You've just got an autism diagnosis: Now what?

After years of waiting for this moment, you've finally got an autism diagnosis. But maybe now you're left thinking 'Now what?'. You've got the confirmation but the moment feels a bit anticlimactic. Something I hear a lot from clients in therapy is the rollercoaster of emotions that can come with receiving a diagnosis. It can feel very overwhelming and difficult to process.

If this is you, you're not alone. Maybe you can recognise or relate to some of the following:

• You feel happy that you finally have a name for why you've always felt different.
• You feel let down and/or abandoned by the healthcare system and the lack of available support.
• You feel validated by your diagnosis and now know there's nothing 'wrong' with you, your brain is just wired differently.
• You're thinking 'Now what?' and aren't sure what to do with this information or how to process this.
• It feels good to have a 'label' to explain your experience to others.
• You feel angry that this wasn't picked up on sooner and wonder if things might have been different or better if they had been.
• You re-evaluate or overanalyse your whole life.
• You feel relieved that there's a reason why you act or feel differently to others.
• You're feeling a bit lost and aren't sure how to feel or what to do.

Sound familiar? Perhaps there are a few other things that you can add to the list...

Whatever your experience, the types of support available to you might not always be clear. That's why I've put together a few options which you may find useful to explore:

Organisations

• The National Autistic Society have a section on their website called 'After Diagnosis' which includes articles, videos, online training and support groups to help you navigate your experience after diagnosis.
• Autism Central provides support to families and carers with access to various services available in your local area (England only).
• SWAN Scotland is an autistic-led charity for and by autistic women and non-binary folx. They offer support in the forms of meet-ups, training and information (Scotland only).

Social media

There are various support groups available on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for autistic adults, which can be a great way to build a sense of community and to engage with others who might have shared experiences. Examples include 'Actually Autistic Adults and Allies' Facebook group and 'Autistic Pride Online Group' on Reddit.

Therapy

If you're looking for a space to process and explore any thoughts and feelings that might be coming up for you after your diagnosis, having therapy can be helpful for some people. If you would like to consider this as an option, I'd recommend looking for a 'neurodiversity-affirming' therapist. If you'd like more information on what this is, check out my article 'Neurodiversity-affirming therapy: What is it and how to find it?'.

Starting counselling can sometimes be a daunting experience. It can feel scary to start something new and to trust a stranger, especially if you're not sure whether counselling will make a difference in your life or not.

If you feel comfortable enough to do so, it can be helpful to mention any concerns, doubts or fears you might have to your therapist upon meeting them so that you can hopefully find a way to work through this together that feels comfortable for you. If you find it difficult to communicate this verbally, perhaps you could write down a list to give to them or use an app on your phone such as 'Leeloo' to share your feelings.

Some people find it helpful to prepare some topics ahead of their therapy session. If you're someone who might forget what you want to say or think that you might feel a bit stuck at times, this can be a reassuring way to keep yourself on track.

If it's your first session or if you are having an introductory meeting with a therapist(s), it can also be helpful to prepare some questions beforehand. These will be personal to you, but may centre around what's important for you in your counselling relationship. Some examples might include:

• How can you support my needs as an autistic person?
• What experience do you have of working with neurodivergent folx and/or neurodivergent folx who are struggling with similar things to me?
• How do you usually work with people like me?
• What happens if I begin to feel overstimulated during our session?
• Do you have fidgets or sensory items available to use or can I bring my own?

Asking these types of questions and hearing their answers to them can give you a good sense of whether the therapist you're meeting with is a good fit for you or not. You won't 'click' with everyone, so it may take a few meetings with different therapists to find the right one for you. Many therapists may have this kind of information on their websites, so it's worth having a look there first before narrowing down your options of who to meet with. 

It may not always feel like it, but there is support available for you if you are struggling.