Hi Mike
Welcome aboard!
I got my formal diagnosis a few year's ago now and that was a huge relief too, so understand what you mean.
I thought I was doing well masking, but since I was not successful in making friends, I came to see that I was not good at masking, otherwise I would have friends.
Now, I do not bother to mask, due to that formal diagnosis and actually, ones are more accepting of me.
I joined when I was self diagnosed and it is the first time I ever felt accepted, so the fact you come here formally diagnosied, how much more so, will you feel accepted?!
A little facts about aspergers.
Males are diagnosed far more than females. One, because females are better at masking than males and two, because the critera set out is so narrow minded, that it has not taken into account other aspects of aspergers, but happily, that is changing and I am proof of that, as is other female aspies on here.
It is now referred to as: ASD ( autism spectrum disorder). It takes on similar properties to classic autism, but the big difference is that we can actually improve ie not static, as is classic autism.
There is an expression I discovered on here: you meet one aspie..... you meet one aspie. So, we are all unique, but not so unique that we are unrecognisable.
I have found that on diagnosis and understanding, at last eye contact issues, that I have improved in that area, unless someone is over talking or makes me generally feel uncomfortable, my mind starts wondering and suddenly can't make contact, or if I am angry.
Stimming as calmed down too and I laugh now, when I catch myself stimming.
Have found, though, with diagnosis, comes a sort of panic. There is no "back door". You are, so you have to deal with it and that sometimes can make me feel very scared.