Who knew a diagnosis would bring so much relief but add to the feeling of being completely misunderstood by everyone I know🥲
Hey, I'm hoping I can connect with some people here because I'm forever feeling so alone with my issues. I was diagnosed with ADHD in April and Autism a couple weeks back. Since getting both conditions confirmed generally I have felt a lot of relief and I'm sure plenty of people here who were diagnosed late found the reprocessing of things really insightful.
The one thing I've found really hard now is just the general noise there is now within the UK about these conditions. Especially within my close circle (basically my family as I have no friends) who have been dismissive across multiple different areas. This is really frustrating be ause they experienced first hand all my difficulties growing up. Also really ironic because I see the traits in them!
Either it's
"I don't know anyone who has gone for a diagnosis, leave without one" "well it changes nothing"
"what's the point if they can't do anything to help"
'I think it's caused by our environments now days, rigid work schedules, mobile phones etc and it's not actually a neurodevelopmental condition from birth.'
"Everyone has traits like that"
"She's just got this diagnosed for PIP" This one really got to me, I've already got a long list of health conditions because of the comorbid conditions that are often coexisting with ND. Would I really be so interested in getting two extra for PIP when I've already got auto immune conditions and other physical health issues which are very functionally limiting on their own! Somehow the whole country thinks getting a diagnosis now days of ND means you're suddenly entitled to a benefit just because you have it 🙈😅
Like there really is just the general consensus at the moment spanning across the UK that everyone is now seeking a diagnosis in these conditions in order to claim benefits and not work? The media at the minute is relentless with it's reporting and I even came across a physiologist online absolutely berating ADHD, calling it a social contagion, saying it's not neurological and that it's a scam/fad diagnosis.
All of this just adds to this never ending feeling I've carried my whole life that nobody will ever understand me. Like no wonder I'm so dysregulated all the time. Worst of all I feel like I really can't shake my frustration for these things and my sense of justice is through the roof. I want to sit and reply to comments all day telling people they're wrong, but, of course I know this is wasted energy.
How does everyone else feel about this and have you experienced dismissal from loved ones post diagnosis?