Today is my first group session with other newly-diagnosed people. The topic is Feelings around Diagnosis. According to the description on the agenda, we'll be exploring our own and others feelings about diagnosis and how being on the spectrum affects different people in different ways. I'm looking forward to it. It will be nice to hear what other adults have to share. How people feel about a diagnosis varies; some were are happy and reassured to receive a diagnosis, while others were upset, shocked or surprised. I belong to the latter group. It was the last thing I ever expected. How do I feel now six months on? I first felt shock about being autistic, then I felt disbelief (I almost asked for a second opinion against the diagnosis), then I felt pride about being autistic—maybe now I would fit in with some other people? I can't honestly say I fit in any better in an autistic community. So where am I at the moment? I'm right back where I started, listening to autistic people and feeling I've had with non-autistic people.
