Diagnosis
A diagnosis is the formal identification of autism. This will be by a health professional such as a psychiatrist. Having a diagnosis can be helpful for two reasons:
- It helps people with autism to understand why they experience certain difficulties.
- It enables people to access services and support.
You can be referred for a diagnosis by your GP, Community Mental Health team, or social worker. The NHS has more information about the process of getting diagnoses with autism here.
You might find it difficult to come to terms with your autism diagnosis. You might be worried about not knowing much about the condition and where to get support.
You can find information about getting support after a diagnosis here.