed since my diagnosis but this might be due to my current employers and it might be better elsewhere. Outside of work, I have had loads of help and support but these might only last for so long. Its all new to me, so, we will see.
glad ur getting the help u need
When I asked my GP to help me get a diagnosis, his response was, "why?" It was so demeaning.
(TL;DR: I need help but I'm afraid of being told I'm not autistic enough to deserve help)
I feel like I'm not going to be able to do my job as a teacher successfully because I need so much social downtime that I can't work 5 days a week for multiple weeks on end. Whenever I do, I experience weeks/months of burnout. It feels like it's a result of my (adult diagnosed) ADHD and what I suspect is ASD-related, so I really want to get a diagnosis so I can explore accommodations in that arena. However, I don't know that I'm truly autistic as opposed to having BAP
I experience so many challenges and deficits and I always feel stressed, strung out, and misunderstood. But I can't deny that my ADHD traits are much more present and visible than the autistic traits. However, the ADHD doesn't explain it all, and I've heard some people say that their ADHD hid their autism until medicated. The non-ADHD experiences I'm having are fairly debilitating socially and in executive functioning, and it's getting worse as I get older...
But I also just won't pretend that I experience these symptoms as intensely as my little sibling who was diagnosed AuDHD as a tween. I even sometimes bullied them for it as a kid to deflect and fit in. They are high support needs compared to me, who works and pays rent and has a bit of a social life. It feels like an insult to them to claim I'm struggling with a low-grade version of what I literally made worse for them
But I don't know. I really don't know. Something is off and I feel like I'm drowning and I need help, but I don't think the symptoms are obvious or intense enough to constitute as ASD in the eyes of professionals, and I can see just how much less I experience some of these feelings than many autistic people. And it's not like I want to struggle more, but I'm so afraid of going out to get the dx, getting told for a second time that I don't have it due to heavy masking (in their words, I exhibit many traits but fall just shy of diagnosis due to it not being obvious when I was a kid), and knowing for sure that I will never be able to legally request accommodations to do the job I love so much
I feel like my life would be so much better with accommodations for ASD, and I relate so much to a majority of the experiences etc that others describe... But it feels JUST subclinical (or at least not externally apparent) enough that seeking a diagnosis would simply be expensive and invalidating. I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I'm cresting a hill in terms of social and executive functioning--my tolerance for it all has been going down the past year as I've been coping with transitioning out of uni and I feel like I'm about to slam into a wall and break down
I'm going to have my first psychology appointment this friday to discuss assessment and I'm terrified, I'm afraid of being invalidated as the tons of stories I'm reading here and all over the internet. The idea of someone telling me that I'm exaggerating or lying makes me sick.
This is the issue I'm currently facing, I strongly suspect I have Autism. I am on a waiting list for an assesment but I am unsure whether to go ahead with it. I am concerned about having that label attached to me forever, I have heard of people having their children taken away because the parent is seen as unfit, also I'm not sure if i want to move abroad later in life and I don't want to be refused because I have a diagnosis. I am really struggling to decide if I should go ahead with the assesment.
Im really struggling at my new job. I REALLY love it and i love my boss, but i keep volunteering to work more to help the boss, then i freak out and have to cancel the days. If i don't cancel, i get physically sick and HAVE to call in. Im so freaked out worrying that I'm going to be fired and feeling embarrassed when i see her. Im wondering if I should get a formal diagnosis to protect me from getting fired? Would that even work?
I've recently been diagnosed with having ADHD and I've been prescribed drug treatment which I take daily. I need a diagnosis for both Dyspraxia and Autism.
So far as an adult I've waited so far over 3 years and have been advised that I've not yet made it to the waiting list to be allocated an assessment date Unfortunately I can't afford to pay privately for an assessment.
Sort of like me and my Mom,me I wasn't diagnosed with autism until I was 38 in 2021,I think that's right 🤔,I was already diagnosed with adhd.
I'm a 22 nonbinary trans guy, & I've known I had ADHD since I was 8. I learned to hide it, except at home, but it exploded in ALL SORTS of unhealthy ways as a teen. I realized in October that I was autistic as well, but once again I tried to ignore it. And lately I've been having SO MANY meltdowns/shutdowns. I finally accepted it as a STRONG possibility about a week ago, and have been discussing signs with my family, and they agree. My therapist has set me up on a waiting list for a waiting list for a diagnoses in a few months. 😭I've been watching vids and doing research since, & it's FANTASTIC to have an answer, but it's overwhelming.
I feel like I've lost MOST of my life, even though the signs were VERY OBVIOUS.. I hear that's a normal feeling though? 🤔
Thank you for explaining the pros and cons so well 🙌🏻💜💫
I had one teacher send me to the “special class” and my parents almost had a heart attack.
For me it’s not worth the official diagnosis. My father and grandmother both have an official diagnosis. Mine would be too hard to spot because I mask so well. I’ve learned over the past 30 years from watching others how to appear normal socially so it isn’t obvious. And I’ve also spent that same amount of time telling myself I’m normal when people close to me have seen through the veneer. Plus they want me to pay $1000 out of pocket. Just to be told maybe or no? No thanks!
Grrrrrrr. I've heard all those comments!!!!
I'm wondering what is the cost for an assessment. I'm in the US and trying to find a resource for adult ASD evaluations. So far, I've found one private office in my area (by someone who looks under 20), but the cost is $5,000!
