Published on 12, July, 2020
Hey folks,
I'm Riley, formally diagnosed early last year aged 37 and only now starting to think about who l really am after all these years of masking.
I had suspected autism for a few years, but it's only now looking back on my life that I realise just how obvious it all was. I stim, I have shutdowns. I was "gifted" and adults would always tell me how smart and grown up I was. I struggled with depression and social isolation and i thought the answer was to study. I take things quite literally, I studied body language using library books as a child lol.
I've found most online spaces are full of people much younger than me and while its lovely to meet new people just starting out their adult lives, I really want to find friends who are at my life stage and figuring out who they are while trying to decide if they want to disclose professionally, whether to tell friends and family etc.
I'd love to hear your late diagnosis stories and how you're doing now.
I was also diagnosed last year in my mid 30s.
I, uh, have a lot to deal with sanity-wise (or anxiety) so things like disclosing it professionally or soul-searching on who I am kinda takes a backseat. I'm mostly just trying to figure out how to use this knowledge on why my brain works this way to recover and get by. It's a long process.
I can completely understand that, there is a lot of unpack :)
Anxiety can be debilitating - I hope you find so coping techniques that help you through it. The thing I've found that helps me is planning for some of my perceived "bad things" that could happen - I carry important with me just incase I need them - umbrella, water, sunglasses, ear plugs, needle and thread etc.
It means I always have a bag with me, but at least means I can leave the house without spiralling every time
I kinda do that too. It's incredibly difficult to protect yourself mentally, but the physical stuff like food, water, charger etc. is very doable. Any variable you can remove like that makes things at least a little simpler.