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Looking for Advice

A

ayogreg

Member
Hello, I am a 30 year old male looking for some advice on what to do. I'll give a bit of background below and then ask my question.

Over the years I've discovered more and more things about myself that leads me to believe I have some sort of autism. I recently heard on a podcast someone who described themselves and misdiagnosed by a doctor as just being depressed and anxious, when in fact they had some form of autism and that the depression and anxiety were symptoms of being autistic. I am also dealing with depression and anxiety but it has gotten better now that I've smoothed things out in my life and have been able to stay on my normal schedule and routine. It still gets bad from time to time and I would just like to stop that from happening.

I did some generic online survey and it says I have high functioning autism but that's obviously not any official diagnosis, however it was interesting to note I guess.

If I were to go for an official diagnosis, what are the best steps I should take to make it happen? And if it did turn out I had some form of autism, what can even be done? Are there different medications I can take to help with the depression and anxiety now that there would be an official diagnosis for autism or would I just be in the same position I am now? I've taken anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds in the past. Most have not worked due to severe side-effects. The rest just stopped working after about a year or so of taking them so I just stopped. I'm currently not on any medications.
 
Welcome to the forums. Your question is difficult to answer because we are all so different to each other.

Autism is a physical neurological difference, our brains are physically different to the average normal. For this reason many medications don't work the same for us as they do for neurally typical people and a lot of experimentation is needed.

Also your average general practitioner doesn't understand that anxiety and depression are two entirely different things. Being sad is not the same as being worried.

I don't take any medications, the only time I tried it completely ruined my life. I would recommend you find a doctor that specializes in helping autistic people, the average everyday GP can cause more harm than good.
 
Welcome!

I'm going to defer to others on medical stuff, but a question you may wish to consider is that depending on where you are, pursuing a diagnosis is potentially quite time consuming (in terms of a waitlist - 2-3+ years is not unusual for adult diagnosis in some places) and costly ($2000-3000 is quite common in the United States and Canada).
 
VictorR said:
(in terms of a waitlist - 2-3+ years is not unusual for adult diagnosis in some places) and costly ($2000-3000 is quite common in the United States and Canada).
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This varies greatly from country to country, I was honestly shocked the first time I saw figures like that. In Australia it's a 12 month wait list and the cost is AU$500. That's only about US$300.

I think that this might be government subsidised though, a diagnosis here requires a panel of at least 3 experts and takes 3 to 4 hours. I can't imagine psychologists and psychiatrists working for such a low income.
 
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Hello and welcome.

If you stick around for awhile and read lots of the threads, you will likely find more answers than you have questions! There is a wealth of information and many unique experiences with autism represented here.
ayogreg said:
done? Are there different medications I can take to help with the depression and anxiety now that there would be an official diagnosis for autism or would I just be in the same position I am now? I've taken anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds in the past
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My understanding is that the medication available to you would be no different before and after an autism diagnosis. It seems like most people here, myself included, take medication for some sort of comorbid condition, and not necessarily autism itself.

I would say the first best step is to start increasing your understanding of your own experience with autism, and you can do that with us, here.
 
Exercise seems to help with depression, and if you live in snow country, light boxes are beneficial and help alleviate seasonal sadness.

Perhaps understanding yourself in context with being autistic will also help with learning how and why you respond to things. As @Rodafina pointed out, there is a lot to learn at this site from those who have come thru a lifetime of navigating situations, relationships, and employment.
 
I never saw any need for an official diagnosis. When I read a list of symptoms, it explained both my life, and my mother's, who I was actually researching on. Counselors are not inclined to argue, and nobody wants to see a paper.
I manage the depression with healthy habits, and have stopped expecting myself to be able to do various "normal" things. Another big change for me was just finding out that IQ and Emotional Intelligence are independent variables. I always thought the socially adept were just kidding about having trouble with math.
 
Self-teaching will be a big part of your understanding. You've already taken a helpful step by coming here. This forum is like a database, an archive going back years. You can learn a huge amount by just sitting back and reading all the past threads, blogs and resources. And of course, you can ask whatever you want, or just post random thoughts. Lots of great people on here, at all stages of their own journeys.

I probably don't really need to say this part, but if you are early on in your understanding, be VERY wary of the words "Autism" and "treatment" in the same sentence or paragraph. There are lots of con artists and quacks out there, ready to take advantage of people. As @Rodafina says above, treatments are more for comorbid conditions, rather than for Autism itself.

All the best to you on your journey.
 
At least if you get diagnosed, you then know what it is and perhaps a pathway to the next step...coping mechanisms. It's difficult for me to handle my anxiety and depression when it gets bad. I normally hide myself away and don't speak or see anyone for a day or so. Whether that is the best way to handle it, I don't know. It works for me for recovery. But what might be good for me, may not work for you. I take CBD oil and relax in my room with a tv show...sometimes I'll code or write music, maybe exercise my way out of it...just depends. I always try to think of a positive pathway...productive and beneficial. :)
 
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