I was diagnosed this year at 42. I accept the fact that I grew up in a day and age where practically no one knew what autism was. So I don't feel bad about being identified late. All my bad experiences have made me a stronger, wiser person. Had I hid away from the world, or just not tried to do the things I did, I would still be that scared timid kid who never knew what to say, do, or how to act.
Hi Karen. I am 62 now and I only realised I am autistic just before my 60th birthday. I voluntarily took several online tests and they all strongly suggested that I am autistic. I printed out all the results and gave them to my GP (General Practitioner, here in UK). I have recently been contacted to undergo the official diagnosis procedure, which is now done via Zoom meetings. I have my appointments at 11:30am on Sunday, 22nd December (up to 3 hours) and 5pm on Wednesday, 8th January (up to 4 hours). They seem like very weird dates and times for appointments but they suit me fine - couldn't be better, to be honest. I am dreading the thought that I am not diagnosed autistic (because what else could I be?) but quietly confident that at last I will be able to identify myself accurately. I will try to remember to keep you updated on this as it unfolds. Thank you for your illuminating videos.
@@ProudlyAutistic I would like to add that if I am not diagnosed as autistic, I will forever hold autistic people in high regard because I have learned so much in the past couple of years.
@pete, you may need a second opinion if they don’t diagnose you for autism! At least here in the U.S., many psychologists don’t have a firm background in autism for doing accurate diagnosis. Best to you!😊
I was diagnosed in my fifties but treated all my life for depression and anxiety, which never helped me. I never had any tests for anything until my diagnosis, I was just given different drugs and exercise classes by GP's over the years. I never understood why I kept losing jobs and had so much trouble with partners. Diagnosis has helped me understand why my life played out the way it has but I haven't found a way to manage going forward.
I'm glad diagnosis has helped you gain a better understanding of yourself. It can be difficult after building a whole life on a "lie" to know how to proceed. I think it's about finding ways to accommodate yourself where you can and finding acceptance in how your life unfolded absent a diagnosis. Good luck on your journey 🦋
I just got diagnosed a month ago. I was relieved but now i feel sad, i’m kinda grieving my childhood, my teenage years… my life. So little support and understanding all those years. I’m 49 my kids are grown now. My futur or what’s left of it seems very limited. Too late to accomplish what i would really like to do. So many small mournings ahead. Ihope it's just a stage of grief
I was diagnosed in my early 60s, and afterwards, my entire life made SO much more sense. It was a great relief. Keep watching videos like this and reading the comments about how many people have grown in a positive way after this. Please don’t keep “what if-fing” yourself. One can do everything right, and bad things can still happen. You now have a foundation upon which to build upwards! There are many pluses to being autistic. Where there’s a shadow, there’s a light!
@4:35 EXACTLY Dont tell anyone, who does not need to know, you are autistic. It was a hard road for me to learn how people react to this information, and this SHOULD be done in a save enviroment.
I self identified in my early 20s but only received my diagnosis this year at 30. My funniest moment with a…questionable reaction to my autism: I led a professional development session on the intersection of race and disability this September (I work at a community college in the US) in which I was transparent about my diagnosis. The next day, our physics professor comes to my office with an unrelated question and sees my desk, covered in modular origami (please do Google “modular origami kusudama”!), and says, “you know, I suppose I *do* believe the autism thing now.” it was hard to be mad at him because in the same sentence that he was telling me he didn’t believe me he was also telling me he realized he was wrong, albeit for a sketchy (though accurate?) reason. Importantly though, beyond my chuckle about it: my disclosure wasn’t enough, even though I had directly stated that I had a full evaluation process with a medical professional (which I should not have needed to do). He still didn’t believe me until he saw evidence of my “special interest” because my communication challenges don’t look like the stereotype. We had a really good conversation about how differently autism presents in different people, and I hope you, dear reader, have experiences like this one where the friction is genuinely misunderstanding and a lack of education about who we are, but please do take Karen’s advice to heart because they are not all like this. It can be absolutely heartbreaking. Find your people before you start to risk losing your people. (If that makes sense.)
I am 49 and I was totally missed until I realized I was an autistic person earlier this year. I told my close friends and mom and they all said "Yes we know you are, didnt you?". I was diagnosed with ADHD in 1983, but I believe they misdiagnosed due to their complete lack of knowledge back then. I am partway through an official ADHD/Autism assessment and I should know for sure before Christmas. Almost zero chance of me not being autistic to be honest, my history, my experiences, and my behaviours are all so autistic. I communicate just like my formally diagnosed autistic friends too. I am not sure if my formal diagnosis will change anything for me, beyond the relief of closure and knowing who I really am after decades of feeling different, feeling like I was watching the world from behind glass, and just knowing I wasnt like most people.
