Hi

Hi Pookie, 

Wishing you a belated happy birthday  

That feeling of relief i know very well as i realized in December myself

Anyway welcome to the forum, nice to have you with us

Jamie

Hi thx! Nice to meet you. 

The relief is amazing feels so good and a big weight of. So glad you are diagnosed now. 

Yes it really is amazing. I've lived in constant confusion for 35 years pretty much, not knowing why i was different but constantly searching for why. I haven't been assessed yet but will be in the next few months. It will just confirm what i already know (that i'm a high functioning autist) 

Yes it really is amazing. I've lived in constant confusion for 35 years pretty much, not knowing why i was different but constantly searching for why. I haven't been assessed yet but will be in the next few months. It will just confirm what i already know (that i'm a high functioning autist) 

It's been a real struggle to say the least but i'm no longer beating myself up for not performing socially. I did the Camouflaging Autistic Traits test and realized i've used just about every masking/camouflaging technique there is. I've been hiding my true self all this time which is sad but at least i understand myself better now. I have a gift though so it's not all bad

It's great you have a feeling of belonging now too and are understanding yourself better

I found out at 44 last year. Suspicions were growing though! Exhaustion brought me to the assessors’ door. And also (the real tipping point) the brave and diplomatic suggestion of a colleague and friend who is one of those one in a million people that even someone as sensitive as me couldn’t take offence at. In fact I was deeply touched that she cared enough to say ‘maybe you should…’ 

O.M.G 35 years how did u cope that long? It's only been 16 4 me but felt like a hundred billion years! For ages I felt like an outside and so much confusion and now I feel I belong and understand things better. I'm glad ur have your own assessment soon. It will make u feel a lot better