IrishArcher
New Member
Hi there! I'm 18, AFAB but genderfluid, and will use either they/them or she/her pronouns. Over the past few years, I have periodically questioned whether I might be on the spectrum because I relate to a lot of experiences other people (especially aspie women) have described, including sensory issues, stimming habits, and executive dysfunction. However, I have never sought an official diagnosis and I am afraid to talk to my family about it because I suspect they won't take me seriously - if I am on the spectrum, I'm high-functioning and able to blend in pretty well by hiding my quirks around other people. I'm afraid my family will think I'm just trying to feel special by attributing my idiosyncrasies to neurodivergence. A part of me thinks that might be true and I'm just reading too much into my normal habits, but I can't seem to shake the idea that autism could explain a lot of my experiences, and if I could just talk to someone about it and get some sort of confirmation, I'd feel so relieved to get this off my chest. I'd love to hear about other people's experiences and talk to some people who have been diagnosed to see if I can get to the bottom of this, and maybe work up the courage to mention it to my parents. Thanks to all in advance for taking the time to read and respond!