Wow! That’s a shocking amount waiting for a diagnosis. I hardly had to wait at all for my initial assessment, however I am 2yrs into an 18mth waiting list to see a specialist for therapy and I can’t get antidepressants without self sectioning as there’s not enough CPN’s with the relevant training.
Even after 3 suicide attempts in the past year hasn’t given me access to the support I need, I’m considering a 4th go as my circumstances will never change. As the woman in the OddMumOut (sorry for the fb link above) said “the natural difficulties I experienced as a child, teenager and young adult will never cease. They won’t go, as they are things that I’ll face on a daily basis, because I can never change that I’m autistic.
I thought it would be better when I received a diagnosis and that people would be more accepting, after all we are all there to support the parents of autistic children. People forget that these children grow into adults (if they haven’t committed suicide, 66% of autistic people have attempt suicide and the average life expectancy is 47 for autistic women, the highest suicide risk group) Autism and its constant stigmatisation is a gift to NT’s, it allows them to bond over their awkward children, they make a career out of it and become a pillar of the community.
If there was a cure I’d take it