Been told i have mild asd and traits of bpd

[Razzler]

I recently been told i have mild asd and traits of bpd and i am having trouble coping with my life , i knew i had depression and aniexty problems since i lost my dad but i need someone to talk to in nottingham , cos i dont no how to process this plus trying to get my 5 year old who has potential asd and adhd who hits me .

[Sooz68]

I'm not in Nottingham but have you had a look at the NAS website to see what they do in your area? Also social services, you're entitled to an assessment to see if they can offer help. I was told the other week that 'mild autism' is a very silly diagnosis as the manifestions vary so much from person to person, so you're either autistic or you're not and medical assessors should stop using the word mild - it almost belittles what can be a crippling condition.

Like you I'd had depression and anxiety forever and I'd been branded a trouble causer at school. I struggled with jobs, eventually becoming self employed to escape the 'being with people' thing. I struggled until I was 45 and a year after mum died, 10 years after my dad did I had a huge breakdown. A nurse who met me then noticed many traits of Asperger's and sure enough that's what I have. It doesn't take away the other problems though, the anxiety and depression are still just as real so make sure they're not blamed on the autism and ignored - it's something that happened to me.

There's a process you have to got through, it's like grief, you've just been told that you've got a lifelong condition that wasn't spotted as a child when it would have been easier for you to deal with. You wonder what life might have been like without autism. The BPD is a common condition alongside autism too, so you're not alone.

Ask for help, specific help for adult autism via the NHS is patchy but CMHS should be able to help you because of your BPD. Ask social services for a needs assessment and look for local NAS events, groups or one to one support. Processing this isn't easy, I was 47 when I was diagnosed and I'm still struggling but there's no help here, I would hope a city like Nottingham would have much more in the way of support.

Good luck, I hope you find some support.

Sue

[Beefyweefy64 in reply to Sooz68]

Hi. I was diagnosed ADD at 49 I'm 52 now. Same story struggled all my life and still doing so. Waiting for a further diagnosis for ASD but I think I fit the Aspergers description. However, I know that is no longer a term used. Been waiting 10 months now so frustrated. I probably realise nothing much can be done now. Especially after all these years and also how I have lived life with it. So change would be difficult. My GP said it is only labelling but when the label has caused so much heartbreak and loss.

Closure would help then maybe I could modify my behaviour once I do finally know.

[juli_81]

hi, I'm not in Nottingham, I'm a resident in London but can provide online friendship. I have the same diagnoses but I am sure I have a developmental issue as well; having a childish countenance and feeling afraid of the world and people, especially people who lift their voice! Unfortunate, as I am a carer and work with one Alzheimer's lady who really annoys me and makes me nervous when she keeps telling me off for my lack of pragmatism: ie: i didn't know how to,use her cooker and she got really angry. I left her house feeling quite deflated!! I think it is very easy to become overwhelmed over labels; so you know what- I try to ignore them and just live my life- if you have mild ASD then you needen't worry; -)))). You fall into a category which is less well known but it is common for these conditions to co- exist, especially the way I see it- if your parents had opposing characteristics( you have a mixture of autistic rigidity with some unstable characteristics) which means you may not fit in with either group! Face up to the fact that you are more unique in a way and actually look at the BPD as the motivator for releasing some of your creative energies. In a way we are luckier than classic autistics because we see the world in richer tones than the pure autistic. Hope that helps! Good luck! Are you arty by the way? Is there anything you are passionate about?