I'm sorry your mother didn't feel it pertinent to share her hunch with you. mother. Who knows. As a mother to an autistic child myself, I can't imagine knowing that they were autistic and not openly discussing it as often as needed. Part of my empathy came from being autistic and understanding the pain. Even so. I just can't imagine. I'm glad you're finally on the way to getting clarity. At this point, it probably won't change much, other than confirm your suspicion.
@@ProudlyAutistic to be fair, my mom didnt know for sure. She knew I was different, but was always very accepting of that. When I was diagnosed with ADHD the docs wanted to put me on Ritalin and send me to corrective behaviour therapy, she refused to allow it. To her I was a happy and healthy child, just a bit different and that was ok. When I told her she wasnt at all surprised that I might be autistic, but she told me when I was a child the healthcare system knew nothing about autism and she had to write to an ADHD support group in the States in the early 80s to get any help. The doctors here were absolutely clueless. She said had I been told I was autistic in my 20s I probably wouldnt have accepted it, honestly, I think she is right, I was a very angry and stubborn person at that age. She has been very supportive and helped me with my diagnosis too and did a detailed questionaire for the assessors. My friends who have known me since the 90s have always accepted me for who I am and so for them it wasnt a big deal. I have 9 close friends, 4 have ADHD, 2 are autistic and 1 thinks they could be autistic, I guess like attracts like :)
My first appointment is this Monday to get a diagnosis. Also in my 40s. I have a wife and kids of my own now. The thing about my parents hiding it from me, I've highly suspected as I've been sent to psychiatrists by them on numerous occasions over a few years and never told me to this day why even when I've asked them directly, even recently. I wouldn't be surprised if that turned out to be true as they hid some very impactful things from me over decades before too. I've waited for this first appointment for a year and been self diagnosed for about 3 years. The mixed emotions and fear is really starting to set in.
I personally know someone who's parents hid their autism diagnosis from them. They found out as an adult, after they were married. They went no contact. Hopefully that's not your situation. However, depending on Monday's outcome, you may have to decide how deeply you want to push that issue as it's very common to wonder "what if" you knew earlier. Good luck at your appointment. Try not to be afraid. If anything, they're confirming what you already suspect. This knowledge will allow you to make more informed decisions about your life. The worst part of getting a diagnosis is that it fully reveals people for who they are. Not that that's necessarily bad. It's good to know who you can trust. But still a difficult lesson. Good luck!
4:37 "Don't share" Good advice. I made the mistake of telling coworkers and frankly wish I had kept my mouth shut. Oversharing has been an issue for me, and in my excitement I told people who really didn't need to know.
Yeah... I overshare a lot too. Not specific to my diagnosis. It can be for many reasons, but for us, often it has to do with not knowing how to transition topics so we keep talking or we feel the need to overexplain due to trauma and the need to justify our real feelings/experiences.
My story of how I was missed until age 58: I had been seeing the same therapist for over two decades when she consulted with someone and came back with a ‘diagnosis’ of Asperger Syndrome, a year before the DSM-V came out. I would read a couple of books about it, but not identify with autism for a few years until resources from autistic people on TH-cam would become common. A couple of years before quitting the therapist, she would mistakenly claim that I didn’t meet the criteria for ASD!
Another bad outcome is that family members will make your diagnosis as an excuse to escape accountability. The diagnoses is confirmation that all of the conflicts you had with the other family members was not their fault, but because you are the one that is defective. Others might accuse you of identity politics and accuse you of trying put labels on everyone.
Uggghhh. I'm so sorry. Everyone is different. As a parent, you never know who your child will be and what challenges they might face. Hopefully, you'll love them regardless. The idea that a parent would use a child's diagnosis as a reason for disengaging or viewing them as lesser is so sad. As a parent, it's our responsibility to empower our children and help them navigate their world, even if they do it differently than you. I'm so sorry you did not receive the empathy that every child (even adult child) deserves. To those who try to claim identity politics, I just say I have a different neurotype. I'm not expecting different treatment, but I do want them to understand that I communicate differently due to my neurology and that's ok. If they can't accept that, they're not worth engaging with. Sigh...
