[RaddTheKid]

(Just a reminder- not all of us were lucky enough to get childhood diagnoses. Don't gatekeep.)

I pretty much know for a fact that I'm somewhere on the autism spectrum. While I don't have an "official" diagnosis, I was supposed to.

When I was young, my mom took me for a check up at my pediatrician. He noticed some of my behaviors and wanted to test me for autism diagnosis. My mom took me away and refused to have any tests done. I found all of this out 20 years after the fact, and sometimes get upset and cry about it, because she stopped me from getting help I needed.

Sometimes other people would notice though. I would get to.d how weird my behaviors were, get called things like aspie or sperg, I just always felt like I was on the outside looking in and that I'd never be normal or form any solid relationships.

I know people who were childhood diagnosed generally don't like those of us who weren't and I've gotten into tons of arguments with them. It seems I'll never really fit in anywhere sometimes.

[talisman]

Hey there!

I'm also autistic, got my diagnosis about... 2 years ago? I was about 26 at the time, so it's very possible to get a diagnosis as an adult! It's just harder to find someone who knows what to look for in adults who might have learned to mask their symptoms over the year.

There are also programs that help autistic adults. It's all a matter of finding the right resources.

If you suspect you might be autistic, I suggest trying to find a specialist who can diagnosis you, even as an adult.

I know where you're coming from... I did get a diagnosis as a child but it was by my school and wasn't counted as proper where I live, so I went undiagnosed for 26 years(no school supports, no accommodations for anything, feeling like you were just... different and not knowing why...) It can be very hard without supports, and right now, I'm still on a waiting list to get mine, but if you know there's something good on the horizon, it can make you a bit more hopeful.

[RaddTheKid]

Sadly, there's no resources where I live and I can't afford to move. It may be a long time until I can get help