Autism

"We didn't know what to do with you when you were a kid." My mom told me this when I was 32. I am undiagnosed and will probably never seek out a diagnosis. I don't need one to know what I am, but that doesn't mean it's not helpful for others. Just knowing was a big step. This allowed me to look at things with a different perspective and by joining a community that understands what I am dealing with I have learned new skills to deal with the world. So just being here is a great start.

In my 50s, just realised and self diagnosed in the last few months. Also feeling a bit lost, life would have been so much easier if I’d been diagnosed forty years ago. I feel like everybody else knew and didn’t tell me.

I am late self diagnosed. At first day after realisation I got a brain fog from overwhelming, but then it gone and it became better. What to do next is probably learn more about yourself step by step. Further it should become easier with more and more realisation, analyzing and unmasking.

As others have said, being diagnosed isn't going to change your life. You will always be you. The only thing different will be that you will have a better understanding of yourself. Why certain things bother you or are stressful. And perhaps how to better deal with them. You might still have to struggle with social situations. But now you will know why. And others might too, and have understanding for it. Rather than think you mean something else by it. Which honestly can be a little life-changing in and of itself ironically.

Hey, I got a late diagnosis too, at 22 more or less. Depending on where you live the official diagnosis can get you some pretty big benefits, I for once have never again paid for public transportation since I got mine

Hey! When I got diagnosed, I felt quite miserable and lost. I've went through the pandemic very lonely and depressed. I still struggle with a lot of things. When I got diagnosed I remember I almost found it funny how little changed for me. I knew I was still the same person. I also felt strange to come to terms that a lot of the things I struggle with will never really go away.

But after a long time of reflecting/learning/forgiving I am starting to tell apart my talents and my weaknesses (which often are quite close to one another) and I feel like my life is getting a direction again. I recently made friends who accommodate me and I am working towards finding the kind of niche I can work in professionally.

Learn to deal with yours of that's all you can ever do. A label does nothing for you, but hold you back.