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Middle Aged Diagnosis

soleTempo

Well-Known Member
Hello,
I'm new here.

As a child in the 70's, Asperger's, ADD, and ADHD were not a part of the DSM-II. There were clear symptoms in retrospect, but the best thinking of the day was to put me on ritalin. I was gifted academically but did not mix well with others. My pre-school told my parents to find me another pre-school. My grade school said I just needed to settle down. I went through childhood, my teenage years, and my adult life not quite getting it.

I had seen a video that asked 10 questions. I was blown away by the questions, having answered 'yes' to each. This prompted me to start digging for more information. What I read resonated with me. It explained how I think and why I have struggled all of my life in my social, professional, and family life. I had already been seeking out a therapist to help me address some personal struggles, so I took this opportunity to find out whether I was indeed on the spectrum.

My therapist diagnosed me yesterday as "clearly on the spectrum" having met "all of the criteria" and reporting behavior from childhood and adulthood that is consistent with a diagnosis of Asperger's and ADHD.

Wow.

So my brain works differently. I've accepted this. I just don't know what to do with that information.

soleTempo
 
Welcome soleTempo. I can relate to what you have written. The realisation for me that I have AS was liberating and provided the answers to so many questions about my life. Then I was left wondering what to do with all of my new understanding. I'm in no hurry to make major changes. For the most part I am continuing as I always have done. My job is rather stressful at the moment so I'm not in a good place mentally to be making big changes. Throughout my life I've made changes periodically as my mind was in the right place to accommodate them and it felt right to address them. I don't feel the need to deal with anything differently now.
 
Welcome soleTempo,
You have the rest of your life to figure out the rest of your life.
 
I'm angry that this wasn't found sooner, although I have nowhere to point that anger. This did not even exist as a diagnosis when I was a child.
 
Hi and welcome i am 50 this year i was diagnosed 3year ago myself but i took me 2years to get diagnosed like yourself i to had struggled to
 

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