@edwardsong7628 This is a sad outcome. But people like that are going to exonerate themselves no matter what if that is their character. I’m in a similar position. They are deeply narcissistic and unable to assume even a fraction of responsibility. Not even 10%. Always the heroes of their own story. Or their mind collapses! They are never going to be the family you deserve. A diagnosis helps you to understand yourself better, perhaps, what happened, and to grow while they spend their lives in a perpetual fog. It is a part of the mourning process for some of us, unfortunately.
Thank you. Yes, switching it up with the backgrounds. It might change, but I'm thinking of using the wallpaper background to answer questions and for more freeform content and using the one with the cactuses for more scripted content.
@ProudlyAutistic it's you!, not the background and stuff! 😄 take it as a compliment. I do not take compliments how they're intended, either. Have a great weekend.
@ o feel lighter, I was kinda sure about it, but it’s great to finally confirm it. It’s feel like some sort of validation. Thank you for the video and tips, have a wonderful weekend 😊
I was 46 years old when I found out. I was told by the doctor and my mum was with me. I cried, then I told my children and family, then others I know. I have known them for years and didn't change the way they they treat me.
That's good they were accepting. I think the challenge for most people is in disclosing to coworkers and acquaintances. When we know people for a long time, it gives the false sense of closeness and safety.
Putting this here because I don't know where else to put and would like some insight. I've noticed that throughout the course of my life, I get described as quiet and often picked on for it. I will spend a large portion of a conversation not talking and being a good listener. Then someone, in attempt to be polite and include me, will ask me a question relevant to the current discussion, such as "do you get a lot of trick or treaters at your house?" or "do you travel for the holidays?". And before I can even get out one sentence of the answer, someone else will play a joke off of it, everyone else will laugh and make additional jokes, and then I'm back out of the conversation. Can anyone offer insight as to why this happens to me? Could it have something to do with the way I communicate? Is that just how people are and the nature of conversation? To me it feels like it could be two things (1) other people want the attention back on them and they think its less rude to interrupt if it's done under the guise of a joke or (2) they see the conversation taking a more productive and structured turn and they don't want that to happen. It often feels like I quickly get pegged as the listener and the reactor (and everyone loves me in that role) but if I start to communicate in a way that conveys information they interrupt, change the subject, or leave.
I think you're assessing the situation correctly. Yes, it has to do with the way you communicate. You're likely coming off as passive and shy. People with more narcissistic tendencies (not necessarily NPD) do not like this. To them, social situations are competitive so it confuses them that you would choose to sit back. They don't respect it. As such, they may steamroll you or otherwise be dismissive because they don't really respect you. I'd try to limit contact with people who treat you this way. Not everyone is like this. However, with those who are respectful, I'd try to be honest. Tell them it can take you time to process or that you don't always know what to say, etc. Their acceptance will help you feel more confident. Lastly, I'd try to slowly disengage with people who only seem to use you as a sounding board. Keep contact if you want. But don't forget it's somewhat one-sided and don't expect more than they're willing to give. Hopeful you'll find a good support network. Good people are out there!
Thank you, PA. I’m currently looking for a formal Dx, BUT, I also live in Tx where it seems to be ABA positive state. Do you (or ANYONE) know of a safe resource to utilize?
I like the Embrace Autism website but don't have a specific resource for you. If you're struggling to get a formal diagnosis, I think you might find it beneficial to see a psychologist who specializes in autism in adults. Mine has been very helpful....
I would just want to be able to point out the legitimacy of how I feel and that I feel different and use it as a way to be like I’m not lying. I’m not trying to deceive you. Here’s a diagnosis more of a sense of proof. I just don’t want to be invalidated.
I think most people don't realize how significant a late diagnosis is. I think they view it as sharing random info about yourself. Of course it's more than that, but that's how it's perceived.
I was diagnosed this year at 42. I accept the fact that I grew up in a day and age where practically no one knew what autism was. So I don't feel bad about being identified late. All my bad experiences have made me a stronger, wiser person. Had I hid away from the world, or just not tried to do the things I did, I would still be that scared timid kid who never knew what to say, do, or how to act.
This is more or less how I feel too. But wow, did I go through a lot to get there. I'm glad you're at peace with it.
