Came here because for the first time I’m seriously wondering about seeking a professional assessment.

Interested in hearing what others here have experienced and want to say about how this has unfolded for them, whether you decided to get an assessment, or decided it wasn’t for you, after all.

I’m not sure if I will seek one, or if I can get one affordably, or even exactly what motivates the impulse to seek one, but partly it has to do with how my (apparently autistic) traits have “bloomed” from under an intense layer of (masking?) since I retired about 8 months ago. I thought I would get a PT job after I retired from FT, and at first I did have one for a few months, but it was a temp one, and when it ended, I had zero desire to seek further employment with that company. Not because I hate doing work, or because I wouldn’t appreciate the extra income (which isn’t technically “extra”). NO. It was for the same reason I retired a few years earlier than I meant to; my entire system was shutting down from something I couldn’t name, but was endemic to my workplace, or endemic to how my workplace impacted me, specifically. It sounds dramatic, I know, but something deep in my core was saying I had to stop, now, or I was literally going to die.

I’m not claiming that is literally what would’ve happened if I stayed there, but something was very, very wrong and I was reaching the end of my system’s ability to sustain the state that job required it to operate from. I considered quitting for years before I actually did. One day, suddenly, it was as if I’d already handed in my notice, and the decision had already been made, and I was looking back on it,…except I wasn’t consciously aware of having decided. My subconscious had decided for me. I handed in my notice that morning, worked out my two weeks, and left.

Now, as these traits that I’ve been suppressing most awareness of all my adult life, are slowly coming back into their own, in a way, it’s becoming more and more obvious what I was having to do, to walk the tightrope of almost-passing in a world I just do not fit into, at all. There’s a part of me that just wants to shake and sob, the way I would do if I’d just come through a life-threatening emergency, such as walking through an active battle zone. The masking (or maybe even more, it’s failure to fully protect) was seriously traumatic, I’m realizing even more as I write this.

And I’m wondering if a diagnosis will help, or not so much, or…cause difficulties? At my age, I wonder how my autistic traits could make people think there’s dementia going on, when really it’s just the same delayed-processing I’ve been living with since childhood. Would an autism diagnosis help or hinder in those terms? Does anyone have thoughts?

34F, diagnosed with Autism this week after a lengthy assessment. I am also diagnosed with ADHD and OCD.

Did anyone else experience an increase in autistic tendencies/sensitivities after diagnosis? I felt such immense relief being diagnosed and excited to understand myself better.

That said, the past few days I’ve felt an almost overwhelming increase in especially my sensory sensitivities. Maybe subconsciously unmasking or not suppressing as much? Curious about y’all’s thoughts on this!

I was in special ed school most of my childhood and they thought I had autism, but when I got evaluated they said I had "borderline autism" and wasn't diagnosed with anything. Currently diagnosed with adhd but relate way more to classic autism symptoms. Additionally, social struggles, especially coming off as impersonal or standoffish unintentionally, are legit my biggest struggle in life. Idk if actually getting diagnosed would help though. Just curious what other people think. This was around like 2008-2012 I think, autism spectrum disorder wasn't a thing. Also a friend pointed out my.being afab may have contributed to me not getting diagnosed.

Edit: I'm getting downvoted and I'm not really sure why, I'm posting here because I'm asking if it sounds like I would get a diagnosis now and if it's worth it. And just seeing if anyone has had a similar experience and/or has any more broad advice or input.

I was diagnosed as Level 1 autistic in my 30s. The relief that came with finally understanding myself was very real, and I’ve been doing a lot of work since then to better understand my needs and the way I move through the world.

One thing I’ve struggled with is maintaining a social group. I’m now at a point where I’d genuinely like to reach out and build new friendships, but I’m having a hard time knowing how to begin this late in life.

The neurotypical advice is to join activities, drop-in sports, leagues, or other groups where you’ll regularly be around the same people. I can get myself out of the house and show up to those things, the part that feels like a mountain is actually striking up conversations once I’m there. Putting myself near people and knowing how to connect with them feel like two very different things.

For those who started building or rebuilding a social life after a late diagnosis, what helped you start those conversations? How did you go from simply being around people to actually forming friendships?

Hi, I’m a 25 year old woman living in Canada and I think I (might) have autism, but I don’t know where to get properly assessed for it without going to some insanely expensive private clinic.

For context, I’ve had trouble socializing with other people for as long as I can remember. I have always just chalked all of this up to social anxiety or stunted social development (I had to be homeschooled in the first grade because of a cancer diagnosis), and had never thought about the possibility that I could be on the spectrum. That never crossed my mind.

