Diagnosed formally just a fortnight ago. The depression, anxiety and alexythymia that I endured for 45 years were finally identified as the "side effects" of something that I always knew was part of me, but could never, ever describe to anyone (by the time I left school, I pretty much gave up trying to explain, it just didn't seem worth the hassle)
How did the diagnosis make me feel?...
As if my life has been a jumble of a thousand jigsaw pieces - and now I've finally seen the picture on the box. (It may take a while for me to put my metaphorical jigsaw together, of course!)
Thanks to a great neurological development team, my diagnosis was almost a gradual process. They introduced me to each 'component' of my autism (sensory, executive function etc.) one at a time over a few sessions before presenting the final diagnosis. I thank them for that, as it really 'cushioned the impact' of making such a big discovery about myself. I feel very lucky - it is so sad that the quality of service I received is not more widely accessible.
And thankyou to the many people here on WrongPlanet, and the other forums I've been "lurking" on this last couple of weeks (working up the courage to say "Hi".) It has helped me so much to read about your experiences, and see you all supporting each other so selflessly. My faith in the rest of humanity has been sorely tested in the years leading to my diagnosis - thanks for showing me a bit of light at the end of the tunnel
Oh, yes...
"Hi, I'm Trog, glad to meet you." (even my mum calls me "Trog", so you may as well do too)
_________________
When you are fighting an invisible monster, first throw a bucket of paint over it.