Hi Karen. I am 62 now and I only realised I am autistic just before my 60th birthday. I voluntarily took several online tests and they all strongly suggested that I am autistic. I printed out all the results and gave them to my GP (General Practitioner, here in UK). I have recently been contacted to undergo the official diagnosis procedure, which is now done via Zoom meetings. I have my appointments at 11:30am on Sunday, 22nd December (up to 3 hours) and 5pm on Wednesday, 8th January (up to 4 hours). They seem like very weird dates and times for appointments but they suit me fine - couldn't be better, to be honest. I am dreading the thought that I am not diagnosed autistic (because what else could I be?) but quietly confident that at last I will be able to identify myself accurately. I will try to remember to keep you updated on this as it unfolds. Thank you for your illuminating videos.
I'm glad you have your appointments scheduled and will have answers soon. Good luck, keep us posted!
@@ProudlyAutistic I promise I will do my best to remember updating.
@@ProudlyAutistic I would like to add that if I am not diagnosed as autistic, I will forever hold autistic people in high regard because I have learned so much in the past couple of years.
@pete, you may need a second opinion if they don’t diagnose you for autism! At least here in the U.S., many psychologists don’t have a firm background in autism for doing accurate diagnosis. Best to you!😊
@Jen-CelticWarrior Thanks
I was diagnosed in my fifties but treated all my life for depression and anxiety, which never helped me. I never had any tests for anything until my diagnosis, I was just given different drugs and exercise classes by GP's over the years. I never understood why I kept losing jobs and had so much trouble with partners. Diagnosis has helped me understand why my life played out the way it has but I haven't found a way to manage going forward.
I'm glad diagnosis has helped you gain a better understanding of yourself. It can be difficult after building a whole life on a "lie" to know how to proceed. I think it's about finding ways to accommodate yourself where you can and finding acceptance in how your life unfolded absent a diagnosis. Good luck on your journey 🦋
@@ProudlyAutistic Thank you for your kind words 🤗
I just got diagnosed a month ago. I was relieved but now i feel sad, i’m kinda grieving my childhood, my teenage years… my life. So little support and understanding all those years. I’m 49 my kids are grown now. My futur or what’s left of it seems very limited. Too late to accomplish what i would really like to do. So many small mournings ahead. Ihope it's just a stage of grief
I was diagnosed in my early 60s, and afterwards, my entire life made SO much more sense. It was a great relief. Keep watching videos like this and reading the comments about how many people have grown in a positive way after this. Please don’t keep “what if-fing” yourself. One can do everything right, and bad things can still happen. You now have a foundation upon which to build upwards! There are many pluses to being autistic. Where there’s a shadow, there’s a light!
@@Jen-CelticWarrior i know you’r right thanks for the reminder
@4:35 EXACTLY
Dont tell anyone, who does not need to know, you are autistic.
It was a hard road for me to learn how people react to this information, and this SHOULD be done in a save enviroment.
I self identified in my early 20s but only received my diagnosis this year at 30. My funniest moment with a…questionable reaction to my autism: I led a professional development session on the intersection of race and disability this September (I work at a community college in the US) in which I was transparent about my diagnosis. The next day, our physics professor comes to my office with an unrelated question and sees my desk, covered in modular origami (please do Google “modular origami kusudama”!), and says, “you know, I suppose I *do* believe the autism thing now.” it was hard to be mad at him because in the same sentence that he was telling me he didn’t believe me he was also telling me he realized he was wrong, albeit for a sketchy (though accurate?) reason.
Importantly though, beyond my chuckle about it: my disclosure wasn’t enough, even though I had directly stated that I had a full evaluation process with a medical professional (which I should not have needed to do). He still didn’t believe me until he saw evidence of my “special interest” because my communication challenges don’t look like the stereotype. We had a really good conversation about how differently autism presents in different people, and I hope you, dear reader, have experiences like this one where the friction is genuinely misunderstanding and a lack of education about who we are, but please do take Karen’s advice to heart because they are not all like this. It can be absolutely heartbreaking. Find your people before you start to risk losing your people. (If that makes sense.)
I am 49 and I was totally missed until I realized I was an autistic person earlier this year. I told my close friends and mom and they all said "Yes we know you are, didnt you?". I was diagnosed with ADHD in 1983, but I believe they misdiagnosed due to their complete lack of knowledge back then. I am partway through an official ADHD/Autism assessment and I should know for sure before Christmas. Almost zero chance of me not being autistic to be honest, my history, my experiences, and my behaviours are all so autistic. I communicate just like my formally diagnosed autistic friends too. I am not sure if my formal diagnosis will change anything for me, beyond the relief of closure and knowing who I really am after decades of feeling different, feeling like I was watching the world from behind glass, and just knowing I wasnt like most people.