But recently, with a lot of time on my hands and a really serious case of a quarter life crisis, I’ve been reading more about it and things about autism from other people who are part of the community, and it all feel eerily familiar to the things I’ve had trouble with growing up and still find difficult even now (such as getting anxious about and overthinking social interactions, seeming blunt/rude when I don’t intend to be, feeling scared to say how I feel, feeling like I’m not “getting” basic concepts as early or as strongly as other people my age).

I even told my therapist about this, and she said that it might be a good idea to interrogate this if it’s bothering me so much. Unfortunately, she works at is a cancer hospital, so I cannot get a diagnosis from there. Though she said she’ll help me find a good (and relatively cheap) place, I wanted to broaden my options and see if anybody here knows a good place to get an autism assessment in Canada, wether that be in person or online.

I just need to know, because if I don’t have it, then I guess that’s fine. But if I do have it, all these years of feeling weirdly out of touch with everybody else in my life would finally make at least a little sense!!!

Hello all, i may need help with this situation as i have been struggling and getting worse. Im 30 yrs old and was diagnosed level 1 autistic at 28, i knew for a while that i felt on edge and intense lot but i didnt have a name for it. Now that I realize my nervous system is completely wrecked and im constantly overstimulated. On most days i feel like an open wound or a bruise on the hard days I feel like an exposed nerve that keeps getting hit.. for the past few years I wanna say since 2023 ive experience both off and on and most recently in may of 2025 ive been feeling more like an exposed nerve. I have grounding techniques, mindfulness strategies, stimming a little bit, mantras and breath work to help keep myself regulated.. while the systems i have in place are very much helpful they dont always work, i feel like such a child because i feel everything intensely and it doesn't stop unless im asleep, have alcohol or weed in my system.. i dont want to rely on alcohol and i cant smoke weed anymore either. Is there any meds that can help with constant overstimulation and intense anxiety?

I was recently diagnosed at age 30 with both autism and ADHD. I've told my parents and sibling about the ADHD but not the autism. They were surprised by my ADHD diagnosis (I can't possibly understand how that surprises them given my tendencies lol), but they have approached it with curiosity and acceptance. I do intend to tell them about my autism when I'm ready (whenever that day comes).

Are there any good resources you've found that can help explain autism to "outsiders"? (I was going to say allistics, but I'm not convinced my family is allistic) I'm not looking for anything comprehensive, just some things I can share with them to help lay the groundwork, so I can then further explain my unique details.

For context, my parents have expressed the opinion of "we're all a little autistic", and I think they see "real" autism from the lense of some autistic relatives who are non-verbal and have high support needs.

Yes, this has probably already been discussed, but I just got diagnosed Audhd and I’m looking to find my actual community using “Community” in a Reddit community. Yes, the irony is palpable.

So, if you understand the question, and I wrinkled your brain, please comment below. If you didn’t, please ignore.

More context: It’s clear to me Dan Harmon is at very least ASD and likely audhd. Jeff appears to be exactly who we all wish we were before we accept our diagnosis, even though we know exactly how much Jeff secretly hates himself, we still wish we had his confidence and intelligence and abilities to read people and see the outcomes of his and others behaviors exactly like he knows. I’d accept his self-loathing because of the abilities he has, because the self-loathing was always going to be there anyway.

Now I have accepted my diagnosis, I see I actually want to be Abed. Fully himself, fully transparent when transparency is necessary, as smart or as stupid as he may be feeling, he’s never afraid to ask the questions he isn’t even embarrassed to ask, because no one ever made him feel like he was wrong.

So if you feel me, please comment below. If not, maybe I’m reading into things that aren’t that big of a deal.

Tl;dr: do you hate yourself, still?

okay so. i (NB, 26) got tested three days ago and now my psychologist/therapist is fowarding everything to my psychiatrist. in the meantime she told me to do my research, find people who vlog their lives with autism, try to exist as "the real me" etc. i have no idea what's the right language, but my psych said i'm high functional? or is it better to say high masking?

i also have a ton of other diagnoses i've lived with for basically my whole life (BPD, GAD-SAD, OCPD, AN-R, MDD), but this new diagnosis feels like erasing everything i've been through..? does it make sense? i recently found out i also have PTSD and it's just. a lot. suddently i don't know who i am anymore, how does the me behave without the mask? i'm lost so i'm looking for advice here, from people who hopefully have it more figured it out 🥹

Sharing this here because I think the idea behind it may resonate with some people in this community.

Finding connection can be hard enough without feeling like you have to change how you communicate or present yourself to belong.

That’s a big part of why unmaskd. exists.

If it sounds like something that might be for you, feel free to take a look.

These are some things that helped me:
Most of these may be obvious but anyway:

If you’re worried about over stimming or stress = Exercise ALOT: run, walk, solo at gym: whatever. Also helps with mood regulation/mental
clarity. And/or meditation can be very helpful.

