My experience of discovering that I am an Autistic female has been a rollercoaster. Understanding Autism can feel really overwhelming. I have learned that being a late-diagnosed, highly-masking Autistic female is becoming more common. However, the diagnostic process is a often a challenge. This is because only recently research has started to focus on Autism in females. If you are questioning if this diagnosis might be appropriate for you, keep reading.
When I started to identify that I might be Autistic, I took numerous online screenings. One of the most reliable is the RAADS-R. Here’s a link to the screening if you’re interested: https://embrace-autism.com/raads-r/ . Every time, I scored in the highly likely categories. In a panic, thinking the screening was wrong, I immediately had my partner take them. He did not score in the likely Autistic categories. Unfortunately, this only increased my feelings of worry. After this, I honestly became pretty fixated on the idea that I might be Autistic and fully understanding Autism in females.
I proceeded to pitch the idea to my mental health professionals… their responses were that it made a lot of sense based on my severe sensory processing issues, social differences, and anxiety, especialy in changes to routines. As shocking as this was I also wasn’t surprised.
My Diagnosis
I found it quite odd that an autism diagnosis seemed so clear to my healthcare professionals. This was not anything that had been mentioned before I brought it up. I had previously been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. While these diagnoses were challenging to navigate, they were familiar. However, the idea of neurodivergence was complicated. To understand Autism, I had a neverending list of questions about what to expect and how to manage my challenges better. The diagnostic process was confusing and filled with emotions.
Soon after, I had weekly appointments booked with my psychologist. I had recently burnt out from trying to balance work and school. While this is challenging for many people, it suddenly made more sense why. However, this did not help me manage my guilt about being unable to keep up. After a few sessions with my psychologist, she recommended that I stop working while trying to learn about and navigate this new diagnosis. I am completely overwhelmed by this task and also hyperfocused on understanding it.
Sensory overload is one of my biggest challenges as an Autistic female. The world is loud. Bright. Overwhelming. Learn strategies for coping with sensory overload in this blog post: https://newlyneurodivergent.com/sensory-overload-coping-strategies-for-individuals-with-autism/
Moving Forward
I began exploring Autism in late 2023. Now, it is Spring of 2024. Looking forward, I continue to work closely with mental health professionals to better determine how to cope with the challenges I have due to Autism. This includes a psychologist, psychiatrist, and occupational therapist.
April, 2024
DISCLAIMER: The blog post may contain affiliate links. This helps support my blog and allows me to continue to share information. Thank you for your support!
