Regressing After Diagnosis/Self-Diagnosis?

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It seems like you and I realized we had it around the same time. I've been experiencing the exact same thing. I would force my self to hide or "get over" my weird quirks and problems I was having because I didn't want to seem odd to others or I felt it was holding me back from something. I always somehow felt it wasn't "normal" for me to have those quirks because i didn't notice them in other kids. But once I saw that there was a name for everything I was experiencing, I was so shocked and relieved that I just stopped holding back. I was still pretty depressed at the same time, and being at work and around people all the time was very difficult (still is a little) because everyone else still expected me to be my "usual self", which meant I had to act for them.

I'm realizing more of my sensory issues (sensitivity to bright lights & smells, low noises no one else can hear, noises that are loud to me but nobody else, etc). I definitely stim a lot more too, especially when I talk to people or am in deep thought. I developed this neck tick when I was young and I made my mom take me to be tested for Tourettes because I couldn't stop, and it was worse when I was stressed. I taught myself to hide it so people wouldn't notice, but the last couple of months it's resurfaced. I understand now that my daydreaming and need to be alone a lot isn't abnormal, and is in fact essential for me to function. None of these things make me feel bad about myself anymore, and I'm trying to learn not to care what people may be thinking about it. I think once you learn that, coping with diagnosis/self-diagnosis is much easier.

I can't remember, my 'period' of self-diagnosing it was 7 years ago. It actually helps me with developing coping strategies. The difference between AS and the other diagnoses I got from psychs, is that there's generally nothing to do with my mental illnesses/disorders according to the opinions I've encountered, though you might be considered more recovered if you get a degree, hold a job, etc. Knowing about Asperger's Syndrome makes me think more about coping strategies in real life.

I think, for me, yes. It's more giving myself permission to be me, take it or leave it. I still act in public, like I'm this person who has it all together, but at home I'm much more relaxed. Maybe with my son being Aspie also, I try to let him know that it's ok to be himself? It could also be that I'm just noticing the stims as stimming where I didn't before, and other things that I do, I'm more aware on why. I know what I'm trying to say, I just can't get it out right, lol.

Did anyone feel they regressed severely in communicating with others? The past few months, I'm finding it more and more difficult to have even just a regular conversation with my roommates and co-workers and friends. It's more effort than it used to be to socialize with them and it feels strange trying to talk to them the way I used to, and these are people I've known for at least 2 or more years and for the most part have always gotten along with. Now I don't even want to be around them most of the time, and would rather isolate myself or find other things to keep busy with than engage with them.