@wombatDaiquiri @actuallyautistic
A late (self)diagnosed autistic person here. not knowing I had autism meant life was confusing and sucked. after finding out I was autistic, it took years to recalibrate the past and present as "oh, that's why". Depression is caused by many things. so at least some of this will lessen after your work things out. In reference to "what's the deal with NTs not meeting us 1/2 way?" -- they don't have to. so they don't. If you have lived past high school and get a job, most of the use of 'diagnosis' is gone. its most useful for school accommodations and maybe job accommodations. there are no autism drugs. but drugs can be used for symptoms of distress.