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Feeling like an imposter/doubting diagnosis

dccwal_90

As a new member and as I browse around the discussion board it's the first discussion point I wish to enquire make a contribution about. 

Is this a common experience particularly of those who have been diagnosed later as an adult?

I haven't been diagnosed yet but I have periods of thought which say well I am able to speak articulately, I can make some eye contact with people and just from looking at me as I present there are no immediate signs of autism. I probably wouldn't appear autistic to neurotypical people and those not as knowledgeable and I don't satisfy the stereotypical perception of an autistic person. A lot of it with me feels like it is hidden or comes from evidence from my childhood. They wouldn't be able to ascertain it from sitting in a room sitting opposite me.  

Edit: I am an overthinker so this is probably contributing to the above thoughts. So my overthinking also is making me doubt what I'm doing in seeking a diagnosis so later on in life. .  

I guess I am concerned for the diagnostic process and hope that it is thorough. 

Thanks in advance

Parents

  • We nearly all look normal to neurotypicals, we have had a lifetime to perfect the act.

  • in reply to Roy

    Ive had most express no surprise, and one or two say ‘I could have told you that.’ A couple have said they wouldn’t have known other than recognising me as an anxious worrier. NT people dont always see through the veil. But trained experts will. At the very least you can narrow down the specific form of neurodivergence you have, and if its not an outright confirmation, your instincts will hopefully steer you right on how accurate that conclusion is or otherwise 

  • in reply to Shardovan

    I’ve had mainly positive answers back from people, same as you some have said,” I thought you was.” The family ones are often the strangest ones, My sister did the, “ I work with autistic children and your not like them.” That’s because I’m not a child and unfortunately wasn’t diagnosed as a child!

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  • in reply to Shardovan

    I’ve had mainly positive answers back from people, same as you some have said,” I thought you was.” The family ones are often the strangest ones, My sister did the, “ I work with autistic children and your not like them.” That’s because I’m not a child and unfortunately wasn’t diagnosed as a child!

Children
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