Autistic adults

I've often wondered if being diagnosed later in life has any bearing on how we deal with being autistic? I mean we've had a life before diagnosis and I wonder how being diagnosed later in life affects how we see past struggles. Are we more likely to feel that we're somehow imposters as another poster commented?

I just tried looking for a list of symptoms and from what I could find there only seems to be very simple lists of common symptoms, like avoiding eye contact. I think there must be others, a much longer list that professionals refer to when making a diagnosis. I got a load of AI generated generic stuff when I searched, but that could well be due to my lack of computer skills. Can anyone find a fuller list and post it? I think it would be useful, especially the less common things like hyper-mobility and gut disorders, although gut disorders do seem to be quite common.

I thin it would be good and helpful especially for us latelings to be able to see what other symptoms there are, that aren't so common.

Parents
  • I'm pondering that one myself. I was diagnosed three months ago at 32. I've had anxiety for much of my life and have had bouts of depression but I'm trying to understand how much of that is my autism and it changes how I will deal with things.

    This from Reframing Autism is the best information I have come across as it's quite specific, I made a list. Some of it applies to me, some not so much but as it's a spectrum not all symptoms will apply.

Reply
  • I'm pondering that one myself. I was diagnosed three months ago at 32. I've had anxiety for much of my life and have had bouts of depression but I'm trying to understand how much of that is my autism and it changes how I will deal with things.

    This from Reframing Autism is the best information I have come across as it's quite specific, I made a list. Some of it applies to me, some not so much but as it's a spectrum not all symptoms will apply.

Children