... the center that conducts evaluations in my area is aligned with Autism Speaks and uses ABA. ... need I say more?
i’m 16 and i really feel like i’m neurodivergent, but nobody in my family thinks i am😟 i figure that would only make the process harder and ultimately pointless? i feel like there’s no way i could even get a diagnosis if i’m the ONLY one who thinks i have something.. i’m not really sure what to do!!
I think I have ADHD, and I tick many boxes in articles by pediatricians and psychologists and I feel I mask a lot. Fidgeting and showing many signs of adhd just at school, and MUCH MORE at home, in my bed, alone, having meltdowns and anxiety attacks. I don't know how to tell my parents I want to get tested especially after my mom shut down my thought of it when I first brought it up. Any tips?
I wrote my parents a letter and left it on the table.
The fact that they waited for her to struggle and suffer to diagnose 🤬
My psychiatrist wants to get me tested for autism and I think getting a diagnosis and subsequent accomodations would help somewhat but not enough to justify ruining my future.
I want to have children eventually but I'm infertile and autistic people cannot adopt in my country.
It was different with adhd because 1) it has no legal implications and 2) access to medication is life-changing.
Can you get similar accommodations designated to adhd? There are a lot of overlapping symptoms that could be found in either condition. Maybe you can get some of the 'asd accommodations' with adhd diagnosis.
Hmm so getting an adult diagnosis of ADHD would mean I could gain access to meds and feel more confident asking people to repeat what they’ve just said… slowly (or sometimes I have to ask them to speak faster lol)
Well I’m not sure I want the meds .. feels like too little too late.. and I’m getting to an age where I just shamelessly ask people to repeat things now and inform them I have a goldfish brain. I don’t care what anyone thinks anymore.
With or without a diagnosis it can never remove the serious adrenaline surges I needed to function on to get me through school and social situations not to mention the long term endocrine system burnout.
A diagnosis now also can’t remove the labels ‘stupid, doesn’t listen, spacey and slow.’ Nor can it remove the inner shame, feeling of ‘something is wrong with me and I must try to hide it’, consequences of social withdrawal as a way to cope with life etc.
No, I’m not bitter although it does sound like it. I just don’t know what the point is now I’m older, maybe had I been diagnosed earlier I’d be a very different person with a very different life quality but I’m actually happy as I am now because I know God and I recon being ‘alternative’ helped me develop spiritually. Life was just too painful to get too consumed in the material world..
I struggle with some traits and totally doubting if I'm on the spectrum or not... 2 doctors already said it wasn't and my friends says it's detected when you are little and I'm not autistic... so I'm battling a lot of impostor's syndrome in that topic (while also having fibromialgya and hypermobile syndrome diagnosed and under treatment Wich is constantly denyed and doesn't help the impostor at all...) also non binary... so I don't know what to do I think a diagnosis would lead me to a specialist who could help me actually cope with me feelings and learn to manage them Wich I can't really do now
Hello, I was wondering something. Can autism be an explanation as to why I have trouble picking up social cues such as when my spouse is emotionally upset? As well as, can it affect how we process empathy? So many people tell me, growing up, I’m very selfish because I’m inconsiderate of others emotions. I somewhat believe I possibly have ADHD or Autism. I’m not sure, but want to see a professional. I’m just wondering these questions.
Hey, yes, autism can affect one's ability to read social cues like facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, figures of speech, irony, or something else. Or it can make someone hyperempathetic.
I think this is probably somehow related to sensory things - dogs can smell fear, people can probably sense each other's emotions in some way too - and for autistic people this can be weakened or heightened. But I don't know. It would just make sense to me since other autism traits are connected to senses as well.
I believe I might have Adhd/Asd but my culture isn’t very forgiving with it. Now I’m married and it’s hard not being able to talk to someone. I want to get assessed because I’m on constant burnout. By my family keeps saying it’s a choice and I shouldn’t be so and so. I do it why can’t you they always say.
I was diagnosed in June 2020 , tbh , it has only caused me more trauma ....
How are you doing now? Do you mind me asking why? I had my assessment last week. Due to go back for final meeting and potential diagnosis in a couple weeks
I had with 3 yrs to get dispointed I had to push them to get mine. I no I all ready had it from expert talled me before it upset because have push hard get get foot in the door. Then have with like watching paint dry. I have depressed as well mental health team I not meet there standers. I had stop working I withing disnoised to get help. I did get dispointed I was disappointed agein how adult r put to the side.
I was was diagnosed last year as autistic
Aged 62. I was three and a half years on the waiting list. An official diagnosis was worth it for me as I now know why I struggle so much. There is little support in the community however. I live in Norfolk in England.
After being diagnosed with adhd they said I couldn’t be autistic cause i was too empathetic
they can go to hell. find someone else.
I'm uncertain of how it works but are you considered high functioning/have aspergers?
My adult son has been told four years! I got diagnosed after 3 months. Entirely due to postcode entitlement or pure good luck on my part. So unfair.
I have taken the online test 3 times.
Scored higher each time.
But living in the USA….💵💸👎
An assessment is not going to happen 🙅♂️
I don't it's caused me more trauma
Like what?
Will it stop people from being ignorant a-holes? No. Will it cost me a lot of money for gas that I can't afford to spend? Yes. Will people make a lot of money off of it regardless of outcome (at least $200/hr)? Yes. Hmm... sure sounds like a money-making scam to me.
I believe I might have Adhd/Asd but my culture isn’t very forgiving with it. Now I’m married and it’s hard not being able to talk to someone. I want to get assessed because I’m on constant burnout. By my family keeps saying it’s a choice and I shouldn’t be so and so. I do it why can’t you they always say.
I can relate and I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. I hope life feels lighter very soon.