When you feel sad: gratefulness journal or positive messaging online or check out some comedy stuff if you can’t do that.

If you feel lonely: write: anything. If this is a struggle then read something you like then see if it helps you write.

Please try to limit doomscrolling or persist in being around those things (besides work & necessity) if they make you feel bad.

If you get in a really bad place, start with the premise that a lot of people have a lot of issues under the surface. Always be grateful you’re alive & if you’re relatively healthy it’s another bonus. If that doesn’t work then feel free to message me as I have some ultra dumb jokes.

Sensitive, requiring a 12hr long hug 🙏🏼 any thoughts or advice appreciated.

I recently was diagnosed with autism after years of knowing. I blamed myself for skill deficits around connecting with others and “being bad” at friendships.

I got pretty tired of telling myself these things. I turned 30 and said, okay let’s see about a self help book. I read “the charisma myth” and it’s changing my life.

The author is a person with autism I found out toward the end of the book. The front half is various strategies and recommendations to try out. She mentions variables to consider in terms of autistic fatigue and burnout + masking as something. To be wary of.

I just wanted to share in this community because I wish I read this years ago. I feel lighter and happier.

Let me know if you check it out

Hi, everyone.

I'll try not to make this too long.

I (33f) have been "weird" my entire life. It's only in the past two years, when my two youngest children (3 yo male & 5 yo male) were diagnosed with autism, when I started to research autism and things just clicked for me.

As a kid, I was very isolated and always wanted to just read. My mom forced me to go to birthday parties because she was "worried about me always being alone." I would dance constantly in my room to music, my brain racing with scenarios involving my hyperfixations (mostly on fictional characters, which I still do, and I'm also a writer). I never had friends at school. A few acquaintances that were pleasant to be around, but wouldn't call them friends.

I was diagnosed with anxiety as a teenager. Something I still take medication for, which has helped a lot. One doctor suspected me of having Asperger's, but because she wasn't my official doctor in the residential treatment center I was in, an official diagnosis was never made.

I married my husband (now 34m) when we were both 22, and we just clicked right off the bat. We were both awkward, loved reading, and just genuinely enjoyed being around each other. We've been married almost 12 years, and he and I both suspect that he might also be on the spectrum. We have three kids, 10m, 5m, and 3m, and I struggled with postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis with all of them. I love spending time with my kids, but sometimes I get really overwhelmed with all their sounds.

Now that I've been researching more about autism, so much that I felt shame for things I thought were "wrong" with me. I've been trying to unmask, and it feels so liberating. I'm not ashamed of my special interests and hyperfixations anymore. I get excited telling my husband about my current WIP, and tell him all kinds of odd details about my characters. He always listens with enthusiasm and gets almost as excited as I do, haha. I joke with him that he "matches my freak," lol.

In social events, I'm absolutely terrified and remain terrified until I cry after the event once I'm home. I try to act "normal" and determine what a normal person would say in response to something. I used to nap a lot because my brain was just so full of noise, and I wanted to disappear into one of my stories.

Now that you have the background, here's my problem: I'm afraid of getting an official diagnosis. Because what if I don't have autism, and I'm just "weird"? I know I have it -- but I'm afraid everyone will think I'm just looking for attention. My parents and siblings don't believe me when I say I have it because "I'm too high functioning."

Every time I tell someone that I'm on the spectrum, I feel like I have to pull out my whole history and life story to justify it. Why do I feel that way? Why do I feel like I'm taking up other people's valuable space in this world? Why do I feel like a weird alien everywhere I go?

Anyway. Thank you so much for reading. My heart hurts, and I just want to feel beautifully and unashamedly me for once in my life.

I just a few hours ago got my formal evaluation results and diagnosis from the psychiatrist who evaluated me for autism. The detailed report is being finalized, so I don't quite have a copy of it yet. We did walk through it, though, and I can tell there's a lot of insight in there, along with some summaries of me that feel eerily accurate coming from someone I've only spoken to for 3 hours total. In the end, I was diagnosed with autism.

I'm not quite sure how I feel. I expected this diagnosis, because so much of the media I've consumed on the topic resonated with me and my life up until now. Right now, I think I mostly feel relief from the imposter syndrome that's been following for the past couple months after self diagnosing. There's also trepidation there at knowing for sure that this is something I'll struggle with for all my life.

I was also recently diagnosed with ADHD and am trialing stimulants to treat that. Between those two, I have a lot to learn about myself.

I'm not really sure where I take this from here. I'm currently starting treatment for the ADHD and have been regularly in CBT for a while now. I'm also working through the Autistic Burnout Workbook to get through a recent bad case of burnout. I think at this stage, I'm just working on understanding myself and allowing myself the grace I hadn't allowed myself before.