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22 yr old girl, just diagnosed

Hattie

Hattie

Active Member
Hi all!

I'm 22 and got diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome yesterday which feels like such a massive relief as I've spent most of my life struggling. When I was 17 I lived in a psychiatric hospital for 9 months and was diagnosed with all sorts sporadically, (BPD, bipolar, depression, anxiety). When I came out I struggled even more with low self - esteem, self-harm, communication and socialising and I had no idea what was wrong with me and what had always been 'wrong with me' :( I went back to school when I was 18 and got a place at university when I was 20, still struggling a lot but not as often.
I always felt totally different from everyone else and I always seemed to find it a lot harder than everyone else to do simple tasks (especially around being with other people). Now I have been diagnosed with aspergers (high functioning) I breath a sigh of relief. I feel like I am always performing and trying to catch up with how everyone else is behaving, no wonder I am always so tired and depressed!
Now I need to learn to accept myself :)
I would love to learn more about autism and to meet other people like me, which is why I joined this site.

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17361500_10154872505780380_532007646819109621_n.jpg
 
Hi and welcome! Your experience to date is similar to mine. It was a relief for me too to get an official diagnosis, validating my struggles (and I have had stays in psychiatric hospitals too), and relieving me of the fear that I was just bad, lazy, going crazy, etc.

It is nice to be here, to be able to be ourselves, and to not be embarassed or feel like you are being judged when you share of your struggles and difficulties.
 
Guppyfry said:
Hi and welcome! Your experience to date is similar to mine. It was a relief for me too to get an official diagnosis, validating my struggles (and I have had stays in psychiatric hospitals too), and relieving me of the fear that I was just bad, lazy, going crazy, etc.

It is nice to be here, to be able to be ourselves, and to not be embarassed or feel like you are being judged when you share of your struggles and difficulties.
Click to expand...

Hi thanks for the welcome. I'm glad you felt better after your diagnosis too, how old were you? I like the sound of being ourselves and not being embarrassed. I really hope I can get there one day in real life too!
 
I was 39 when I first read about Asperger's and all the bells rang. Finally! Some answers! I got an official diagnosis shortly after that. I'm in my fifties now, so Asperger's wasn't even known back when I was your age.
 
Welcome! I'm glad you're learning to like yourself! This is a friendly website that will help you to do it.
Come blog with Us!
I wasn't diagnosed until I was an adult either.
 
Guppyfry said:
Hi and welcome! Your experience to date is similar to mine. It was a relief for me too to get an official diagnosis, validating my struggles (and I have had stays in psychiatric hospitals too), and relieving me of the fear that I was just bad, lazy, going crazy, etc.

It is nice to be here, to be able to be ourselves, and to not be embarassed or feel like you are being judged when you share of your struggles and difficulties.
Click to expand...
Sadly, I share that experience as well.
Welcome, Hattie!
 
Welcome to the forum, I was a similar age when I was diagnosed and it was good to finally have answers. If you ever need anything just ask.
 
same as others 45 years old when diagnosed no diagnosis for hfa when i was young.
went to hospital for mental health problem , have panic disorder still frightening to post on the forum
 
'lo!

I think this GIF accurately portrays doctors looking for the correct diagnosis. They get there in the end.

giphy (43).webp


It's a massive shame that a lot of people only get help with problems relating to autism after a lot of mental scaring and eventual breakdowns in adulthood. I'm counted in that population too.
 
Hattie said:
Hi all!

I'm 22 and got diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome yesterday which feels like such a massive relief as I've spent most of my life struggling. When I was 17 I lived in a psychiatric hospital for 9 months and was diagnosed with all sorts sporadically, (BPD, bipolar, depression, anxiety). When I came out I struggled even more with low self - esteem, self-harm, communication and socialising and I had no idea what was wrong with me and what had always been 'wrong with me' :( I went back to school when I was 18 and got a place at university when I was 20, still struggling a lot but not as often.
I always felt totally different from everyone else and I always seemed to find it a lot harder than everyone else to do simple tasks (especially around being with other people). Now I have been diagnosed with aspergers (high functioning) I breath a sigh of relief. I feel like I am always performing and trying to catch up with how everyone else is behaving, no wonder I am always so tired and depressed!
Now I need to learn to accept myself :)
I would love to learn more about autism and to meet other people like me, which is why I joined this site.

;);););););););););););););););););););););)

17361500_10154872505780380_532007646819109621_n.jpg
Click to expand...
hi hattie,welcome to AC!
it is really common for female aspies to be diagnosed with things like borderline PD or other PDs before the asperger diagnosis, as you guys present differently to male aspies,it was always common for females to be diagnosed with a mental health condition instead as it was once thought girls couldnt have HFA [my aspie sister got diagnosed with social anxiety disorder instead at 19,and an old aspie support staff of mine was told she was a pyschopath in more medical terms by a pyschologist and was told females dont get autism].

at least now,you can process things and learn to accept yourself as an aspie.
 
Thank you everybody for your warm welcomes :D

So sorry that a lot of you have been through a similar path of misdiagnosis.

I really wish I knew many many years ago, as I'm sure a lot of you guys do too.
 
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