InHouseAutistic#AskingAutistics
I'm curious about how old you were, the first time you remember having a thought along the lines of 'I wonder if I might be autistic'?
And when did you know you were?
7 years for me, from 30-37.
Cassandra@EverAutistic I think I only began wondering about this when the pandemic started and I spent a lot more time reading other people's experiences on Twitter. (So: early forties.)
"When did I know" is an ongoing process for me. I actually keep forgetting, and then the world reminds me.
@Cassandra
Reading/hearing/watching autistic adults talk about autism (rather than NT 'information' about it) was a complete game changer for me, too.
I struggled for a long time with doubt, even after I was convinced enough to get my GP to refer me for assessment. But self-diagnosed a few months later and am so glad I did. It means a lot that I trusted myself ahead of the formal assessment.
'The world keeps reminding me' is interesting - reminding you you're 'different'?
@EverAutistic Yes! Some interaction will go completely awry in an unexpected way and at first I'm just 🙃​, like maybe they weren't listening (common), so I try again. But then I just somehow keep failing to communicate and I end up in despair. And then *at some point* I remember "*oh right,* their brains are *different* from mine, I figured this out already."
@Cassandra
Ha! Rhat last bit made me smile. I am experiencing similar.
Ha! Rhat last bit made me smile. I am experiencing similar.