Adult Autism Testing
This Friday, I begin the process of being evaluated for adult autism, and I am very frightened. I’m pursuing this diagnosis because my therapist strongly recommended it. My daughter is AuDHD, and other members on my maternal side of the family are autistic as well.
I’m a 48-year-old male algebra and chemistry teacher who has struggled with many things over the years. Everyone sees me as this ultra-smart person who can fix anything, do anything, or learn to do anything. People come to me to solve problems, but inside I always feel like I am mentally struggling to make it through each day.
Inside, though, these are the things I’ve struggled with throughout my life: social confusion, bullying, isolation, loneliness, noise sensitivity, sensory overload, difficulty with emotional expression, miscommunication, social anxiety, small talk, crowds, intolerance to change, shutdowns, emotional overwhelm, chronic stress, hypervigilance, rehearsing conversations, rumination, executive dysfunction, task initiation, forgetfulness, mental overload, time pressure, perfectionism, rigid thinking, sleep tension, irritability, burnout, dyslexia, processing speed issues, feeling different, social masking, misreading intentions, flat affect, relationship strain, conflict avoidance, walking on eggshells, touch sensitivity, clothing sensitivity, dependence on routines, deep immersion, hyperfocus, preference for solitude, anxiety around authority figures, discomfort with public attention, forced socialization, self-doubt, emotional exhaustion, and ADHD.
My question is this: I have Autism Quotient testing results, the Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised (RAADS-R), my learning disability diagnosis from grade school, and written descriptions of how I’ve struggled throughout life. Should I bring all of my “papers” with me, or should I just go in and let them figure it out?
Thank you!!!