10 Unexpected Lessons Learned From Therapy As An Autistic Woman

Here’s how three years of therapy transformed my life

Image created on Canva By Author (Shamiha Said).

I’ve been in therapy for almost three years, and I can wholeheartedly say that it has changed my life and my personality. If it weren’t for therapy, I would have never realised that I’m autistic and that I have ADHD. Therapy opened up parts of me that I had kept hidden for decades and has allowed me to gain new perspectives and tools to cope with being a late-diagnosed autistic woman.

Without spending the time and money on my mental and emotional well-being, I wouldn’t know how where to begin on navigating an autism and ADHD diagnosis later on in life, particularly because of my internalised ableism. Through therapy, I was able to work through my internalised ableism and childhood traumas and learn how to navigate a neurotypical world as a late-diagnosed autistic woman. Here is what I learned in three years:

1. Not everyone will like me, and that is okay.

Growing up as an undiagnosed autistic woman, I spent so much time overthinking and analysing why the majority of people around me didn’t like me. I was hurt and confused as to why people didn’t want to be friends with me or invite me to their parties. Although I hated parties, I still wanted to feel included and liked. In…