I just got diagnosed last Saturday, I’m 17 year old female, and feel that my meltdowns are off the rails, they are worse than before I got diagnosed, I hate being like this, why is this happening to me?
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I had really bad (like really really bad) meltdowns the weeks prior and during my assessments because I felt so so so much anxiety that anything would throw me off. And the weeks/month after the diagnosis they were still pretty frequent, now it's better and I don't have a lot or at least they're not bad or long. Hope it goes well for you!!! Congrats on the diagnosis too 🫶🏻
Unmasking can do that.
You're likely experiencing grief from being diagnosed.
https://theautismdoctor.substack.com/p/the-grief-no-one-warns-you-about
This can result in worse meltdowns and burnout.
https://griefity.com/5-steps-to-process-an-adult-autism-diagnosis/
It's normal and will get better once you get to accepting your new reality. It will take time, you now have to redefine yourself and learn how to manage your needs, find out what your needs are, your sensitivities and how to move forward. It's not easy admitting to yourself you will never be able to keep up with neurotypicals and will have to shape your life around your specific needs and abilities.
Everyone is different, so I could be completely off, but i suspect one possible reason is because it bothers you. Before diagnosis you were just stressed or bothered by something, now you are stressed or bothered by something and you are seeing the way you react in a new light, and not liking it, which just adds more to the stress, causing a feedback loop of being frustrated.
I would say it could be connected with the unmasking process