Finding Meaning in a Diagnosis

Jane is a 38 year old woman who lives on her own. She has had several mental health crises over the years and has had multiple diagnoses such as borderline personality disorder depression, bi polar disorder.

These have caused her great confusion. She even said to someone close to her 'am I mad?' She has struggled to maintain work and she can be impulsive and describes herself as 'manic"

After a referral to the Studio3 Team who conducted a diagnostic assessment for autism it became clear that she was autistic.

Our team struggled to comprehend how professionals had missed this diagnosis.

More importantly had the diagnosis been helpful to her? It took a couple of years to accept her difference but it has given her better insights into her difficulties in interpreting other peoples thoughts and feelings. Her cycling sensory issues also help her to understand her 'episodes' and she now sees many warnings signs that a crisis may be coming.

The diagnosis helped us to find to find a therapist who was autism informed which has helped her.

Diagnostic labels only make sense if they make sense to the person. People like Jane often exist in a state of chaos. Where the world can seem frightening and unsafe.

For Jane the diagnosis has been the start of a journey and not the end. We are helping her to cope with the world around her and will continue to do so.