my autism diagnosis story!

now that i’ve created several episodes, i think it’s time you all get to know me a little better. this episode is about my diagnosis story! it took me eighteen years to get diagnosed with autism and it was a bumpy ride. please keep in mind that this is my experience and therefore isn’t indicative of the “typical” path to diagnosis. there are several ways to get diagnosed, and it can occur at any age! if you think you have autism, i’d recommend mentioning it to your doctor and advocating for yourself if they don’t take you seriously.
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[@lisbethchristensen1981]

I just got my late autism diagnosis on the 22nd of may 2024. Just 8 days ago. I'm 43 years old. I'm forever grateful for autistic youtubers like you. It means the world to me. Thank you. 🏆❤

[@michelelaurdes8515]

OMG I got my autism diagnosis on the same date and I'm 43 years old

[@lisbethchristensen1981]

Congratulations@@michelelaurdes8515 . I'm very happy for you. Understanding one's self is definitely a very important component in life.

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

i am so so happy for you! it must have been a big change finally getting a diagnosis and advocating for yourself but that is a huge deal. thank you for this comment, the whole reason i post is to reach people like you and i really appreciate the support.

[@suea5044]

May I ask what happens now?

[@cowtowngangsta]

Same, I am also 43 and got diagnosed less that 1 year ago. Born in 1981, I was diagnosed with ADHD in 1995. I used to run around in circles flapping my hands as a young kid and stimming like crazy. I could never pay attention in school and I was always in trouble. I was so obviously autistic, but back in those days only 1 in 2500 kids were getting diagnosed.

[@NotANameist]

Wow, what a journey you went on. I hope you are coming closer to achieving peace in your life! I’m a man in my 30’s and just got diagnosed this year. Being diagnosed so late is very sad. 😢

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

thank you so much for your kind words, i hope you're coming closer to achieving peace as well!

[@Truerealism747]

Got diagnosed 43 after sons diagnosis after years fybromyalgia CFS and diagnosed heds comorbid 😊

[@RambleMaven]

Also you have a great way of explaining things and I love the audio on your videos so I have been really enjoying burning through all your videos 😂💖

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

thank you so much this means so much to me! have fun burning through haha

[@RambleMaven]

Autism is currently my special interest and I have been consuming content from Autistic creators like a feral dog 😭😭😂😂🤣 sometimes I wake up and it the first thing I think about and I have the urge to watch something on autism related first thing in the morning. I’m trying not to do that so I can focus on regulating myself for the day ahead but the urge very much so is there 😭

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

i feel you so much with this one. i hope you were able to focus though!

[@tammeyaa]

Am in the process of getting tested for ADHD and autism . My son has both . Your awesome 😊

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

thank you so much that's so kind! good luck with your evaluations they can take forever but in my opinion they are so worth it!

[@Tourettes0]

so glad i found your channel! (:

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

thank you so much this makes me so happy!!

[@frankauer99]

Thank you so much for sharing your story I’m adopted at birth and have been struggling for years undergoing better testing now thank you so much

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

thank you for commenting! this is so nice to hear, good luck with the whole process.

[@Truerealism747]

I no a autism sycologist and works with ADHD to and says most ADHD folks and autism there parents had it reason for adoption my great grandmother was adopted all grandchildren great grandchildren have adhd

[@jeffreymorgan8687]

She performed a magic trick and switched which side the driver's seat is on *my adhd brain the whole video*

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

true i noticed that while editing and i thought it was really funny!

[@nattokki]

our experiences are SOO similar! About to go to college this year, got diagnosed as a senior and im soo nervous

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

no way it's so nice to hear about other stories similar to mine because i felt like it was unusual. you got this!! i'm happy for you for getting the diagnosis, but i know it can be hard so late. lmk if you need anything or want to talk ever!

[@nattokki]

@@beyondthespectrumpodcast Thank you!! Best of luck to your channel, I love doing assignments and listening to your vids :)

[@JonBrase]

4:38 I'm not sure that ADHD-I is best described as the "less traditional" form of ADHD, it's just that the nomenclature of ADHD is confusing, in that "hyperactivity" is used in the name of even the inattentive type. Up until 1987, it was just called ADD, with hyperactive and non-hyperactive subtypes (I was in Kindergarten in the early 90s, and when my teacher talked to my parents about getting me tested, she still used the old terminology. I didn't *actually* get tested until after my brother was diagnosed in the mid 2010s).

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

thank you so much for commenting and sharing this info! by less traditional i meant inattentive adhd is not always the stereotypical picture of adhd people may have, but this is an educational comment for me to continue learning!

[@JonBrase]

@@beyondthespectrumpodcast Yeah, my point was that the stereotype largely exists because someone thought that changing the name of the condition as a whole to include "hyperactivity" (instead of just reserving it for the hyperactive subtype) was a good idea.

[@marianacorredor1471]

Wait, how did you get the concussions? playing contact sports? I am just guessing

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

i'm just very uncoordinated and unlucky. i have played a few sports but all of my concussions were from random accidents like being hit with a basketball in gym class or hitting my head on a countertop. once you get one concussion it's easier to get more unfortunately.

[@lilacspring2556]

You asked for your friend’s opinion and she told you. 😂 I don’t think your friend was trying to be malicious, not everyone has to be out of your life for simply disagreeing with you. It’s ok to have people like that in our life for the times we’re being unreasonable.

[@MsCeegee3]

Mom of an autistic daughter here I totally get where you’re coming from with that. We do need people to challenge us. But it’s challenging enough to sort out what’s going on - the last thing you need is a dismissive comment- instead of being curious “seems like a pile of symptoms!” (and by the way that it’s exactly what most peoples autism ends up being). There’s a way to do it… and there’s a way not to do it. I think that Friend was useful in helping this woman figure out what kind of friends she needs at this time in her life. (and I also don’t feel harshly towards that ex friend because hey, she didn’t know! And they’re so young still…)

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

yeah i agree she definitely wasn't trying to be malicious at the time, she's not a part of my life anymore for reasons that have nothing to do with this story so i didn't drop her because of this one comment :) i wasn't really asking for her opinion, i was just sharing something with her that she immediately rejected which was a setback for my journey which is why i included it! sorry i could've worded it all better i was more focused on other aspects of the episode.

[@andrewgarcia6951]

❤

[@RainbowUnicornPotato]

You did a great job advocating for yourself even tho others were dismissing it 🌈 that can be really tough

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

thank you so much this means a lot!!

[@kellyschroeder7437]

No one should poo poo anyone but operate w open mind. I was late dx w asd age 58F. Somehow after so many years, so much counseling and so many struggles I kinda said what if ? Did take some time. Still struggling w accepting it yet know it deep down 💞🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💞👊

[@NFSMAN50]

Helloo there, im also autistic, adhd as well. Nice to meet ya!! Just subscribed to your channel!!

[@beyondthespectrumpodcast]

omg thank you so much nice to meet you as well!

[@johnbillings5260]

It's always fun when "professionals" gaslight you/make you feel like something isn't important when it turns out to be. I'm glad you didn't let that stop you!