I'm sorry your mother didn't feel it pertinent to share her hunch with you. mother. Who knows. As a mother to an autistic child myself, I can't imagine knowing that they were autistic and not openly discussing it as often as needed. Part of my empathy came from being autistic and understanding the pain. Even so. I just can't imagine. I'm glad you're finally on the way to getting clarity. At this point, it probably won't change much, other than confirm your suspicion.
@@ProudlyAutistic to be fair, my mom didnt know for sure. She knew I was different, but was always very accepting of that. When I was diagnosed with ADHD the docs wanted to put me on Ritalin and send me to corrective behaviour therapy, she refused to allow it. To her I was a happy and healthy child, just a bit different and that was ok. When I told her she wasnt at all surprised that I might be autistic, but she told me when I was a child the healthcare system knew nothing about autism and she had to write to an ADHD support group in the States in the early 80s to get any help. The doctors here were absolutely clueless. She said had I been told I was autistic in my 20s I probably wouldnt have accepted it, honestly, I think she is right, I was a very angry and stubborn person at that age. She has been very supportive and helped me with my diagnosis too and did a detailed questionaire for the assessors. My friends who have known me since the 90s have always accepted me for who I am and so for them it wasnt a big deal. I have 9 close friends, 4 have ADHD, 2 are autistic and 1 thinks they could be autistic, I guess like attracts like :)
"the world behind glass" ~ that's it!
My first appointment is this Monday to get a diagnosis. Also in my 40s. I have a wife and kids of my own now. The thing about my parents hiding it from me, I've highly suspected as I've been sent to psychiatrists by them on numerous occasions over a few years and never told me to this day why even when I've asked them directly, even recently. I wouldn't be surprised if that turned out to be true as they hid some very impactful things from me over decades before too. I've waited for this first appointment for a year and been self diagnosed for about 3 years. The mixed emotions and fear is really starting to set in.
Nothing to fear, my friend. Good luck.
I personally know someone who's parents hid their autism diagnosis from them. They found out as an adult, after they were married. They went no contact. Hopefully that's not your situation. However, depending on Monday's outcome, you may have to decide how deeply you want to push that issue as it's very common to wonder "what if" you knew earlier. Good luck at your appointment. Try not to be afraid. If anything, they're confirming what you already suspect. This knowledge will allow you to make more informed decisions about your life. The worst part of getting a diagnosis is that it fully reveals people for who they are. Not that that's necessarily bad. It's good to know who you can trust. But still a difficult lesson. Good luck!
Diagnosis is overrated. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
4:37 "Don't share" Good advice. I made the mistake of telling coworkers and frankly wish I had kept my mouth shut. Oversharing has been an issue for me, and in my excitement I told people who really didn't need to know.
Yeah... I overshare a lot too. Not specific to my diagnosis. It can be for many reasons, but for us, often it has to do with not knowing how to transition topics so we keep talking or we feel the need to overexplain due to trauma and the need to justify our real feelings/experiences.
My story of how I was missed until age 58: I had been seeing the same therapist for over two decades when she consulted with someone and came back with a ‘diagnosis’ of Asperger Syndrome, a year before the DSM-V came out. I would read a couple of books about it, but not identify with autism for a few years until resources from autistic people on TH-cam would become common. A couple of years before quitting the therapist, she would mistakenly claim that I didn’t meet the criteria for ASD!
Thanks!
Thank you!
Another bad outcome is that family members will make your diagnosis as an excuse to escape accountability. The diagnoses is confirmation that all of the conflicts you had with the other family members was not their fault, but because you are the one that is defective. Others might accuse you of identity politics and accuse you of trying put labels on everyone.
Uggghhh. I'm so sorry. Everyone is different. As a parent, you never know who your child will be and what challenges they might face. Hopefully, you'll love them regardless. The idea that a parent would use a child's diagnosis as a reason for disengaging or viewing them as lesser is so sad. As a parent, it's our responsibility to empower our children and help them navigate their world, even if they do it differently than you. I'm so sorry you did not receive the empathy that every child (even adult child) deserves. To those who try to claim identity politics, I just say I have a different neurotype. I'm not expecting different treatment, but I do want them to understand that I communicate differently due to my neurology and that's ok. If they can't accept that, they're not worth engaging with. Sigh...
