Getting a diagnosis

Perhaps if you find yourself suffering from impostor syndrome, a formal diagnosis might help. If you are comfortable with your self-diagnosis, then there probably isn't much need other than overcoming other people's scepticism. Keep learning, of course.

I saw/read/heard somewhere that about 90% (or was it 93%?) of self-diagnosed autistics who go for a formal diagnosis have their self-diagnosis confirmed. I suppose if you are confident enough in your self-diagnosis to put money behind it, then you probably don't need to put money behind it, if you know what I mean. You're autistic, most likely.

Back in the day (2002), I was diagnosed ADHD (which is what I had sought), so by the definitions in the DSM-4 and ICD-10 I could not also be Autistic. At the time you could only be one or the other. The diagnosis got around that by labelling me as "ADHD with Asperger's Traits". I could probably equally have been diagnosed as "Asperger's Syndrome with ADHD Traits", but then they couldn't prescribe stimulant medication for ADHD, because I wouldn't formally have ADHD. It irks me a bit now that I'm not actually formally diagnosed Autistic, yet I'm formally diagnosed enough that I don't know if there's any point in paying to be "upgraded to full Autism". I suppose I self-upgraded.

Your reply is so well thought out, I appreciate you taking the time. Still finding out so much about autism, but I think I’ve found my place in the world and it does help to know there is a reason why life is so hard for me. “I am autistic, most likely” is what I’m taking from this. 

And as you learn more and more about Autism and listen to and relate intensely to more and more Autistic people's stories, you'll start to feel more like saying, "I am autistic, most definitely!"

And as you learn more and more about Autism and listen to and relate intensely to more and more Autistic people's stories, you'll start to feel more like saying, "I am autistic, most definitely!"