georgiapiano Report post Posted July 18, 2015 Hi. I'm Georgia. I don't really know if I've come to the right place. There are so many forums online! It's all a little confusing (as is always the case in my muddly head. I find it hard to cope with so many options! I just want a straight, black and white answer - 'yes, THIS is THE forum for people with ASD'). Anyway, all I want to do is pin point a place which is best for me to discuss my experiences with others who have experienced the same. I've had a look at some of the posts and it seems I may be in the right place - please correct me if I'm wrong?? Here's my story... Well, actually, my story is way too long to tell in one post. I could write a book (I'm actually thinking seriously about it) about my life from a young child until now. So here's me in a little nutshell instead. I'm 34 years old, I have not been diagnosed with ASD. I have severe problems with high levels about anxiety and obssessions about health, illnesses and death. It takes over my life. I have a professional job, which I love. I have two young children and a partner who is the father to my two children. I love my family immensely. Despite all the great things in my life (and it couldn't be happier) I struggle daily with just generally functioning. I have massive moodswings, which are random, unexpected - sometimes very angry. It frightens me sometimes how I can feel so out of control for no explained reason. This only happens at home. At work, I am an actress (not actually an actress, but I am acting in my role of what I do so I can cope - I am not myself). I hate my true self. I struggle with my own self identity, I have self harmed in the past. I have had difficulties with relationships in the past. I hate social situations. I blush at the click of a finger and want to run and hide in a big hole. I want to be perfect all the time - in fact, I have to be perfect - things have to be perfect otherwise I crumble into a heap of uselessness. I have tried antidepressants - I hated them, they made me worse. I then also obsess about the side effects of them. I don't take any medication for anything unless it's a matter of life or death because the worries about the side effects makes me more anxious about dying from something. I've tried counselling, CBT....I'm getting to the end of my tether now. I've read books about ASD in women and late diagnosis. It's all making a lot of sense and I can pretty confidently say that I can self diagnose myself. I've also tested on the online tests and come out with ASD on the lower end. Would be great to talk to some people on here with similar experiences to mine. Thank you :-) Georgia xxx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekster Report post Posted July 20, 2015 Welcome I can empathise with your finding emotions confusing. I found my ocd health anxiety eased off post diagnosis after all my disabilities were identified. hope you find some support soon. The book 'pretending to be normal ' may appeal to you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
georgiapiano Report post Posted July 20, 2015 Thank you. I will look into it. I've read a lot of books already. A good one I'm reading at the moment is Women from another planet. Any ideas on how to get a diagnosis? x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekster Report post Posted July 20, 2015 Diagnosis depends on the area you live in. You could try looking up the autism strategy for adults in your county and see how to get a diagnosis from there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Livelife Report post Posted July 22, 2015 Hello And Welcome From what you have posted I think this is certainly the place that is suited to you and from what you have said I would agree with your conclusions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
georgiapiano Report post Posted July 23, 2015 Thank you. I'm glad to be here. It's reassuring that I'm not just going crazy. Love to you all xxx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Livelife Report post Posted July 23, 2015 Your not crazy it makes you feel like it at times but your not that's a certainty. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Salvador Report post Posted August 2, 2015 Welcome I can empathise with your finding emotions confusing. I found my ocd health anxiety eased off post diagnosis after all my disabilities were identified. hope you find some support soon. The book 'pretending to be normal ' may appeal to you. thank you for this, I am hoping my anxiety will ease off post diagnosis. 19th august. however until then im in maximum mode when it comes to worry. I will struggle for parental witness. my father is deceased and my mother kindly estranged me in 1997, I hope they know enough to sort it out without, but its going to be stressful Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elemental Report post Posted August 3, 2015 You need a referral to an Autistic Diagnostic Service in your area & the National Autistic Society UK holds a lot of information online about their local branches, support services etc. I sought re-assessment following my original diagnosis in 1998 by going to my GP & requesting it. I had stage one a few weeks ago, there is a preliminary interview before the actual assessment. I don't know how your NHS is there but I waited over 10 months & stage two is still pending because they are really short staffed for this stuff here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Salvador Report post Posted August 3, 2015 Sounds like similar stage to me. I had my referral and got funding and got assesment on 19th august! Not sure if that's stage1/2? But its parental witness im concerned about Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reppac Report post Posted August 3, 2015 Welcome to the forum - hope you can find a place of refuge and companionship here. I appear to have got diagnosis a little quicker than most. I came to the point through anger management. I am not violent, but was concerned I may become so, and I have kids. When explaining this alarms went off everywhere. Suddenly mental health, social services and everyone got involved. I managed to calm them all down before they encroached upon family life and freaked everyone out, but they were all to willing to help. During one of the early sessions ASD came up and it was quickly decided that ASD anger required specialist help and diagnosis became the priority. From what you say, I wonder if this route may help you. However, it may have just been lucky to have worked out for me, and I have to say when child welfare and social services started calling I did start panicking, although they said they could not intervene unless I requested it or if I was perceived as a dangerous threat to my kids. As all they had to go on was what I told them, they had to leave me alone. Good luck, and don't give up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites