Feeling lost

I'm 52. Struggled all my life with feeling wrong. I was known as the black sheep of the family. Suffered with depression, anxiety, ocd, and ptsd most of my life. My daughter who is 18 was referred for an autism assessment and diagnosed with autism and adhd. During her assessment a lot of what was said hit home. I could relate to all of what the pyshchiatrist was saying. I did some research and spoke to the gp who agreed that he thought I was probably autisitc. I was later diagnosed as autistic and having adhd. My younger daughter is also waiting for assessment.
The problem is I feel so angry. I know it wasn't recognised in girls when i was younger but i feel so angry about the life I could have had if I knew I wasn't "weird or too quiet". I have a broken marriage, walked out on careers and can no longer work, been a victim of a sexual assault, have no friends, no longer speak to family, the list is endless. I have spent years trying to fit in and I am tired of it. The worst are the meltdowns. When things get tough I just shout, scream then retreat to bed. To make matters worse I am now dealing with the menopause.
Not only am I trying to deal with the "new" me, I am trying to help my daughters who both have their own needs.
I am so tired. I feel so so sad at a wasted life. I had so much potential and just wanted to help people but always ran when life got hard. I was always told i needed to make and effort, i needed to get out of my comfort zone, be more like my siblings etc.
Normal people aren't going to change, I feel too old for it to matter.
I wish I had never had the diagnosis as its made my depression so much worse.
Anyone else relate?
Thank you.
Comments
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Hey @haras321, yeah I definitely relate and it's so exhausting believing that you're the problem or a burden constantly. ❤
You're struggling and I feel your frustration and possible guilt with your past actions and life in general but you're trying your absolute best, especially for your daughters.
I'd wish people aren't classified as "normal" because you are normal.
I'm so sorry you've been abused, that's so much trauma to heal from, however that wasn't your fault. ❤
I struggle also with my emotions and find myself shutting everyone out and literally removing myself.
You're supporting your family despite your suffering but now it's absolutely time to support yourself ( not implying your family's not supportive.) ❤
It's completely okay to feel rage or grief for your life so far and even worse after your diagnoses ( I felt the same.)
Have you considered or tried receiving professional help? That might be a good place to start.
You definitely deserve friendships and do you think maybe a club or other social activities to engage in could help?
Hope I'm not coming across as condescending, I guess I'm brainstorming ideas.
My suggestions may be to overwhelming right now and not the right choice for you and that's totally fine. You do what's best for you, I'm not expecting you to immediately turn your life around
Please remember
you're completely normal
People care and love you for who you are
Even if you don't believe it
I really wish you the best @haras321, you deserve it. ❤
Great care-
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I could of wrote this myself 52 also menopause waiting adhd test 100 percent know I'm autistic same failed marriages never holding job down nightmare of a life and now with budget 30th October all to much I totally understand what your going through so so so hard draining scary
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Hi to everyone in this thread. I hope you all find this helpful.
I can also relate. I'm 53 and was diagnosed at 50. I struggled socially in school and all through my life. When I was diagnosed, I felt angry too. I had all the thoughts about "if only I had been diagnosed when I was younger" too, sad at all my failed relationships and everything. Three years on, I'm much happier. I made an active decision not to dwell on what could have been, and what had been, but to focus on what could be. I stopped hiding who I was, I began asking for help, and the hobbies that sustained me when I was struggling back then, will hopefully become a way for me to earn a living in the future. I have made the choice to remain single and I am happy with that. I've also gone public with my autistic fixation with dolls (which is apparently quite common with autistic girls and women) instead of being embarrassed about it and I have been pleasantly surprised at the reactions of family and friends, who have supported it, rather than disparaged it.
I still have bad days and my particular autistic issues still get in my way, but overall, things have improved for me. I also recommend getting a "Hidden Disabilities" sunflower lanyard to wear in situations you find difficult. I wear mine when going shopping and I think it has really made a difference in the way people interact with me when I'm out.
Processing a diagnosis takes time. Please be kind to yourself. Allow yourself to be you, autism and all. Own it. Own your quirks and your foibles and your weird interests (if you have any). Chill in your comfort zone. Stuff what anyone else thinks. You've done your time as an NT and it didn't work for you, so now just be you. I wish you all peace and happiness for the future xx
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That's amazing !! Never heard of sunflower I will look that up its true about hiding your ways when I'm alone I will sing all different things mostly made up swing arms around have conversations with people that aren't there full blown conversations even arguments lol I only act like this in front of my daughter she joins in when I'm facing difficulties I always say what would Anthony say in my head and he answers don't know why he's called Anthony had this since a child and also counting number plates I say for example am I going to get into trouble if the numbers 5 it means yes because always start with yes for years I've done this and oh yes at one point I thought I could read peoples mind I'm so glad you embraced you x
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I understand draining isn't it glad you got away from a toxic relationship as painful as it is good your getting counselling very painful and alot to unpack I get the perfection part of this that's why I ended up with body dismorphia and they say bpd but sure it's adhd autism talking about this with people who understand is freeing hard to put down the mask as being doing for all our lives well done for taking the first step totally understand that anger and loss feelings especially autism makes sense people drain me I cant spend to much time around people always love being on my own I think there is thousands of us in our 50s relized we have adhd not just bpd depression anxiety or are over sensitive lazy you name it I wish you all the best in your next chapter in your life called focusing on you x
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I was always a people pleaser so called friends would call id jump do everything look after thier kids shopping money the lot I was always constantly drained and had to go home sleep for a week literally so intuned with people's pain always wanting to pls and take thier pain away whilst neglecting my needs I started therapy 2017 twice a week for 18 months Tuesday group Thursday one to one with psychoanalysis I think that's what she was I started realising boundaries saying no and meaning it without the worry of offending or people leaving me it was freeing obviously not for the people using me I understand the childhood part I'm an only child parents alcoholics I was always the brunt of the jokes I also had pmdd with was hell that's another story I have guilt of my daughters childhood and I'm really blessed she wants a relationship with me but moving forward with therapy I have boundaries for myself I'm a loner I really not interested in friendships I go with what ever is comfortable for me we never stop learning even of it is really painful we have to go through being extremely uncomfortable painful amd that sucks as I don't know about you years of masking is hard to break down in front of anyone I've always done my make up hair presented myself as what I thought or think was acceptable took me years and I still find it hard to take off literally we are none of those things we been made to believe we are kind caring sensitive to the people around us great listener's good a problem solving you made the steps to find yourself and what will make you comfortable in this world and I wish you all the best your definitely not alone and you can find some peace with guidance tell yourself through this journey that you will as kind to yourself as possible x
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That's spot on I never have people at ny house and if someone was coming I wouldn't relax all day obsessing trying to make everything perfect I only look in one hand held mirror and when I look in it I'm like hell no way can anyone see me like this so cancel so nobody asks anymore your so right high alert it's so true after being around people for any amount of time I have to retreat the thing I don't do as much is give myself a hard time but all this talk going back to work has unsettled me like many of us well thousands I have to say thats for another day so today I'm with my two dogs and my daughters dog going to watch below deck or 90 day fiance and try not to think so much me think that parts impossible
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It does get easier at the moment that probley feels impossible a life time of jumping how high isn't easy to break but it can be done I've literally cut alot of dead wood out of my life at first it wasn't easy id get panicky id convince myself it wasn't them it was my quirky ways but deep down I knew they seen me as a soft touch and I'd get so angry god the rage could move mountains and now looking back I seen they missed me more than I did them and you don't have them in your head disturbing your peace have enough thoughts as it is I don't have any drama I don't have people who trigger me I don't feel lonely i respect my peace the most important people in our life's is us we have to push ourselves extra harder than the next person honestly it does get easier take whatever support you can I do body dismorphia groups 2 a month through ocd action group loads of groups out there and obviously scope very kind understanding patient sorry to go on just letting you know there is hope
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You too ! Don't worry it would take years and alot of charities are on our side have a restful weekend x
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