Diagnosis at relatively old age

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Just got my diagnosis this monday aged 52, autism level 1 or aspergers to use old termonology.
I've been here on and off for a while since I kind of knew, but now I know.

/Mats

How does it make you feel?  Relieved?  Saddened?  Excited?  Meh?

Mostly it explains my struggles growing up and the relationships I've had and why they didn't work out, but I kind of knew already. It feels good to have it "proved" if issues occures at work, I felt sometimes that people didn't believe me previously.

/Mats

Similar to my reaction, which was everything suddenly "clicked into place" -- all the weird looks, the rejection, the taunting and insults, the bullying; while none of it is excusable, I now understand the "why" of it all.  I was not "bad" or "stupid" or a "ret*d" (their words, not mine), I was just ... different.

It's a bit unintuitive, but I think that in a way we with "mild" autism may struggle more, because we don't have all the traits the stereotipical autist has. I can look at people, in fact I do it more and more intensely than most neurotypicals, I can speak, and so on. In most peoples eyes I'm perfectly "normal".
Not that I mean that I have it harder generally, more severe autism is probably harder to cope with.

/Mats

I could also speak, dress myself, and do all the other things that other "normal" kids my age could do, except when it came to social interaction.

For instance, when the other kids wanted to play "Cops & Robbers" or "Cowboys & Indians", I wanted to play the "Alien Ambassador to Earth"; when other kids wanted to talk about baseball or racecars, I wanted to talk about elliptical orbits and binary pulsars; when other kids were eating cookies, I was baking them; and so forth.

Hi and welcome to WP!

I've read studies that confirm people who appear more neurotypical have higher rates of burnout and stress than people with more obvious autism. They have a harder time being seen as worthy of accommodation, or being taken seriously when they discuss their needs. It's kind of a Catch-22 in that regard because yes, you may have more social ability than moderate and lower functioning (I hate those terms) autistic people, but you are seldom believed or understood by others.

Congrats on your diagnosis. It really is a life-changing event to be identified as an adult, and reframe our history.

Hello and welcome. Fellow Asperger's person here.

Yes, I agree. People who have intellectual disability are seen as disabled as it is fairly easy to pick up on,
however, ASD without intellectual disability, the disability can often go un-noticed due to the lack of understanding on the public's part.

I have found even in social services and specialist support services, that were traditionally set up to support people with "classic autism", we can also be treated as without need for help or support.

It is funny, as its like saying if you don't need someone to make your dinner for you, then your not disabled.
Its as if they only see the disability based on how much support you need in terms of basic living
but don't understand the more complex aspects of the disability.

In the island that i live, the ASD people who also have intellectual disability often live in sheltered accommodation and have their life scheduled for them, along with others who are in the same boat,
so they get loads of support and even outings for free.

Not that i want to go on their outings.

but the contrast between people with intellectual disability and those who do not
is massive

basically if you can make your own food, can shower yourself and get on the bus without assistance
then you are normal and deserve little support

its kind of an all or nothing approach to support

where people with Intellectual disability get ALL
people without Intellectual disability get NOTHING

in many ways it is like we don't exist

Congrats Mats ! Glad you can now get on with the rest of your life, knowing the whys and wherefores. You live in a beautiful part of the world over there! Good to have you with us.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Nice! I'm same age, same story, same reaction - a slight difference in that my diagnosis came 10 years ago~ish give or take

What a relief to have an explanation, no? For both the strengths AND the weaknesses.

Welcome

I waited until I was 60 for mine

Many things then made sense and I have definitely been less anxious since

Welcome to WP! As you are discovering, there are a number of folk here who were not diagnosed as children--me included! I was diagnosed shortly before my 65th birthday. And we (my bride and I) really did pick up champagne on the way home from getting the diagnosis. So much of my life made more sense!

Welcome to WP!

welcome! Diagnosed officially 3 days before my 68th birthday. Changed my life to obtain diagnosis and finally understand autism had the answer to almost every "why" question and struggles, painful events of the past.

For me it was a huge relief to learn that everything was not "all my fault", it was autism working behind the scenes all my miserable life, without anybody knowing or even suspecting.

glad you are with us.