I’m wanting to befriend autistic people

Discovered on my own that I am autistic.

It has led me to review all my issues through my life with this new understanding.  I can see that i was (not at all) blissfully unaware of my interactions with others - which is why they ended badly and I ended up isolating myself.

I now see the problem, that i cannot read people at all.  I has unmade my view of myself and what i need to do in order to interact with people.

I have no idea how to manage any relationship that has any emotional content whatsoever.

It has got to the point where I have reached out to try and find a therapist who specialises in autism to try and help me piece myself back together in this autistic form. (it is through the NHS so not holding out much hope there!)

Hi I'm 27, late diagnosed. I was diagnosed 2 months ago age 26. I started therapy with an autistic therapist and I've had 5 sessions so far, I've learnt a lot about myself and why I feel the way I do about my upbringing and relationships through my life. It's been very validating to have another autistic person (my therapist) valid my feelings and my experience as an undiagnosed autistic person.

If you'd like to connect more on being a late diagnosed autistic please comment 

I was diagnosed last year still young but feel not complete if that makes sense. I still feel like I don't get who I am. It's confusing.

Lauren, thanks for your comment. The trouble is that feeling angry, as we both do, doesn't get us anywhere. We just have to accept the situation and carry on with our new enlightened life.

Onwards and upwards!

Ben

44 for mine, otherwise basically the same. It helped a lot, and now I know I’m not failing at life, I’m actually done pretty well considering. And it’s like a free pass to just be even more authentically me, because I was destined to be ‘different’. 

I recently got diagnosed at 31 and I think I’m feeling a bit like you. It makes sense, I was mostly expecting it and once I’m past the initial processing point (was only diagnosed 2 weeks ago), I think I’ll feel really content and validated.

I am angry though and I don’t know if that will fade. I’m angry that it wasn’t identified. I’m angry that people noticed the ‘odd’ behaviours but jested about them rather than look into them.

I'm 41 and have requested referral this week. Diagnosed aged 40 with adhd. 

I feel like I'm looking back on my whole life with new eyes and going "ahhhhhh so that's why..." 

I was 56. My diagnosis actually made me feel "whole". It validated my whole life.

Diagnosed as a nipper, but now Middle Aged.

I was 35 so can understand/relate too 

After being diagnosed three years ago at the age of 67, I feel that I now know who I am and understand so very many of the difficulties of my past life, and as things continue to fall into place, the better I feel.

So, 'not whole' you ask.   Well, I don't think I've ever felt quite so 'whole' in my entire life as I do now, although I have a strong feeling of being cheated.. a sense of injustice...... Why didn't they tell me before? 

Ben

i'm late forties ... it is quite a disruption to my 'calm'.

I found out I was autistic at 33 so I understand how you feel