Autism and Me: My experience
‘Autism and Me’ programme member shares their experience being diagnosed, overcoming trauma, challenging stigma and the impact of receiving the right support for a neurotypical mind.
The following tells the story of a member of Tyneside and Northumberland Mind’s ‘Autism and Me’ and ‘ADHD and Me’ Triple A programme. Read on to discover how a misdiagnosis led to a later in life discovery of autism and ADHD and the series of events that followed. This story shows how the pursuit of a diagnosis can change lives and the impact of receiving the right support for you – something every person deserves.
I have a diagnosis of Cyclothymia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and ADHD alongside Autism. I was late diagnosed with Autism and was diagnosed at the age of 34. For many years I was misdiagnosed as having traits then later a full diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder. I contested this for a long time and developed a lot of trauma around my emotions due to the treatment and stigma attached with that misdiagnosis. I was later diagnosed with Autism and the EUPD removed.
I attended “Autism and Me” as I wanted to gain a better understanding of myself as an autistic individual and to learn how to manage my symptoms in healthier ways and the course did not disappoint.
I feel there is a gap in services for individuals diagnosed with Autism as people are given the diagnosis and then have little to no follow up to educate them on how to manage their symptoms and “Autism and Me” filled that gap for me.
Other goals were identifying burnout and how to manage this as I struggled a lot with this and managing change as well as incorporating self care into my routine. As a result of “Autism and Me” I feel that I have developed more of an understanding of my Autism and how to manage it.
One of the key things I learnt from the course was trying to learn to recognise my emotions, due to having past trauma related to this, this was difficult, but Emma [Facilitator of the ‘Autism and Me’ Course] was very patient with me and we used a feelings wheel and slowly but surely I started to identify my emotions. I still use a feelings wheel now.
I was also encouraged to speak to my GP regarding testing for ADHD as I exhibited some traits and I now also have an ADHD diagnosis which I would not have got had I not done “Autism and Me”.
Even though I have a lot of trauma and I am now in trauma therapy due to the misdiagnosis of EUPD it is a relief that I now have a better understanding of how my Autism affects me and “Autism and Me” played a vital role in that and I am now currently doing the “ADHD and Me” course.
Could our ‘Autism and Me’ Course be right for you?
‘Autism and Me’ is offered as part of our Northumberland Autism Programme and Gateshead Triple A (AAA) Programme.
Click here, and select the ‘Support by Area’ to see if our programme could be right for you. We accept self-referrals, and referrals on behalf of another.
