Finding My Place on the Spectrum
A Journey of Self-Discovery and a Delayed Diagnosis
“Autism is not a tragedy. Ignorance is a tragedy.” — Kim Stagliano
One of the last things I posted on Medium was about the struggles of being undiagnosed on the autism spectrum.
Well, guess what? I’m officially diagnosed!
That’s right. I’ve overcome a major hurdle for adults on the spectrum: finding a mental health professional in my state who not only had the credentials to diagnose me but also the willingness and eagerness to do so.
It was a chance encounter. I thought I’d found a therapist to help me understand my past and present so I could build a better future. While she did provide that, she also offered to assess me for autism and other diagnoses after I mentioned speculation about me being neurodivergent.
A month of testing yielded substantial results: I am autistic, level 1, high-functioning, and high-masking.
This diagnosis brought a feeling of being finally seen, heard, and validated. My lifelong struggles as a teenager and adult — the need for routines, sensory issues, and difficulty forming healthy relationships — suddenly made sense.
Having a therapist who not only diagnosed me but also supports and offers tools for improvement is an incredible…
