Diagnosis at 43. Help?

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He was already going to ask his GP; he would then receive a referral if the doctor decided one was needed.

here's a brief test based on the criteria docs use. the results might help you decide how you want to proceed. your description of yourself reminds me of me.

http://www.iautistic.com/test_AS.php

All the advice above is helpful I think - definite, can't stress enough, you need an ASD specialist.

As for getting diagnosis in your 40s - I was diagnosed at 45. To me it was a great relief. It suddenly answered all the doubts I had; the way certain things did not occur to me. I was released from all my learnt social reactions, my filing cabinet of responses. I had an answer for my depressive feelings. I have even given up the grog, as it was my main social crutch. I think it's more about understanding yourself, knowing that you do this or that as part of your autism not cause your some weirdo.

It doesn't change who you are, but more like how you think about yourself - which is great for the self esteem.

You need someone who is schooled in 2015 autism.

Many clinicians are still steeped in 1980s (or older) standards as far as autism is concerned.

Many, many thanks all who have posted and PM'd with information and advice, it's reassuring to hear other people's stories and to get advice based on real life experience. So thank you all.

Apologies if my original post was ambiguous, I am/was aware that a GP couldn't diagnose, but it was my understanding that a referral must be made through a GP. However I think had I not posted here I would have simply accepted whoever a GP might have referred me to, rather than insisting on someone with up to date experience of diagnosis in adults.

As to my motivations for seeking an answer, I think I have beaten myself up a lot over the years, in part because I struggle so hard with social interaction, understanding and responding 'correctly' to people. For a long time I have felt like I am failing as a person in some way because of my inability to understand and enjoy other people or social situations in the effortless way most people seem to.

I have also suffered from depression and I suspect that this is actually, in some way, related to the frustration generated within myself about my own perceived failings and my inability to relate to people the way others do.

Accepting that this is just who I am and that I'm not 'broken' just different, could possibly be a huge relief. I think I would quite like to cut myself a break.

I am left in two minds. Is a diagnosis of whatever on a piece of paper going to give me anything more than an acceptance in my head of the same fact?

I don't know.

If you're an adult, and are functioning independently, the diagnosis will probably serve, primarily, as something which reaffirms a personal impression.

Under the present climate, I doubt it if it will be of much use in a job sense. It's more useful within academic contexts.

I was on tricyclics for a time last year and was about to go see the GP about it again. I have been having mood swings, panic attacks and bad sleep, which I have come to recognize as the warning signs.

It does make sense to me that the two things could be linked.