@edwardsong7628 This is a sad outcome. But people like that are going to exonerate themselves no matter what if that is their character. I’m in a similar position. They are deeply narcissistic and unable to assume even a fraction of responsibility. Not even 10%. Always the heroes of their own story. Or their mind collapses!
They are never going to be the family you deserve.
A diagnosis helps you to understand yourself better, perhaps, what happened, and to grow while they spend their lives in a perpetual fog. It is a part of the mourning process for some of us, unfortunately.
Very helpful, thanks!
I'm waiting for a diagnosis appointment. Thanks for always helping. I like your thumbnail photo 😊
Thank you. Yes, switching it up with the backgrounds. It might change, but I'm thinking of using the wallpaper background to answer questions and for more freeform content and using the one with the cactuses for more scripted content.
@ProudlyAutistic it's you!, not the background and stuff! 😄 take it as a compliment. I do not take compliments how they're intended, either. Have a great weekend.
The funny thing is, I just got diagnosed, today 😂
How are you feeling about it?
@ o feel lighter, I was kinda sure about it, but it’s great to finally confirm it. It’s feel like some sort of validation. Thank you for the video and tips, have a wonderful weekend 😊
I was 46 years old when I found out. I was told by the doctor and my mum was with me. I cried, then I told my children and family, then others I know. I have known them for years and didn't change the way they they treat me.
That's good they were accepting. I think the challenge for most people is in disclosing to coworkers and acquaintances. When we know people for a long time, it gives the false sense of closeness and safety.
🌻
Love the wall :) 🌵
Thank you, trying to switch it up a bit.
thank you!
I was disappointed at the difficulty in finding others autistic people to socialize with 🥺
I was in and out of therapist's office since I was 21. I'm 74.
Putting this here because I don't know where else to put and would like some insight. I've noticed that throughout the course of my life, I get described as quiet and often picked on for it. I will spend a large portion of a conversation not talking and being a good listener. Then someone, in attempt to be polite and include me, will ask me a question relevant to the current discussion, such as "do you get a lot of trick or treaters at your house?" or "do you travel for the holidays?". And before I can even get out one sentence of the answer, someone else will play a joke off of it, everyone else will laugh and make additional jokes, and then I'm back out of the conversation. Can anyone offer insight as to why this happens to me? Could it have something to do with the way I communicate? Is that just how people are and the nature of conversation? To me it feels like it could be two things (1) other people want the attention back on them and they think its less rude to interrupt if it's done under the guise of a joke or (2) they see the conversation taking a more productive and structured turn and they don't want that to happen.
It often feels like I quickly get pegged as the listener and the reactor (and everyone loves me in that role) but if I start to communicate in a way that conveys information they interrupt, change the subject, or leave.
I think you're assessing the situation correctly. Yes, it has to do with the way you communicate. You're likely coming off as passive and shy. People with more narcissistic tendencies (not necessarily NPD) do not like this. To them, social situations are competitive so it confuses them that you would choose to sit back. They don't respect it. As such, they may steamroll you or otherwise be dismissive because they don't really respect you. I'd try to limit contact with people who treat you this way. Not everyone is like this. However, with those who are respectful, I'd try to be honest. Tell them it can take you time to process or that you don't always know what to say, etc. Their acceptance will help you feel more confident. Lastly, I'd try to slowly disengage with people who only seem to use you as a sounding board. Keep contact if you want. But don't forget it's somewhat one-sided and don't expect more than they're willing to give. Hopeful you'll find a good support network. Good people are out there!
Thanks Karen. Very thought provoking and caring
💖
Thank you, PA. I’m currently looking for a formal Dx, BUT, I also live in Tx where it seems to be ABA positive state. Do you (or ANYONE) know of a safe resource to utilize?
I like the Embrace Autism website but don't have a specific resource for you. If you're struggling to get a formal diagnosis, I think you might find it beneficial to see a psychologist who specializes in autism in adults. Mine has been very helpful....
I would just want to be able to point out the legitimacy of how I feel and that I feel different and use it as a way to be like I’m not lying. I’m not trying to deceive you. Here’s a diagnosis more of a sense of proof. I just don’t want to be invalidated.
😀
If I had been diagnosed with autism as a child in the 1950's, I would have been institutionalized all my life.
I have come out personally and on FB and people still ignore me!! No curiosity, very few reactions beyond not very or everyone is a bit cliches!
I think most people don't realize how significant a late diagnosis is. I think they view it as sharing random info about yourself. Of course it's more than that, but that's how it's perceived.
you really love your cactus
thanks!
Stigma makes me so mad!