Seeking Advice on Pursuing an Autism Diagnosis

I may be kind of medium support needs, but it really helped me to get those needs met and the people around me have a lot better understanding of me, its a lot easier for my to advocate for myself and for folks to help advocate for me when I need that.

I don't think I'll be much help for this, but I do recommend looking into what a diagnosis can do negatively as well as positively. I've received a lot of accommodations/help I wasn't considered for before the diagnosis, but I've dealt with ableism (especially from schools) that I previously didn't experience (even being physically disabled) + people have had their diagnosis used against them when trying to get custody of their children, adopting, getting gender-affirming care (if applicable) or surgeries. As far as I can tell it's harder to access accommodations if you get diagnosed as an adult (I was not), but it's still validating from what I can see. Well-researched self-diagnosis is still valid either way! Good luck <3

Please do try to get a diagnosis because if you do have it you'll feel better and if not you'll still feel better and it will be easier to be you everywhere

I would say to treat it like anything else. Is the autism effecting your ability to socialize and communicate? Is it causing issues in getting tasks done properly? Is it making it harder for you to understand instructions or even just making it hard for you to give proper instructions? If it affects your life in any way it means you need some sort of support even if it’s low. For me, I am low support but I have terrible struggles with socializing. I can’t read subtext and I accidentally send it out all the time. People have often thought of me as a bad or mean person because of it. I would get properly diagnosed but currently I don’t have the funds to pay my bills much less get diagnosed. So I say if you can and it’s effecting your life, do it. For me it would be a lot easier to say I am autistic and don’t understand subtext mainly because people are more likely to believe you. So if you have troubles with it, you still need the proper support, whether it’s low or not. Professionals may be able to find the support you need if you were diagnosed as well. If you can’t afford it though your therapist will understand if you talk to them about it. See if you can get some help figuring out the support you need. I hope you figure something out and I hope this helped. Just remember just cause you are low support doesn’t mean you don’t need or deserve support. 💜

unfortunately i don't have an answer for you but i am in the EXACT same boat. psychiatrist told me to get a diagnosis, but im reluctant due to cost and such. i have ocd and anxiety as well i don't know what's autism and that's anxiety or truma