Published on 12, July, 2020
I don't know at this point if I have autism. Friends have suggested I may have. Some of the traits relating to autism seem to fit me whilst others do not. I can relate to difficulties in forming friendships and relationships, to experiences of sensory overload and to anxiety, particularly in social situations. I am less sure when it comes to whether I require routine - although my current situation is that I care for 9 cats, so that my life revolves around their routines. I have mostly been fully employed since 18 years old, though my CV job history is lengthy and does not demonstrate a clear cut career path, really only indicating my tenacity. I don't have a special subject I'm passionate about: my only study is of the cats (who are mostly unrelated to one another) co-operating and resolving their differences as a group.
I think it can only help. If you get a diagnosis, you might find that there are some pathways open for you. If you don't, you won't be any worse off.From my personal experience I didn't get a diagnosis. I have very few solid memories of my early childhood and there were lots of confusing factors which meant that it was difficult not to rule out other causes. And, if I have understood things correctly, this is rather key for a diagnosis of autism as it's something which is observable in very early childhood. Also, I can interact very well with adults and I did so in the interview. But I know that a lot of this is learned behaviour. I know, for example, that I have to make eye contact as this affects the way my communication is received (and for me to pick up on non-verbal cues, though I find that difficult).So, I'm still trying to "make sense" of how I am, of why I feel so "other" in social situations, for example. But I don't feel that things are substantially harder than before. I still feel that I may be autistic, it's just difficult to make the diagnosis with confidence because of lack of early evidence and confusing factors.