26/10/2026
This is MY lived experience and by no means a reflection of anyone else’s. Everyone will experience a diagnosis differently, and for some it will be an incredibly difficult thing to come to terms with.
For me though, it’s been nothing but positive. I’m more confident, more relaxed, and more in tune with my thoughts and feelings. I respect myself and my boundaries, and I put myself before people sometimes - which I never thought I would do.
I just wanted to share a positive experience of a late diagnosis, because I do feel like there’s a lot of scary stories online - I know because I read them. I spent the first 12 months waiting to grieve and it never came.
My life has changed so much but in the best ways possible. I toon myself out of the stressful city environment and moved to a cosy cottage. I closed my business and started a job working for charity. I’ve said no to opportunities that stressed me out. I’ve done things that I never thought was possible for me, and I don’t think I would have without that diagnosis.
The funniest thing is - I didn’t go for a diagnosis and didn’t think I was Autistic. It was the doctor who knew I was from one half an hour conversation 😂
