When I received my autism diagnosis, I was not surprised that I was autistic, but I was surprised by how little changed after I worked so hard to get an official diagnosis. The psychologist whom I saw for my diagnosis doesn’t keep seeing clients after giving us our reports, which is pretty standard. So she gave me a resource list and suggested that I start seeing a therapist with expertise in autism. I felt like I was left a little high and dry during this challenging time, even though she was well-meaning and doing everything she could. I think this is a typical experience and the many who self-diagnose get even less official support.
Receiving an autism diagnosis is different from most other diagnoses in that there isn’t a specific medical plan to follow afterward. There aren’t medications specifically for autism like there are for ADHD. And there aren’t a lot of treatments out there aside from ABA therapy, which seeks to train out autistic traits (spoiler: not the way to go). So what should your next steps be? Even without specific medical treatments, your goal should now be to figure out how best to take care of your wonderful autistic self. Here are my steps for autistic adults to take:
Read up. The best way to learn about the way your autistic brain and body work is through the writing of autistic authors. I share a few of my favorites here. This was absolutely critical for my growing self-understanding after my diagnosis.
Look on social media. Following autistic content creators has almost taught me more than books have! I’m partial to Instagram and YouTube. And apps like Hiki, Spoony, and Soft offer communities just for autistic adults. Some of my favorites: Neurodivergent Rebel, Dr. Devon Price, Autistic Black Woman, and Purple Ella.
Treat your co-occurring conditions. Autism typically comes with many other conditions that do have medical or psychological treatments available. Treatable conditions like anxiety, EDS, POTS, depression, CPTSD, IBS, and ADHD can be more common in those with autism and may not come into focus until you realize you’re autistic.
See a therapist. But not just anyone, make sure that your therapist is autism-positive and knowledgeable about the unique needs of autistic adults. Weekly therapy has been critical for me to heal from the trauma of being autistic in a neurotypical world. They can also help with many of the co-occurring conditions above.
Join a support group. Many organizations have in-person or virtual support groups for autistic adults and Facebook can be a great place for joining online groups for autistic adults. After joining a virtual support group for autistic women, I experienced a new level of healing that was only possible after talking to others who have had similar experiences.
Dig into your sensory needs. Figuring out your unique sensory system is so key for thriving as an autistic individual. This can be done with an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory diets or can be done in my Sensory Empowerment Program.
Hire a coach who specializes in autism. OK, you probably knew this one was coming. Coaching from another autistic individual fills in the gaps left by the above supports. It can also offer many things that therapy cannot and is much more tailored to your individual needs than books, social media, and support groups are.
So if you’re like I was after receiving my autism diagnosis and struggling with where to go next, I hope these ideas can help. It can feel overwhelming at first, so I’d recommend starting with the one that appeals to you most. Or maybe you have a similarly research-oriented autistic brain to mine that wants to dive all the way in immediately! That’s OK too. Find what works best for you.
The goal of sharing these steps is to help you understand yourself and take care of yourself. We have unique needs as autistic individuals and we usually haven’t been shown the best ways (or maybe any ways) to care for those needs. Instead we’ve been taught to ignore them, hide them and even hate them. Knowing that you are autistic empowers you to pay attention to those needs and honor them. That is what we all deserve and how we can thrive instead of just survive.
If you find value in this content, please consider leaving a tip.
Want to get this straight in your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter!
Comments