Hey, all! Y'all got yourselves some fresh blood here.
I've suspected that I'm on the autistic spectrum at various points, but I was never screened for it as a kid, and now I'm in the process of trying to get answers for myself. I first thought I might be autistic when I befriended someone with Asperger's Syndrome (as it was then called) in college and noticed just how much we got along and spoke each other's language. Between my ability to mask and the stigma I still associated with autism, I didn't really delve into it, though part of me kept wondering. I did have an ADHD diagnosis, but my family didn't really take it seriously and was clearly uncomfortable when I tried asserting that that was a reality for me. I wasn't consistently medicated and didn't actively try to work with my ADHD until my late 20s/early 30s, and by then, with the struggles I had with depression, anxiety, etc., I wound up in a very dark place.
As I gradually started to get out of that place, I became aware of more and more friends I had who were on the spectrum, one of whom was on Broadway in the show "How to Dance in Ohio" (a show about autism!). At that point, I started becoming more serious about learning about it. My friendships with other ND people have been among the most rewarding I've ever had, and I wanted to find more opportunities to connect with more of them. Someone I met through a local group for autistic adults recommended that I read "Unmasking Autism," where I read about WP. I can't believe I've gone this long being unaware of it. This is the exact sort of forum that helped me start to come out of my shell when I was younger.
I know self-diagnosis is considered valid, but it's hard not to feel like an imposter. Fortunately, my new psychiatrist has experience with autistic patients and is working to help me get screened for it. In the meantime, I'm hoping to meet more like-minded people here! Participating in the community to the extent that I have has made me feel very at home, and I get the feeling this is just the sort of place I need to be in.
05 Aug 2025, 12:16 pm
Whoops! Hoping you are Autistic might be considered bad by some.
