My Autism Life After Diagnosis

My Journal

ABOUT

My name is Louise. I was diagnosed with autism in my late forties.

This blog is my journey from late diagnosis, how I navigate the ups and downs of life, and the strategies I use to cope.

I also write about my lifestyle, my life experiences, and raising awareness about neurodiversity.

Autism is a spectrum, and it can look different in each person. This is one way autism can present.

This blog is for reference and education only, and not professional advice. Please consult a specialist for diagnosis or support.

Please like, comment and subscribe. I would love to read your ideas, thoughts and opinions.

My Journal

Raising Awareness

  • Autism and Underemployment

    I am very grateful that I have always held down a job. However, many jobs that I have had over the years have not fully utilised my skills. I had worked for many years as an instrumental music teacher. My qualifications are to teach students one-to-one, the flute and the piano. I couldn’t cope with Read more

  • Strategies to Stay Organised

    Learning to cope with life has been a challenge, as it can be difficult for people with autism to stay organised. However, in order to survive, I have had to create different strategies. This is so that I get everything done, I can relax, and I know I haven’t missed anything important. Familiar Places At Read more

  • Autism Self-Diagnosis or Autism Formal Diagnosis

    Autism self-diagnosis is when a person identifies as autistic through their own experiences without a formal diagnosis by a professional. A formal autism diagnosis is when a professional assesses the person to determine whether they have autism, and by meeting the diagnostic criteria, they receive their official diagnosis. I have my own views of this Read more

  • Sensory Overload

    Most people with autism have sensory sensitivities to some extent whether it is textures, smells, bright lights, tastes or sound. Sensory overload is a challenge day to day, and for me sound causes it. However, I have found ways to overcome it. When I was a child, I hated loud noises. It was the loud, Read more

  • Disability or Difference

    When I think about being autistic, I see it as a difference rather than a disability. However, if we treated it as a difference rather than a disability, would autistic people get the support they need? Image by Rosy / Bad Homburg / Germany from Pixabay Autistic people struggle to get the support they need Read more

  • What I Wish For

    Learning something new is so straightforward if you find the correct resources. I love to learn, and I like to research new topics. Getting the correct information before discussing something is important to me. I don’t want to insult anyone, and I hate disrespecting people. If I do it, it is unintentional. Image by Ennaej Read more

  • Burnout

    Feeling burnt out is something that all of us feel from time to time. We live in a crazy world rushing around, which is an unhealthy byproduct of living in a society of consumerism. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay However, autistic burnout is different. It stems from trying to navigate social demands and masking Read more

  • Resilience

    Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay Everyone faces challenges we have to overcome. However, until you know what it is really like to cope with the demands of life and having limitations, you don’t learn to have the same resilience. Autism is a daily challenge. I have problems with confidence and self-worth. Even when I have Read more

  • Seeking a Diagnosis

    There are many reasons people seek a diagnosis if they think they might be autistic. For me, I had gone through a difficult patch. I had developed hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease) and we had just come through a pandemic. I always had anxiety, but now it was coming in waves and affecting my life more than Read more

  • From the Beginning

    Autism was a condition I knew nothing about and as I was born in the mid seventies, I heard very little about it when I was young. My first awareness of autism was when my son was diagnosed at the age of four. He not only had autism, but learning difficulties too. I faced so Read more