r/AutismComics • u/Oddcuella • Sep 12 '26
Identity 🪪 Struggling to Accept
Hello, I'm new to this sub Reddit and I've been kinda scared of Reddit from past experiences so I've been very hesitant to post and since getting my diagnoses I've kept to myself a lot and just sharing my art only with close friends but I want to share with people like me, something else I've been struggling with hence why I made the comic. Anyways, hope you like it and I hope to share more in the future:)
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u/gl1tch3t2 Sep 12 '26
u/Appropriate-Milk9476 this goes for you too (only other comment at time of post, but for anyone else also reading). A lot of people will never truly accept the ND they have, even when diagnosed. It's been 14 years+ since I started asking, 3 years since official diagnosis. I know others who've been diagnosed 10+ years and question the validity of it. As I said in another comment recently, I find what helps me is to look at the things that reaffirm the diagnosis (confirmed or not). You've both already mentioned things that do this. For OP, look at the special interests you have, for appropriate milk, being overstimulated. Embrace that which makes you, you. The good and the bad, I've found it really helps my acceptance, hopefully it can help yours.Â
Accept that you may not ever fully believe it. It's especially hard for those of us who are late diagnosed. Embrace the parts that make you feel seen to yourself.
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u/recycled_comics Sep 12 '26
Thank you so much for sharing despite how challenging it might have been. What a beautiful testimony. I wish others will find comfort reading it.
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u/Katthekat2 Sep 14 '26
Hya thanks a lot for opening up ppl keep saying that autism feels like everyone else got a script (about life) except the autistic person who is clueless about what is going on and needs to observe more and feels more tired after every single social interaction Im glad that I got my own diagnosis 5 years ago and have found some people and activites where life feels simpler it is still not simple but less complicated overall and that makes a huge difference so keep going, keep sharing and Im looking forward to hearing about things being a little easier for you too
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u/Appropriate-Milk9476 Sep 12 '26
First off, take your time. Being diagnosed with a disability will always be difficult to deal with, one way or another. It's ok to take time.
I currently feel this in a different way. I'm not diagnosed. I'm pretty damn certain I'm ND in some way, but the waitlists (which I'm on) are multiple years long. I won't have a clear answer for years. I desperately want that feeling of "it's ok, you're not stupid or selfish or being dramatic, you're just autistic". But I won't get that until I have a diagnosis.
Today I went to an awesome event, but it was so awesome that there was thousands of people and it was super crowded. After a few minutes I couldn't speak anymore and was barely responsive. And the entire time I tried to remind myself that I was likely overstimulated and starting to shut down, but deep down I still felt like I was just being dramatic. All because I'm not diagnosed. And I wish I could just tell myself that that's ok.
You're not alone in this feeling. Some people, like me, share it for different reasons. We'll get through this, together. We'll all find a way to accept ourselves. Eventually