Struggling with Identifying as Autistic

If the word helps and makes you cosy: use it. If the strategies suggested for autistics help you: embrace them. If the word being euphoria and understand to your life: it’s probably right. Autism is about the way your brain is wired, and no one knows that better than you. If this word brings understanding to your self and your life it can quite literally be life changing and life saving. The internal turmoil between failing to be neurotypical and feeling unable to express your true self can often be freed with the label autistic and you don’t need anyone’s permission to go through that journey. Although if you feel like you need it, I’ll give you the permission. * Diagnosed autistic to questioning autistic. You have permission to embrace yourself in any way you see fit. Please frolic toward neurodivergent euphoria. * <3

I've never been formally diagnosed with adhd/autism, but after 5+ years spread across 3 therapists who all said I had one or the other, friends/a partner who have adhd/autism, and talking to people online, I am just finally beginning to agree that these apply to me (within the last year or two) and I figure labels are only worth as much as they help, yeah? So if this label might help you travel through the world and you have spent time talking to others, family, ect and it'll help(even just help by not driving you crazy bring unsure) then that's good enough in my book.

I don't agree with self-dx, people go to school for years and have access to all sorts of documents and research that others don't. And even then? Those nedical professionals can't self-dx. That's why when you get a diagnosis, they need to talk to parents, teachers, coaches, ect. When you get a diagnosis in your head, there's an internal bias you have which can make you see symptoms that aren't there, or ignore other things. There are so many overlapping disorders, that's why even with the help of medical professionals people still get misdiagnosed, not to say it's wrong to think you have a disorder, because even if you do/don't you're still experiencing symptoms which can make things difficult. Just say "I think I have..." instead of "I have..." that way no one is hurt, no misinfo is spread, and everything is fine until you can get a real diagnosis. Honestly, it doesn't even matter if you have it or not, you can't really get any help unless you have a diagnosis, and there's all sorts of support groups for people who aren't sure or suspect they have disorders.