Recently diagnosed with autism

Definitely give youself time to think and don't put any pressure on yourself to do anything or move on too fast. 

I've also just been diagnosed at 40 years old. The main thing that I'm stuck on is how could I have been processing the world so differently to most other people all this time and never realised? How do neurotypical people think in social situations? How can anyone enjoy making small talk with a stranger?!?!?

When I talk to my friends and family about it they all agree that the autistic bits of me are some of the things that they love the most. e.g. the ability to cut through the bullshit in life and focus on what really matters, my honesty and reliability, when I hyper focus on something and learn so much in a short period of time, my absolute determination to complete everything I start to the best of my ability and not stopping until its "right". These kinds of traits make the world a better place and are things we should be proud of. 

I have had anxiety for my whole life. I remember vividly going to school for the first time and wishing so hard that I could go back to being 2 years old and stay there forever because at 5 years old the world was too complicated and worrying to deal with every day. I am only now learning to manage my anxiety by understand the roots of it in my ASD. In this sense your diagnosis is a great thing because it gives you a framework for building the coping strategies best suited to your needs.

I agree so much with Plastic. Whether you see your autstic traits as positive or negative is just a matter of perspective. If you can turn your special interests into a career then they are actually a huge asset. Some of the greatest scientists and entreprenures in history were/are very likely autistic. Personally the only thing I would change about my diagnosis is that I wish I'd had it 35 years earlier so that I could have saved myself so much time trying and failing to fit in and never understanding why. In the end you will find a few special people who understand and support you just the way you are and that is all you need. 

I hope it helps to get a little perspective from someone a bit further down the line. 

Definitely give youself time to think and don't put any pressure on yourself to do anything or move on too fast. 

I've also just been diagnosed at 40 years old. The main thing that I'm stuck on is how could I have been processing the world so differently to most other people all this time and never realised? How do neurotypical people think in social situations? How can anyone enjoy making small talk with a stranger?!?!?

When I talk to my friends and family about it they all agree that the autistic bits of me are some of the things that they love the most. e.g. the ability to cut through the bullshit in life and focus on what really matters, my honesty and reliability, when I hyper focus on something and learn so much in a short period of time, my absolute determination to complete everything I start to the best of my ability and not stopping until its "right". These kinds of traits make the world a better place and are things we should be proud of. 

I have had anxiety for my whole life. I remember vividly going to school for the first time and wishing so hard that I could go back to being 2 years old and stay there forever because at 5 years old the world was too complicated and worrying to deal with every day. I am only now learning to manage my anxiety by understand the roots of it in my ASD. In this sense your diagnosis is a great thing because it gives you a framework for building the coping strategies best suited to your needs.

I agree so much with Plastic. Whether you see your autstic traits as positive or negative is just a matter of perspective. If you can turn your special interests into a career then they are actually a huge asset. Some of the greatest scientists and entreprenures in history were/are very likely autistic. Personally the only thing I would change about my diagnosis is that I wish I'd had it 35 years earlier so that I could have saved myself so much time trying and failing to fit in and never understanding why. In the end you will find a few special people who understand and support you just the way you are and that is all you need. 

I hope it helps to get a little perspective from someone a bit further down the line.